November 1, 2006
MEDIA RELEASE
Canterbury Resource Management Award Winners 2006
Orana Wildlife Trust is this year’s supreme Canterbury environmental achiever.
The Trust won this year’s Supreme Award in the Canterbury Resource Management Awards 2006.
The biennial awards, which celebrate the efforts of people living in the Canterbury region who are improving their
environment and promoting sustainability of natural and man-made resources, were announced today by Hon. David Parker,
Climate Change Minister.
Orana Wildlife Trust, which runs Orana Wildlife Park on 80 hectares of land on Christchurch’s northern border, won for
its conservation, habitat restoration, environmental education and waste reduction programmes. The judges said Orana
Park is making a significant contribution to the conservation of some of New Zealand’s highly endangered biodiversity
and offers excellent educational programmes and experiences, raising awareness of conservation issues. Orana Park also
won the professional/institutional category and was a joint winner of the Target Zero Award for business resource
efficiency.
The individual category winner was North Canterbury resident Greg Bennett for his contribution to Amberley Beach Coast
Care projects, which include restoring a lagoon, wetlands and native flora.
The community category winner was the Summit Road Society for its Ohinetahi Bush Reserve at Governors Bay on Banks
Peninsula where the Society has been working on enhancing and restoring native biodiversity since 1992.
Joint winners of the commercial/industrial category were Fonterra’s Clandeboye Dairy Factory, South Canterbury, for its
eco-efficiency and wastewater disposal programmes, and the Selwyn District Council’s Hot Rot composting plant, at
Rolleston, south of Christchurch.
Fonterra’s two programmes involve minimising the amount of waste generated, and the volume of waste sent to landfills.
In addition, its irrigation farm provides a way to dispose of wastewater.
Fonterra was also a joint winner with Orana Park, of the Target Zero award for business resource efficiency.
Selwyn District Council’s Hot Rot composting system, developed by Canesis Network Ltd at Lincoln, minimises the quantity
of organic waste being sent to landfills.
Fulton Hogan Canterbury was highly commended in this category for its100 per cent recycled roading project - Golf Links
Road in Christchurch’s suburb of Shirley, which it undertook as a demonstration project.
Judges in this category also commended Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools, Winstone Wallboards and the Ultimate Car Café
(Addington, Christchurch) for projects related to water conservation and water quality. Judges also commended the Waitek
Shower Monitor and Timaru’s Tyr-mesh, both for being innovative products.
R D Hughes Holdings Ltd won Landcare Research’s Special Award for the integrated, environmentally-sensitive design
concepts being incorporated into its Ocean Ridge housing development at Kaikoura.
Landcare Research also presented a Merit Award to Kaikoura High School and its eco-council in recognition of their
practical approach to environmental education.
The Sustainable Business Network’s four “Get Sustainable Challenge Winners” were:
- Peel Forest Outdoor Centre for providing an opportunity for users to experiment with use of “green” technologies and
living within resource limits.
- Youth Hostels Association for its recycling and energy efficiency programme that involves both staff and guests.
- Capital Investment Planning Ltd for its commitment to social responsibility and ethical investment.
- Solar water heating company H2 Flow for involving its staff in sustainability and its policy of using local suppliers.
Highly Commended in the Target Zero special category for business resource efficiency was Ashburton Meat Processors for
its worm farm and office recycling programme.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) Award went to Energy Mad for its energy efficient light bulb
programme.
The inaugural Te Mata o te Tuatara Te Rünanga o Ngäi Tahu Special Heritage Award was won jointly by Ngäi Tahu Mäori Rock
Art Trust and Meridian Energy for their commitment to protecting and raising awareness of Mäori rock art sites.
The Environment Canterbury Award for excellence in environmental journalism was awarded to Press rural reporter Tim
Cronshaw, for two articles on the future of irrigation in Canterbury.
The Future Environmentalist Award joint winners were Sarah Smith, a year 12 student at Kaikoura High School and Tom
Baker, a year 13 student at St Bede’s College, Christchurch.
The awards are hosted every two years by Environment Canterbury with support from Landcare Research, the Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Authority, Te Rünanga o Ngäi Tahu, the Target Zero Business Network and the Sustainable
Business Network.
For details about the awards, please contact Chris Macann, Resource Management Awards project leader, Environment
Canterbury, 03 353 9735 or 021 878 001 or email chris.macann@ecan.govt.nz
For more information about individual projects, please contact the winners directly.
Details on winners:
Supreme Winner and Professional/Institutional Category Winner
Orana Wildlife Trust, Christchurch
Conservation, habitat restoration, environmental education and waste reduction programmes.
Orana Wildlife Park runs an impressive conservation breeding project for threatened New Zealand animals, which includes
breeding for release programmes for the blue duck (whio) and brown teal (pateke). Over the years the park has been
transformed from a dry stony riverbed to a lush environment with an extensive planting programme using native fauna.
Quality environmental education programmes inspire children to act responsibly towards the environment. Waste reduction
and a recycling programme are also in place.
Judges comment: Orana Park is making a significant contribution to the conservation of some of New Zealand’s highly
endangered biodiversity and offers excellent educational programmes and experiences which raise awareness of
conservation issues. This is integrated with water conservation and waste reduction/recycling initiatives throughout the
park’s operations.
Orana Park was also joint winner with Fonterra of the Target Zero Award for business resource efficiency.
Individual Category Winner
Greg Bennett, Amberley
Outstanding achievement and contribution to coast care.
Greg is a key player in the Amberley Beach Coast Care project, which is restoring a lagoon, wetlands and native flora.
Eradication of weeds and pests has been required, including removing infestations of grey willow trees. The lagoon and
wetland use water drained from surrounding farmland and a golf course.
Judges comment: Greg has initiated and carried out a lot of the work himself and has effectively secured coastal land
for use by the public which would have been of low value if invasive plant species such a grey willow had been allowed
to dominate. Native species have been allowed to regenerate and a walking track attracts visitors.
Community Category Winner
Summit Road Society, Banks Peninsula
Ohinetahi Bush Reserve, Governors Bay, Banks Peninsula.
Since 1992 the Summit Road Society has been working on enhancing and restoring native biodiversity on the 150ha
Ohinetahi Bush Reserve. The reserve is now part of the network of Port Hills reserves. Weed and pest control and
planting work is enhancing natural regeneration and walking tracks provide the public with recreational opportunities.
Judges comment: This project has been carried out by a committed group which has developed a well thought out
regeneration project.
Commercial/Industrial Category Winner
Joint winners
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Clandeboye Dairy Factory, South Canterbury
Eco-efficiency and waste water disposal programmes.
These two programmes make a significant contribution to the sustainable management of resources at the Clandeboye Dairy
Factory. Eco-efficiency measures include minimising both the amount of waste generated and the volume of waste sent to
landfill. A dedicated irrigation farm provides a means of disposing of wastewater from a sizeable industrial site
operation.
Judges comment: The eco-efficiency programme, established in 2003, has been very successful, reducing the volume of
waste going to landfill by 85 per cent - a saving of up to 800 tonnes a year. The wastewater irrigation system and
associated farming operations are essential to the sustainable management of the plant and its effects on the
environment.
Fonterra was also joint winner with Orana Park of the Target Zero Award for business resource efficiency.
And
Selwyn District Council, Central Canterbury
Hot Rot composting plant
The Hot Rot plant, sited at Rolleston, minimises the quantity of organic waste being sent to landfill in Selwyn
District. The plant has the potential to divert up to 40 per cent of solid household waste from landfill and also takes
organic waste from processing industries, including offal and chicken mortalities. The final compost produce is used by
the Council in its reserves.
Judges comment: The plant, which was developed by Canesis at Lincoln, uses cutting edge technology for the management of
organic waste, eliminating waste to landfill, associated emissions to air and water, and reducing transport to the
regional Kate Valley landfill. At full capacity it can reduce waste going to landfill by 2,000 tonnes a year. This would
also result in a 200kg annual saving in methane gas emissions.
Highly commended
Fulton Hogan Canterbury
100 per cent recycled road
The reconstruction of Golf Links Road in Shirley, Christchurch, with recycled materials was undertaken as a
demonstration project. The subbase and base course comprise 100 per cent recycled material and the top layer is 98 per
cent recycled material.
The recycled materials comprise crushed roading materials, concrete and other non-porous building materials. Technical
investigations for the development of the right “mix’ of materials was undertaken by Fulton Hogan and peer reviewed in
Australia. Concrete crushing is undertaken on the company’s Pound Road site. Recycled materials in roading are used
widely overseas.
Landcare Research’s Special Award
R. D. Hughes Holdings Limited for the Ocean Ridge project, Kaikoura
In recognition of the integrated, environmentally-sensitive design approaches being used with this low density, housing
development at Kaikoura.
We commend Hughes Holdings, and particularly the Project Manager Stephan Rattray, for their vision and commitment to an
‘eco-development’ that features extensive green spaces and restoration plantings in wetlands and reserve areas,
environmentally-sensitive on-site stormwater management, planned walkways and cycleways, promoting waste minimisation
and recycling to on-site contractors, support for property buyers with free energy audits and a booklet commissioned
from eco-architect Russell Devlin on environmentally friendly, energy smart design features for homes.
The total area of the three-stage development comprises 135 ha but only 27 ha (20%) is being taken for residential
housing. The other 80 per cent is intended for grazing or horticulture. Amenity features including 12 ha of riparian and
wetland restoration, plus revegetating 29 ha in dryland native bush in newly-designated public-access reserves that will
revert to Kaikoura District Council. Sites designated as low-density residential lots (stage 3 in the development) have
extensive areas of native plantings that are protected by QEII covenants.
Special Merit Award
Kaikoura High School and its enviro-council for their enviro-island practical approach to ground management and ongoing
environmental education.
Sustainable Business - Get Sustainable Challenge Winners
- Explorer Award for businesses new to sustainability: H2 Flow Plumbing and Heating Ltd - a solar water heating company
that is involving its staff in sustainability through training, is using low waste products and actively chooses local
suppliers.
- Emerging Award for businesses with a high level of continuous improvement: Capital Investment Planning Ltd - Capital
Financial Planning is an independent firm specialising in investment portfolio management for individuals, companies,
trusts, and estates, with a commitment to social responsibility and ethical investment.
- Trail Blazer Award for leaders in the field of Sustainability Youth Hostels Association - YHA Wanaka, YHA Mt Cook and
YHA National Office have extensive activity, operations and education about sustainability, including measuring and
reporting on its climate change impact, and a full recycling and energy efficiency programme involving staff and guests.
- Innovation Award for businesses with initiatives toward sustainability: Peel Forest Outdoor Centre, South Canterbury -
Peel Forest Eco Lodge runs outdoor skills training, recreation and environmental education programmes. It provides an
opportunity for users to experiment with use of 'green' technologies and living within resource limits
Target Zero Special Award
Joint winners of the Target Zero Award were Fonterra’s Clandeboye eco-efficiency programme, and Orana Park,
Highly Commended was:
Ashburton Meat Processors
Worm farm and office recycling.
Ashburton Meat Processors, Mid Canterbury, has developed a significant worm farm system for recycling animal waste.
Previously up to 800 tonnes of waste, mostly stomach pouches and pig hair, was taken to a landfill operated by the local
council. Production of vermicast from the worms is a marketable by-product. The company’s office recycling programme
results in all office waste being recycled on site.
Judges comment: This project represents an excellent approach to recycling of animal waste, removing the dumping of
hazardous waste from landfills and potential adverse effects on groundwater. It reflects a sustainable approach to the
management of industrial waste and potentially the long term sustainable management of the meat processing industry.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Award
Energy Mad
Energy efficient light bulb programme.
Energy Mad’s household efficient lighting project aims to sell five energy-saving “Ecobulbs” to 55% of New Zealand
homes, thereby saving enough electricity to power a city the size of Dunedin. To date 1.2 million energy efficient bulbs
have been sold, saving an estimated $120 million for consumers over the life of the bulbs and reducing carbon dioxide
emissions by 450,000 tonnes per annum.
Te Mata o te Tuatara Te Rünanga o Ngäi Tahu Special Heritage Award
Ngäi Tahu Mäori Rock Art Trust and Meridian Energy
The winners of this year’s inaugural award were finalists in community category of the 2004 awards and have again been
nominated for a continual dedication to their important work.
They are jointly awarded the Te Mata o Te Tuatara Award for their outstanding work and commitment in protecting,
managing and raising awareness of Mäori rock art sites and resources in the Canterbury Region, particularly in South
Canterbury, where the highest density of Mäori Rock Art in New Zealand is located.
Rock Art is of national importance and greatly adds to the cultural heritage of all New Zealanders providing important
tangible links to the lives, activities and environmental conditions of the past. The artwork is extremely vulnerable to
natural processes and human activities making The Rock Art Trust and Meridian Energy worthwhile recipients of the
inaugural award.
Environment Canterbury Award for Excellence in Environmental Journalism
Tim Cronshaw, The Press, Christchurch
For a two-part series on the future of irrigation water in Canterbury.
Judges comment: Tim Cronshaw was a worthy winner for his in-depth analysis of a vitally important resource management
issue in Canterbury. The two-part series addressed the challenges facing the region in providing irrigation to ensure
the future of farming when water is no longer cheap and readily available. This entry stood out because it fostered
public understanding of a complex resource management issue through well-researched, interpretive journalism.
Future Environmentalist Award: Joint winners
Sarah Smith, Kaikoura High School
Sarah's achievements include:
- Attending the Enviroschools Conference April 2006
- Leader of Kaikoura High schools eco-council
- Native tree planting in the school grounds
- Put in full application for funding for tree planting project - Biodiversity Fund - Kaikoura District Council
- Writing of the schools Environmental Education policy
And
Tom Baker, St Bede’s College, Christchurch
Some of Tom's achievements include:
- Development and maintenance of an organic school vegetable garden
- School composting
- Attendance at the Environmental forum in Wellington
- Using his ability and talents in the arts including sculpture and design to re-educate students when thinking about
waste and New Zealand's ecological footprint
ENDS