Community awards terms and conditions
Terms and conditions of entry
The Environment Southland Community Awards recognise environmental excellence and effort in the community. They are organised and run by the regional council, Environment Southland, and are community-based awards focused on the region of Southland and its people.
Nominees and their project/s must:
- be for the benefit of Southland
- clearly demonstrate impact and outcomes of achievement
- show how their contribution makes a positive difference to Southland’s environment.
It is the responsibility of the person who enters the nomination to ensure all parties agree to their nomination and are aware of these terms and conditions of entry and what is involved. It is also that person’s responsibility to ensure adequate and appropriate information is provided about the project with the nomination.
It is the responsibility of the nominator to ensure nominees understand they are sharing their contact details with Environment Southland.
Nominees may be contacted as part of the Environment Southland Community Awards Alumni programme.
Nominees may only enter once in three years, unless the project is different or has had significant changes. (Any acceptance within the three-year period is at the discretion of Environment Southland Award organisers.)
Political activist groups and/or lobby groups are not eligible.
If a nominee or member of a nominated group is standing for an elected position in an election year, they cannot front the nomination.
Judges have the discretion to move nominees between categories if they believe it is appropriate.
Environment Southland reserves the right to use discretion in the acceptance or non-acceptance of nominations in relation to any matters, including
- For a nominee connected or affiliated to a political group/cause that could be detrimental to Environment Southland and/or its work
- For a nominee with a compliance history/record at Environment Southland
- For a nominee with a public profile contrary to the community spirit of the awards or detrimental to Environment Southland and/or its work.
It is intended that judges will visit all the sites of all nominations where possible. However, judging visits will be capped at 25 nominees. If more than 25 nominations are received, it will be at the discretion of the judges as to whether more visits will take place or a shortlist of finalists is made.
Nominees will receive a visit from the judging panel at an arranged time, suitable to both the nominee and the judges within the allotted judging period. It is the nominee’s responsibility to ensure they are available at that time to meet with the judges. This could take up to an hour, or even longer for farm visits.
Environment Southland will endeavour to accommodate nominees, but if a suitable date/time cannot be found, the nomination will be held over until the following year or will be removed at the request of the nominee. The nomination could also be considered without at site visit, if this is agreed to by both the nominee and the judges.
Information provided on the nomination form may be used for initial judging and the judges will read the nomination form prior to any visit. The judges’ visit will be an opportunity for a nominee to add additional information and to show what they have achieved. This could include details of the project, its history, how it has been managed, the contribution of individuals and its impact in the community.
Nominees will be filmed/photographed (usually at the time of judging) and may appear in print and social media.
Environment Southland is the sole owner of any images, footage or interview material collected during the awards judging process and reserves the right to use this media at its discretion.
The final edit of material (photo, video or written content) is at the discretion of Environment Southland and is not subject to approval from the nominee. The material may also be used in other Environment Southland collateral at the discretion of council staff.
Sponsors may reproduce award content for their own use, including nominee videos or photos.
Use of award branding by nominees and winners must be approved by Environment Southland award organisers.
