“Southlanders are humble and rarely seek attention for the remarkable environmental mahi they’re quietly working away at in our communities.”

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Environmental leaders of today and the future were celebrated at the 29th Environment Southland Community Awards in Invercargill on Friday evening.

Winners ranging in ages from 11 to those in their 80s took top honours at the awards evening, which showcased the passion, innovation and dedication of Southlanders driving environmental mahi in our region.

Te Anau entrepreneur Zac Marsh of Soft Plastics Recycling Te Anau received the 2025 Councillors’ Award, which recognises exceptional mahi of a finalist from any award category. Zac Marsh’s win acknowledges the 11-year-old’s inspiring story of single-handedly setting up a soft plastics recycling service in Te Anau.

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. The Kew Bush Restoration and Education Programme won the Environmental Action in the Community Award.

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

“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.

“Each finalist is a shining light that empowers and encourages others to follow their example.

“This year we celebrate a diverse range of winners who, through dedication, innovation, and collaboration, are making Murihiku Southland a better place now and for future generations.”

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Marine scientist Rebecca McLeod earned the prestigious Kaitiaki Tohu Pou Award for her dedicated service to the preservation and protection of Fiordland.

Duncan Jennings’ Flaxhill Farm took out the Environmental Action in Wetlands & Waterways Award, acknowledging the family’s dedication to environmental stewardship and wetland development to drive water quality improvement.

Deer To Care won the inaugural Emerging Environmental Action Award, providing those in need with the meat harvested from feral deer control.

Southland Carbon received the Environmental leadership and Innovation in BusinessAward 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 won the Environmental Action in Biodiversity and Biosecurity Award for its volunteer work to enhance the ecological health of rare native species at Tuatapere Scenic Reserve.

Mararoa School was applauded for weaving kaitiakitanga into everyday learning, which saw it win the Environmental Action in Education Award.

The dedication and breadth of farmers Chris and Andrea Bulleid and their family’s on-farm mahi was recognised with Glengordon Farm’s win of the Environmental Leadership in Farming Award.

Cam McCulloch’s 19 years at the helm of the Waiau Fisheries and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Trust was recognised with his win of the Individual Environmental Leadership or ActionAward.

Winners of the 2025 Environment Southland Community Awards are:

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