Freshwater Champions Aotearoa New Zealand celebrates individuals and communities who are helping to restore and protect the health of our freshwater.
The inaugural Freshwater Champions event will be held on 23 May 2024 in Wellington. As well as celebrating the efforts of people working to restore freshwater health by presenting Freshwater Champions, there will be an accompanying forum where thought leadership and capabilities in freshwater science are demonstrated.
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Freshwater Champions. See further info below.
Stay tuned to this webpage, follow #freshwaterchampions on Cawthron’s social media accounts or sign up to our newsletter to remain up-to-date on information about this event.
Nominate a Champion today!
We want to hear about the great work that is being done – by individuals and groups – to improve the health of our freshwater environments.
Nominations close on 31 October 2023.
Keep scrolling to find out more about the entry criteria, assesors and background to this event.
Puniu River Care – 2021 River Story Award Winners
“Anyone can start a nursery and plant trees, but it’s the why that matters – our goal is to bring the river back to what it was in the ’70s.”
Shannon Te Huia, CEO Puniu River Care
Criteria for assessing Freshwater Champions nominations
Values and objectives
- Clearly defined catchment values and objectives representing the wider community.
- Alignment with Te Mana o te Wai, Te Mana o te Taiao.
- Who’s involved, partnerships, connections, collaboration/collective action.
- Involvement of mana whenua.
- Short and long-term priorities.
- Understanding of the scale of action needed to achieve objectives.
- Knowledge sharing – types of mechanisms, within group and external to the group, scale of sharing (national vs local).
On-the-ground actions
- Innovation and creativity.
- Who’s involved, partnerships, connections.
- What are the on-the-ground actions being applied e.g. farm plans, wastewater treatment, wetland protection, riparian planting, chemical or irrigation management, stock management, fish passage enhancement.
- Are they recording their actions?
Making a difference and encouraging others
- Who’s involved, partnerships, connections.
- Evidence of what has changed e.g. stocking rates, land use, plants planted, fences built.
- Effective monitoring and mechanisms for measuring change e.g. using NEMS-endorsed methods or cultural monitoring.
- Scientific evidence of improvements e.g. published on LAWA or elsewhere.
- Knowledge sharing – types of mechanisms, within group and external to the group, scale of sharing (national vs local).
Future-proofing the efforts
- Reflecting on challenges/problems and how they are being tackled.
- Continuous improvement.
- Leadership, succession, intergenerational involvement.
Assessment Panel
This year’s event will be assessed by the following Cawthron Scientists.
Dr Joanne Clapcott
Dr Kati Doehring
Dr Kiely McFarlane
Dr Roger Young
Background
Launched in 2023, this event replaces the Cawthron New Zealand River Awards, a biennial event that has been celebrating freshwater restoration efforts by groups and individuals since 2013.
Our objectives are to:
- Raise public awareness about the importance of freshwater health
- Recognise and celebrate those who have contributed to improving the state of rivers and lakes, wetlands and estuaries, and
- Share actions being taken by individuals, communities and organisations
Cawthron Institute’s founder, Thomas Cawthron, believed science was the key to a better future. Our involvement in this event came about due to the scientific expertise we hold in freshwater ecology. We’re privileged to deliver an event that will see landowners, businesses, central and local government and Māori join Cawthron to celebrate freshwater restoration efforts and explore the latest science about freshwater ecology and restoration solutions.
Freshwater Champions Aotearoa New Zealand is proudly delivered by Cawthron Institute in collaboration with the following organisations.
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