Earlier this year I was contacted by Andrew Garwaith from New Zealand River Awards, a project of the Morgan Foundation, and asked to share the Friends of the Maitai story and how our group is making a difference to the health of our local waterways.
On behalf of the Friends of the Maitai, I will be attending the Awards ceremony in Wellington on the 27th of November with the support from Nelson City Council.
The awards recognise two inspirational river stories – examples of a community or an individual working hard to restore the health of their local river or stream. There are many great stories out there and it is wonderful to see the upwelling of collaborative action around Aotearoa. Some groups are engaged in monitoring water quality and biological diversity while others focus on replanting stream banks and restoring fish habitats, or increasing community access to local waterways.
The Morgan Foundation choose the winners of these Awards, and for the inaugural Awards ceremony look for groups that stand out in terms of their ongoing commitment to local streams and rivers; the application of science to their work; the extent of their collaboration with others; the obstacles they overcame and what they are achieving.
By recognising two river stories each year the Morgan Foundation aims to spread the message that individuals and community groups can make a difference. By highlighting their stories they hope to inspire others to focus on restoring an important part of their local environment.
For more information visit http://nzriverawards.org.nz/nz-rivers-newsletter-june-2014/
By Ami Kennedy