Ecology award for Nelson man

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 20

Ecology award for Nelson man

PA Nelson A member of Nelson’s Ecology Action group, Mr Luke Newnham, has been awarded one of three Young Conservator of the Year awards announced by the Minister for the Environment (Mr V. S. Young).

The other two were Form 7 students from Hamilton — Victoria Watt and Kay Buchan, both aged 17. Mr Young said that Mr Newnham had been prominent in special projects from Ecology Action, which incorporated the efforts of students from Nelson’s four secondary schools.

The projects included: the recycling of plastic wastes to raise over $l2O for the Nelson Environment Centre; submissions on the Clutha project and the Town and Country Planning Act: the planting of approximately 300 native trees behind Nelson College; and research into pollution in Jenkin’s Creek.

His biggest contribution to conservation, said Mr Young, had been a submission on behalf of

Ecology Action to the Minister of Forests this year, on the exploitation of the west Taupo rain forests, in which he urged the protection of indigenous forests ahd their native wildlife. The awards aie madeannually to people under 20, who have shown out, standing enterprise and Interest in the cause of conservation. Winners of the Young Conservator of the Year group award were the Hamilton Junior Naturalists Club, Ulex Eropaeus, and the pupils of the Taumarunui High School. Citations were awarded to people of all ages and occupations, as well as various organisations, in recognition of outstanding conservation work. The 1978 citations went to the Waihi Sea Scout Group: Mr P. Every. Dunedin; Mrs McMillan, Dunedin: Messrs Turner; C. Holdsworth, and J. Hutchinson (all of Christchurch); Martinborough . School. Palmerston North East District Girl Guides’ Association; Mrs K. Miller, Porirua; Mr D. Crockett, Auckland; and Mrs Moncrieff, Nelson.