Green Ribbon Environmental Award To Waiuku Farmer

A Waiuku farmer has won the environmental Green Ribbon Award for his outstanding contribution to sustainable land management on his own property and for his support, advice and help to landcare groups.

"The national Green Ribbon Awards recognise the contributions and achievements made by groups and individuals towards a healthy and sustainable environment," says Associate Minister for the Environment Hon Marie Hasler.

"David Craig, is a farmer, landowner, and a foundation member of the Awhitu Landcare Group. He willingly provides advice and help to other new landcare groups, as well as demonstrating on his own land practical ways for farmers to care for the environment."

Ms Hasler said his projects have included designing and building an environmentally friendly effluent system for his cowshed, fencing and re-establishing four large wetlands to provide habitats for birds, and fencing-off and planting along streams, areas of native bush and fragile coastal land prone to erosion.

All this property development is done with consideration for the sacred hill Puketapu, a Maori historical pa site of paramount importance to the Ngati Te Ata tribe.

Speaking at the launch of the Environmental Education Resource Directory, Ms Hasler said it is highly appropriate that many of this year's winners are playing a very positive role in environmental education.

This year's other two Green Ribbon Award winners are the Kids Edible Garden Project in Christchurch and Palmer & Son Limited of Dunedin.

Ms Hasler also highly commended three other nominees: the Christchurch City Council Water Services Unit, the Waikato Environmental Business Network and Resene Paints Limited.

The awards were announced to mark the celebration of World Environment Day, Saturday 5 June.

AWARD WINNER PROFILES

1 DAVID CRAIG
Hamilton Road, Awhitu
Central No 4RD, Waiuku
Phone/fax 09 235 1280

Mr Craig, a farmer and landowner, is a founding member of the Awhitu Landcare Group. He willingly provides advice and help to other new landcare groups, as well as demonstrating on his own land practical ways for farmers to care for the natural environment.

His projects have included fencing and re-establishing four large wetlands to provide habitats for birds, and fencing off and planting along streams, areas of native bush and fragile coastal land which is prone to erosion.

Mr Craig's property is a 280ha rolling to steep contoured dairy farm on the west coast of the Awhitu Peninsula. For the past eight years he has fenced, retired and planted all sand erosion on coastal strip, wetlands, streams and bush, a total of 30ha, at his own cost and in his own time. He also has established a large wetland for the breeding of wetland birds.

As recycling is his main aim Mr Craig has designed and built an effluent system for his dairy-shed and this system is used as an example by councils.

All trees used in the project are grown in a large shade house on his property. All the seeds are collected locally and up to 5000 trees grown per year in conjunction with trees for survival and Awhitu Landcare.

All development work undertaken on the property is done in consideration of the sacred hill Puketapu, a Maori historical pasite of paramount importance to the Ngati Te Ata tribe.

2 KIDS EDIBLE GARDEN PROJECT Frankie Dean
PO Box 327, Christchurch 8015
or 29 Standbridge Streets
Spreydon,
Christchurch
Phone 03 339 8775 (Home)

The Organic Garden Trust was formed in 1997 with the aim of promoting sustainable organic living in Christchurch and to improve the quality of life and the environment for Christchurch residents by education and training in organic practices.

One of their initiatives was to introduce the Kids Edible Garden Project for schools so children can learn how to grow their own vegetables, flowers, herbs and fruit. This enhanced the idea of a 'nibble garden' which was originally promoted by a parent in 1996.

The aim is for every Christchurch primary school to be a model and to promote practical environmentally sustainable principles. This involves producing zero waste through the three 'Rs'(reduce, reuse and recycle), creating edible gardens,producing compost, worm farming, and integrating environmental education into the curriculum.

A team of volunteer teachers, parents and gardeners officially launched the project in 1998. Within six months, 20 schools had built edible gardens and were busy eating their harvest, making compost and learning more about a sustainable world.

The project is a total team effort with support from volunteers of numerous Christchurch community groups, local businesses and Crown Public Health.

Schools all over New Zealand are reportedly interested in taking part in the project.

3 PAMER & SON LIMITED PO Box 68
Dunedin
Mr JP Hunter (Managing Director)
Phone 03 473 7739 (Home) or 03 477 8335 (Bus)

Palmer & Son Limited have been quarrying proprietors in Dunedin since 1880. During this time the company has operated quarries at North East Valley and Logan Point. The North East Valley quarry ceased operations in 1980 after operating for nearly 100 years.

The Institute of Quarrying accepts that the end result of quarrying can be an eyesore and that more could and should be done to remedy the problem. The Institute believes that the work of Palmer & Son Limited is an excellent example and standard for the industry to follow in the future.

Palmer's aim in 1989 was to landscape the quarry in order to visually diffuse the effect of the quarry face as seen from the surrounding residential areas.

Over the past 10 years, more than 20,000 shrubs and trees have transformed the site into an asset that benefits the entire community. The walkways, roads and park areas are well supported by the local community and over the past two years a sound shell has been established for large outdoor concerts.

The project was awarded the New Zealand Quarry Industry's 1993 Nissan Award for Environmental Excellence and the Otago Regional Council (1997) Otago Environmental Award.

Palmer & Son Ltd is still owned by members of the founding Palmer family, with fifth generation family members involved in the running of the company today.