Community Awards
Te Tohu Kahika o te Taiao Award
Winner: Jenny Campbell
For the first time, Te Tohu Kahika o te Taiao Award was included in this year’s Awards ceremony. The name of the award draws on the kahikatea tree, traditionally seen as an anchoring pillar in the environment. Its strength comes not only from the tree itself, but from its network of roots, providing enduring support and protection to those around it.
Te Tohu Kahika o te Taiao Award was awarded to Jenny Campbell. Year after year, Jenny has worked quietly behind the scenes, finding, encouraging and championing people doing incredible things for the environment across Murihiku Southland. Her support has helped bring their mahi into the spotlight, ensuring countless stories of environmental action are recognised and celebrated.
Jenny's contribution is woven through the history of these awards and well deserving of this special recognition.
Environmental Action in Education
Kindly sponsored by Fonterra
Winner: Thornbury School
Thornbury School has embraced a whole-school approach to sustainability, embedding environmental action into everyday learning, student leadership and school life.
Through the Enviroschools programme, students are actively involved in projects such as composting, worm farming, recycling, food production, native planting and stream health monitoring. These initiatives help develop practical skills while building an understanding of environmental stewardship and kaitiakitanga.
Students also play a key role in identifying and implementing solutions, creating meaningful change within the school and wider community.
Environmental Action in Biodiversity and Biosecurity
Kindly sponsored by the Invercargill Licensing Trust
Winner: Sandy King - Paws for Conservation
For more than a decade, Sandy King has been using specialist conservation dogs to help protect Rakiura and the southern islands from invasive pests.
Following a rat incursion on Ulva Island in 2010, Sandy trained her first conservation dog and has since developed a highly specialised biosecurity service that supports conservation and eradication efforts across the region.
She also works closely with Tītī Islands whānau, schools and community groups, helping raise awareness of biosecurity issues and the importance of protecting native wildlife.
Environmental Action in Biodiversity and Biosecurity
Kindly sponsored by the Invercargill Licensing Trust
Highly Commended: Hollyford Conservation Trust
Native birds are returning to the lower Hollyford Valley thanks to more than 10 years of dedicated predator control and habitat restoration by the Hollyford Conservation Trust.
The project involves predator trapping, bait station maintenance, weed control and wildlife monitoring across 18,000 hectares of the lower Hollyford Valley within Fiordland National Park and the Pyke Forest Conservation Area with the support of more than 200 volunteers.
The environmental benefits have been significant. Native bird populations, including kākā, and korimako bellbirds and mātātā fernbirds, have increased, while reintroduced kakaruai South Island robins, once thought locally extinct, have successfully established a breeding population. Native forests, including red-flowering rātā, are recovering, creating healthier habitats for wildlife.
Environmental Leadership and Innovation in Business
Kindly sponsored by Milford Sound Tourism
Winner: Bluff Distillery
Based at the former Ocean Beach freezing works site in Bluff, the Southland craft gin producer has built environmental thinking into many parts of its operation since starting in 2021.
Distilling typically requires large volumes of water for cooling, but Bluff Distillery has found a practical solution by repurposing seawater from a neighbouring pāua farm. This significantly reduces the amount of freshwater needed during production.
Making the most of existing resources to minimise material waste is another key part of the business’s approach, including working with bottle manufacturers and suppliers to reuse packaging.
From ongoing efforts to reduce its overall footprint to using an electric vehicle, the business is demonstrating how small, practical changes can contribute to better environmental outcomes.
Environmental Leadership and Innovation in Business
Kindly sponsored by Milford Sound Tourism
Highly Commended: Toni and Rob Auld, Boohai Wetlands
The Boohai Wetland restoration project is a family-led initiative that brings together farming, tourism, distilling and environmental stewardship on the Auld family's fourth-generation Southland farm.
Established in 2023, the project focuses on restoring and protecting the ecologically significant Boohai Wetland through activities including pest control, wetland fencing, native planting and ecological restoration.
Working alongside Environment Southland, Thriving Southland, Wildland Consultants and Pukerau Nursery, Toni and Rob Auld are protecting habitat, supporting biodiversity and improving environmental outcomes within the wider Otautau Stream catchment.
The project also provides opportunities for visitors to learn about sustainable farming, biodiversity and environmental stewardship.
Environmental Action in the Community
Kindly sponsored by Real NZ
Winner: South Coast Environment Society
For around 30 years, the South Coast Environment Society has been helping people across western Murihiku Southland build practical skills in sustainability, food production and environmental stewardship.
Operating from its Riverton environmental centre, the volunteer-driven organisation provides education, resources and support through initiatives including the Longwood Loop, Heritage Harvest Festival, Open Orchard Project and Bountiful Backyards workshops.
A key focus of the Society's work is strengthening community resilience through local food production and environmental learning. More than 20,000 heritage fruit trees have been distributed across the region, helping preserve valuable varieties while encouraging people to grow their own food
Environmental Action in the Community
Kindly sponsored by Real NZ
Highly Commended: KiwiHarvest
More than 1.3 million kilograms of surplus food has been rescued and redistributed to help support vulnerable communities across Southland since KiwiHarvest opened its Invercargill branch in 2021.
KiwiHarvest works with local supermarkets, growers, manufacturers and other food businesses to collect good quality surplus food and distribute it free of charge to community organisations to pass on to their clients. In Southland, 38 agencies regularly receive food, including food banks, emergency housing providers, domestic violence shelters and community support services. This helps people access food while also connecting with other wraparound support.
By rescuing food before it reaches landfill, KiwiHarvest reduces food waste and cuts methane emissions from decomposing food, creating positive outcomes for both people and the environment.
Emerging Environmental Action Award
Kindly Sponsored by Southern Land & Water Planning
Winner: Riversdale Community Garden
What began as a small volunteer-led project in 2020, has grown into a flourishing community garden that provides fresh food, practical gardening skills and a place for people to connect.
The initiative has inspired others to get involved, with Riversdale residents now donating surplus produce from their own gardens to share with those who need it.
The group is helping build practical skills and self-sufficiency by teaching volunteers and school groups how to grow their own food. These hands-on lessons encourage people to grow produce at home, helping reduce food miles while building healthier lifestyles and greater food resilience.
Environmental sustainability is also an important focus. The garden makes use of recycled and repurposed materials wherever possible, including wood chips and reused fence posts.
Emerging Environmental Action Award
Kindly Sponsored by Southern Land & Water Planning
Highly Commended: The Southern Environmental Working Group
The Southern Environmental Working Group is an emerging community-led initiative focused on supporting good environmental practice within the forestry sector. Working alongside forestry companies, communities and regulators, the group encourages practical improvements in areas such as track construction, riparian margin management and responsible forestry establishment.
Through regular meetings and collaboration, the group is helping build stronger relationships and create opportunities for continuous improvement across the industry.
Environmental Leadership in Farming
Kindly sponsored by Wynn Williams
Winner: Pāmu Mararoa Station
Pāmu Mararoa Station is demonstrating how productive farming and environmental stewardship can work together through a strong focus on innovation, monitoring and continuous improvement.
The farm has invested significantly in wetlands, riparian planting and waterway protection, while adapting its farming system to better reflect the natural characteristics of the land. Less productive areas have been retired to support environmental outcomes without compromising overall performance.
A key feature of the operation is its use of data and monitoring to inform decision-making and track environmental progress.
Environmental Leadership in Farming
Kindly sponsored by Wynn Williams
Highly Commended: Mangapiri Downs Organic Stud Farm
Mangapiri Downs Organic Stud Farm is a family-owned sheep and beef operation near Blackmount that has been farmed by the Gow family since 1939. Tim and Helen Gow converted the property to organic production in 1989 and have developing farming systems centred on soil health, environmental stewardship and natural processes.
A key feature of the farm is sabbatical fallowing, where sections of the property are rested to support soil health, pasture regeneration and biological activity. The farm has developed innovative livestock breeding programmes, including Shire sheep and polled Highland cattle, with genetics now used by breeders around New Zealand.
Alongside their farming operation, Tim and Helen have shared their knowledge through field days, conferences and industry events, helping encourage discussion around organic farming and alternative approaches.
Individual Environmental Action or Leadership
Kindly sponsored by ANZ
Winner: Glenda Rees
A tiny, endangered bird has inspired more than 15 years of dedication from one Southland volunteer. Since 2011, Glenda Rees has made the journey from Gore to Awarua, often several times a week, to watch over the pukunui Southern New Zealand dotterel.
The pukunui is a critically endangered shorebird only found in Southland.
Glenda monitors the birds and shares her observations with Department of Conservation’s Pukunui Recovery team. Her long-term records provide valuable information to build a better understanding of the Awarua population and support wider conservation efforts to protect the species.
By dedicating her time and expertise as a volunteer, Glenda is helping ensure better protection for the endangered pukunui, contributing to efforts to safeguard the species for future generations.
Individual Environmental Action or Leadership
Kindly sponsored by ANZ
Highly Commended: Robyn Guyton
Robyn Guyton has been a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability, food resilience and community education in Murihiku Southland for more than four decades.
Through initiatives including the Riverton Environment Centre, Heritage Orchard Project, Longwood Loop Resiliency Project and a range of community events, Robyn has inspired others to explore sustainable living, food production and environmental stewardship.
A strong focus of her work has been preserving heritage fruit tree varieties and sharing practical knowledge that helps communities become more self-sufficient and resilient.
Councillors’ Award
Winner: Mid Dome Wilding Trees Charitable Trust
For nearly 20 years, the Mid Dome Wilding Trees Charitable Trust has led efforts to protect northern Southland's high-country landscapes from the spread of wilding conifers.
Established in 2006, the Trust was formed in response to the growing threat posed by wilding pines around Mid Dome and the surrounding area. Working alongside landowners, government agencies, volunteers and community groups, it has played a leading role in developing and delivering long-term wilding tree control programmes.
Community education and advocacy have been central to the Trust's work, helping build awareness of the environmental, economic and biodiversity impacts of wilding conifers and encouraging action across the region.
Kaitiaki Tohu Pou Award
Winner: Pete Young
Pete Young work spans marine conservation, predator eradication, environmental education, sustainable fisheries management and coastal clean-up initiatives, bringing together volunteers, iwi, government agencies, tourism operators and the fishing industry.
One of the most visible projects is the Fiordland Coastal Cleanup, removing marine rubbish and plastic waste from remote beaches across Fiordland and Rakiura Stewart Island. Supported by volunteers, the initiative has removed an estimated 60 - 70 tonnes of rubbish from Rakiura alone.
Pete has also played a key role in protecting Fiordland’s marine environment through the Fiordland Marine Guardians and the CRA8 management system.
Pete has supported predator eradication programmes on Coal Island and Chalky Island and the work of the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation. He is also involved with the Deep Cove Outdoor Education Trust, teaching school groups.
