2021 Cawthron New Zealand River Awards Finalists
2021 Cawthron New Zealand River Awards Finalists
The winners in all three categories of the Cawthron New Zealand River Awards have now be announced. Congratulations to these incredible freshwater champions and to the finalists in all categories. Read and watch their stories below.
Catchment With Most Progress Toward Improved River Health Award
WINNER - Manawatū Awa - Manawatū River Leaders' Accord (Manawatū)
Over a decade later, the Accord has delivered two Action Plans, and three major multi-organisational implementation programmes, with an extensive monitoring programme in place that can now demonstrate progress against the Accord’s objectives.
SECOND PLACE - Maraetotara Awa - Maraetotara Tree Trust (Hawkes Bay)
Almost twenty years later, the community can see the effects of work on the river, and landowners are increasingly supportive of the project.
THIRD PLACE - Pāpāwai-Mangarara Awa - Pāpāwai-Mangarara Stream Restoration Group (Wairarapa)
River Story Award Finalists
WINNER – Pūniu Awa (Waikato)
Pūniu River Care is an environmental restoration organisation based at Mangatoatoa Marae which employs local whānau to do the mahi. Established in 2015, the group has helped local Iwi learn, grow and use their mātauranga Māori to clean up this awa, restore the tuna habitat and improve biodiversity. They are partnering with local landowners and the Waikato Regional Council, and MfE is also supporting this project through the Freshwater Improvement Fund…
SECOND PLACE – Kaūpokonui Catchment (Taranaki)
Fish can move freely up and down Kaūpokonui Stream for the first time in 120 years thanks to the removal of a disused weir.
Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust led the charge to remove the 3m high weir, which is located on private land, about 5km off the coast of South Taranaki. Fonterra Kāpuni, Taranaki Fish and Game, South Taranaki District Council and the Taranaki Regional Council also contributed to the project. Monitoring results since the weir’s removal indicate the intervention had an immediate positive impact…
THIRD PLACE – Makarora/Makarore Wilkin/Otaenui Catchment (Otago)
A partnership between Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand and the Aspiring Biodiversity Trust is helping to protect and restore the indigenous biodiversity of the Makarora/Makarore and Wilkin/Otanenui Rivers in Otago by enabling threatened species monitoring, pest and weed management, and habitat restoration in the Makarore/Otanenui Catchment. While still early days, the Aspiring Biodiversity Trust is making great strides towards restoring indigenous biodiversity and connecting people with nature…
River Story Award Semi-Finalists
Puhinui, Tāmaki Makarau/Auckland
Rangitīkei, Manawatū
Upper Waipoua, Wairarapa
River Voice (Reo Mō Te Awa) Award Winner – Forest & Bird
The Reo Mō Te Awa Award celebrates a person or organisation that is an outstanding advocate and communicator of freshwater environmental issues.
Selected by trustees of the New Zealand Rivers Trust, the recipient of this award is acknowledged for their credibility, influence and relevance and their proven ability to deliver results against their objectives.
New Zealand Rivers Trust judges selected Forest & Bird as the 2021 recipient of this Award in acknowledgement of their significant influence on land and water management practices.
The judges commend Forest & Bird for their commitment to protecting wildlife and wild places in Aotearoa, and their 100-year legacy of positive impact on people and the environment.