The awards were handed out as part of the network’s two-yearly conference, being held for the first time in Wakatipu.
Shotover Primary School pupil Audrey Austin (13) was named young plant conservationist of the year for her impressive efforts, often in her own time.
Audrey had attended all the local community planting days in the Wakatipu and school planting days at the Shotover wetlands.
She also worked in the school garden and grounds every lunchtime, and worked with younger pupils to teach them skills to look after and grow natives, while also volunteering at Kiwi Park Queenstown, formerly the Kiwi Birdlife Park.
Her school won the "school plant conservation project", for its work helping to restore the Shotover wetland, identified as regionally significant in 2016.
Along with helping plant 2500 eco-sourced plants around the periphery of the wetland, nestled within the Shotover Country subdivision, and staged planting of appropriate native eco-sourced species, the pupils had also been involved with the monitoring of environmental health indicators.
The project’s success had attracted corporate support, both financially and physically, to help the school achieve its 10-year goal of 4500 plants around the wetland.
It had also encouraged the pupils to take control of the school’s internal landscaping, resulting in them spearheading the design, planning, planting and maintenance of the school grounds. About 1500 eco-sourced natives were planted over three years.
The pupils also have their own nursery and have started collecting and propagating plants.
