This year the River Stories celebrate the contributions of our young people and New Zealand journalist and natural history author, Gerard Hutching, has identified the following 2017 finalists:
• Hawkes Bay: Te Kaha Hawaikirangi is only 30-years old and has spent many years leading the charge to restore the Tutaekuri River in Hawkes Bay
• Canterbury: Children from 16 schools are working hard to bring back the whitebait/inaka to Heathcote/Opawho and Avon/Otakaro Rivers
• Otago: Kauru River is the place where university students took their research out of the classroom into the field; the resulting technology is now used around the world to manage freshwater
The River Story component of the Awards is sponsored by Waitomo Group, part of Tourism Holdings – for whom water quality management is a priority and area of focus in Waitomo. John Robson, GM Waitomo Group says "I feel heartened knowing that these people will be leaders in the river space in years to come and our company is pleased to be associated with showcasing efforts that are representative of our desire to improve New Zealand waterways."
The winning River Story will be announced at an event in Wellington on 23 November. The River Awards, which recognise the most improved rivers in each region and nationally, will also be announced. For more information contact:
Elizabeth Bean | Cawthron Foundation Manager, Cawthron Institute. Email: foundation@cawthron.org.nz, Tel: +64 (0)3 539 4336, Mobile: +64 (0)27 4148781