Regional council recognises environmental volunteers’ work

An 11-year-old Te Anau boy who set up his own soft plastics recycling business was among the winners at the 29th Environment Southland Community Awards in Invercargill last night.

Zac Marsh of Soft Plastics Recycling Te Anau received the 2025 Councillors’ Award, which recognises exceptional mahi of a finalist from any award category.

Octogenarian Allan McPherson has been one of the driving forces behind Friends of Kew Bush for decades.

The group teamed up with Southern Institute of Technology’s School of Environmental Management to continue restoring Kew Bush’s rare kahikatea forest while using it as an outdoor classroom and living laboratory, earning the Environmental Action in the Community Award.

Environment Southland chairman and awards judge Nicol Horrell said the environmental initiatives going on across the region were incredible.

‘‘Southlanders are humble and rarely seek attention for the remarkable environmental mahi they’re quietly working away at in our communities. It is our privilege to honour their achievements.’’

Marine scientist Rebecca McLeod was awarded for service to the preservation and protection of Fiordland.

Duncan Jennings’ Flaxhill Farm was acknowledged for dedication to environmental stewardship and wetland development to drive water quality improvement.

Deer To Care won an award for providing those in need with meat from feral deer.

Southland Carbon was recognised for turning forestry residues and plant material into biochar, which when added to livestock feed, soils and waterways can reduce environmental harm.

The Tuatapere Reserve Pest Control Charitable Trust was commended for work at Tuatapere Scenic Reserve.

Mararoa School was applauded for weaving kaitiakitanga into everyday learning.

Chris and Andrea Bulleid and their family’s Glengordon Farm’s won the Environmental Leadership in Farming Award.

Cam McCulloch won an individual award.

Winners

• Emerging Environmental Action
Winner: Deer To Care 

• Environmental Action in Biodiversity and Biosecurity
Winner: Tuatapere Reserve Pest 

• Control Group Charitable Trust Environmental Action in Education
Winner: Mararoa School
Highly Commended: Deep Cove Outdoor Education Trust and Fiordland Marine Guardians - Fiordland Education Programme

• Environmental Action in the Community
Winner: Kew Bush Restoration and Education Programme
Highly Commended: Waikawa Catchment Group

• Environmental Action in Wetlands and Waterways
Winner: Flaxhill Farm - Duncan Jennings
Highly commended: Wards Wetland Environmental Leadership and Innovation in Business
Winner: Southland Carbon 

• Environmental Leadership in Farming
Winner: Glengordon Farm - Chris and Andrea Bulleid 

• Individual Environmental Leadership or Action
Winner: Cam McCulloch 

• Councillors’ Award
Winner: Soft Plastic Recycling Te Anau - Zac Marsh 

• Kaitiaki Tohu Pou Award
Winner: Rebecca McLeod

- Allied Media