Mountains to Sea wins Environmental Leadership award

Some of the Northland Mountains to Sea team, award in hand!

On June 26, some of our Northland team swapped flippers and gumboots for high heels and button-ups at Northland Regional Council’s Environmental Leadership Awards.

The evening celebrated the mahi of individuals and organisations across Northland including catchment groups, environmental orgs, tangata whenua, community groups, and schools. 

It was immensely satisfying to see many of our partners and friends nominated too, including Ngā Kaitiaki o te Ahi,  Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust - Te Pou Taiao, Ngā Kaitiaki O Ngā Wai Māori, Whangārei Girls' High School, Te Kura O Hato Hohepa Te Kamura, Tiaki Nga Wai O Hokianga, The Love Bittern Project, Hurupaki School, Bay of Islands International Academy and Piroa Conservation Trust to name a few! We’ve had the privilege of working alongside them as they’ve done their awesome work on the ground, and it’s fantastic to see their mahi acknowledged.

After lots of good food and good company, we were humbled to walk away with the Environmental Leadership Award. 

While the award is nice, we’re just thankful for what the award represents: a huge amount of on-the-ground conservation and engagement mahi we’ve collaborated on and supported in communities across Northland. The sort of mahi that’s often invisible, but vitally important when it comes to environmental protection and restoration.

To the people who delivered or supported that work - every farmer who planted carex in the cold, every kura who supported a kina count, and our Mountains to Sea team with feet on the whenua every day in Tai Tokerau, this one’s for you.