Conservators and city councils are among those recognised by the Government for their work in promoting the environment and conservation.
Environment Minister David Benson-Pope announced the winners of this year's Green Ribbon Awards yesterday, UN World Environment Day.
The awards aim to raise environmental awareness, and have beenpresented for 17 years. Sixty-nine nominations were made for this year's awards.
The community action for the environment award was shared by Dunedin environment educator Fiona Gibson and Cambridge couple David and Juliette Wallace who created a pest-free conservation area on their property.
Construction of a 47km pest-proof fence around the Maungatautari bushline enabled 15 kiwi and two takahe to be reintroduced.
Karori Sanctuary in Wellington and Invercargill City Council's new river estuary landfill project - which turned a rubbish tip into a picturesque estuary and park - jointly won the urban sustainability category.
The television series WA$TED! won the sustainable business award for encouraging households to adopt sustainable environmental practices.
The rural sustainability award went to Andrew and Jenny Hayes and their sons Alastair, Derek, Rodney and Fred, of Hamilton, for improving the health of local peat lakes.
The family dairy farm in Horsham Downs surrounds Lake Kaituna and part of Lake Komakorau.
The Hayes created a buffer of wetland vegetation around the two lakes.
Three Auckland sisters won the "young people making a difference" award.
Ashley, 12, Courtney, 9, and Brooke Varney, 6, are volunteers at the Motutapu Restoration Trust where they plant trees, remove weeds, work in the nursery and support the rest of the volunteer crew.
The Caring for our Water award went to Uretara Estuary Managers, of Katikati, in the western Bay of Plenty, for the restoration of the Uretara Estuary.
