Kapiti Coast water school competition makes national waves

A Kāpiti Coast District Council competition for local schools has resulted in a major national award for the man who came up with the idea.

Mayor Jenny Rowan said the awarding of the prestigious Te Oranga Wai prize to Waikanae Water Treatment Plant supervisor Bruce Nesbitt was a major boost for the district’s water conservation and education programme.

Mr Nesbitt was awarded the $5000 prize by ThermoFisher Scientific on behalf of the Water Industry Operators Group for the development of an essay competition for local secondary school students on the topic of “Where does our water come from and how does it get to our tap?”

“Our Council has been working hard on raising awareness of the precious nature of water and we are proud that our staff have been so active in pushing water conservation initiatives. Mr Nesbitt’s award is wonderful recognition of our work in this area,” Ms Rowan said.

The competition had helped to highlight the importance of water for the district generally, and had increased the understanding of the district’s water supply to students. “More and more people in the district understand that our water is precious, and it’s particularly pleasing that the younger generation is taking that message on board,” Ms Rowan said.

A special ceremony will be held for Mr Nesbitt. The Te Oranga Wai prize comes with a precious pounamu carving that would be welcomed formally to the district on June 23.

Meanwhile, the inaugural winners of Kāpiti Coast District Council’s water competition for schools and students are from Ōtaki, Waikanae and Paraparaumu, Mayor Jenny Rowan said today.

Nicholas Flaws of Ōtaki College took top prize in the essay competition on the topic of “Where does our water come from and how does it get to our tap?”, while Kapanui School in Waikanae took the honours for “Best water conservation programme by a school in the district.”

“We’re delighted with the high standard of the entries,” Ms Rowan said. The competition had helped to highlight the importance of water for the district generally, and had increased the understanding of the district’s water supply to students. “More and more people in the district understand that our water is precious, and it’s particularly pleasing that the younger generation is taking that message on board,” Ms Rowan said.

One of the judges, Water Industry Training Manager Annie Yeates, said the competition was a first for New Zealand. “We would hope that other districts will pick up on this excellent initiative,” Ms Yeates said.

First prize winner Nicholas Flaws prize package includes four weeks paid summer holiday employment at Kāpiti Coast District Council, a digital camera (courtesy of Water Industry Training) and a $100 iTunes voucher (courtesy of Water Industry Operations Group of New Zealand).

Another judge, Water Industry Operations Group executive Dave Neru, said the competition highlighted the excellent career opportunities the water industry presented to school leavers. “The water industry is a vibrant and growing industry that offers careers at all levels,” Mr Neru said.

The judges – including Ms Yeates, Mr Neru, Bruce Nesbitt (Waikanae Water Treatment Plant Supervisor, Kāpiti Coast District Council) and Phil Stroud (Water Project Manager, Kāpiti Coast District Council) - also awarded a merit prize to Paraparaumu College student Sam Jenkins. Sam will receive a $100 iTunes voucher.

Kapanui School will receive a Water Conservation Trophy, four rain barrels for their garden, visits from Council’s water saving experts – the Green Plumber, the Green Gardener and the Eco Design Advisor, as well as three MP3 players.

The competition was launched on World Water Day 2010 in March at schools throughout the district. All prizes would be awarded at a special ceremony later this month.

ENDS

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