More than 90 nominations have been lodged for the Northland Regional Council's inaugural Environmental Awards 2019, designed to recognise people and organisations working hard to protect and enhance the region's environment.
Thirty-nine of the 93 nominees have been named as finalists in eight categories, with the winners named at a ceremony in Whangarei on May 23.
Council deputy chairman David Sinclair said the award categories covered a broad range of environmental enhancement projects and activities, while a supreme award would also be presented.
"The finalists represent a real cross-section from right across the region, including individuals, groups and community group leaders, iwi, farmers, forestry and schools," he said, adding that a lot of work had been done by a four-strong panel of internal staff and external experts to review all 93 nominations.
The council had hoped for several dozen entries, and to receive just a few short of 100 in the awards' first year was a remarkable achievement, he said.
