Marlborough Environment Awards
Winners of Awards Announced
"The winners of the seven Awards categories were announced at the presentation dinner at Drylands Restaurant on Friday 6 May. Public field days will be held to visit the winning entrants on Wednesday 18 and 25 May and Wednesday 1 June. All welcome. Full field day programme and overview of the winning entries.
Supreme award: The FMR vineyard sprayer team, Nathan Cummings, John Marris (sponsor, Marlborough Research Centre), Rob Agnew (sponsor, Plant and Food Research), Andy Noble, Blake Old and Max Lewis.
List of Entrants in the 2010-2011 Awards
Entrants in the Awards (22 Kb)
Why Enter?
- Most entrants put themselves forward because they want to share their experience and information.
- Prizes for all categories are cash or goods to the value of $1000. One winner is selected for the Supreme prize of an additional $2000.
- All entrants receive a written report from the judges. This feedback is an auditing opportunity that highlights positives and suggests improvements.
- Entrants receive one complimentary ticket to the presentation dinner
- The winners are showcased at a public field day.
- Most entrants, and especially the winners, receive positive publicity and media attention.
- Participation builds a positive image for Marlborough industries, which helps attract a premium for our produce.
Which Category?
- The seven award categories are: Winegrowing/Horticulture, Farming, Forestry, Habitat Enhancement, Efficiency, Landscape and Innovation. Each winner is put forward for the Supreme Award.
- Choose the category you think is the nearest fit.
- Judges may also suggest your entry for another category. For example, a winegrowing/horticulture entry could be eligible for a landscape award.
- It is best to enter your whole enterprise. While one aspect may stand out as especially commendable, the judges’ visit is an opportunity to take a look at practices in other areas.
- You may re-enter the awards except in a category you have won in the past six years
The Judging Process
A team of three judges will visit your property over summer, at a time that suits you. Judging will take up to three hours. Be ready to give an overview of your enterprise or project, show the judges around, and answer questions designed to identify how your enterprise is environmentally responsible and how it could improve.
Judges will look for all or some of the following:
- Impacts on the soil, water and air and efforts to minimise negative effects.
- Responsible disposal of waste.
- Efficient use of resources including water, energy, fuel and labour.
- Sustainable weed, pest and disease management.
- Community responsibility.
- Staff/industry/community education role.
- Biodiversity values.
- Landscape and conservation values.
- Innovative practices.
- Awareness of Resource Management Act 1991 requirements and of potential impacts on Marlborough’s natural environment.
Judges do not consider the finances or management of the entry.
To prepare for the judges’ visit, be ready to discuss the impact your business has on the environment and what you are doing to minimise negative effects. Have evidence to show how you are meeting your environmental goals. Plan where you will take the judges. While no written information is required it would be useful to prepare summary notes and show judges relevant documents.
Case study of a winning entry from 2009 - Marlborough Plumbing and Heating
Completed Entry Form (357 Kb)
Judges' Feedback (922 Kb)
Efficiency Award - Nikki and Rob Marshall of Marlborough Plumbing and Heating (86 Kb)
Marlborough Express Publicity (561 Kb)
About the Awards
- The Marlborough Environment Awards were established in 1997 to celebrate and showcase local efforts to run a successful business or project while looking after the environment.
- Categories are: Winegrowing/Horticulture, Farming, Forestry, Habitat Enhancement, Efficiency, Landscape and Innovation. Each winner is put forward for the Supreme Award.
- A small team of judges visits entrants from December to February and provides written feedback about each enterprise.
- Winners are announced at a presentation dinner in May. The winning properties host a public field day to share information and ideas.
- The awards are held every two years and are run by a charitable trust. Trust members include the Marlborough District Council, Federated Farmers, The Marlborough Environment Centre, the Winegrowers’ Association and the Marlborough Forest Industry Association. While not a trust member, the Department of Conservation is also closely involved in running the awards.
- The awards are funded by the Marlborough District Council, local sponsors and ticket sales to the presentation dinner.