Keep NZ Beautiful - finalists announced

Keep New Zealand Beautiful has announced the finalists for this year’s Beautiful Awards.

The awards celebrate the environmental excellence of Aotearoa communities, businesses, schools and individuals.

Keep New Zealand Beautiful CEO Heather Saunderson says: “Over the past six months, Covid-19 has shifted the global landscape, and its long-term effects remain unclear: How long will this last and what will people’s lives and the environment look like once this is over?”

Celebrating environmental excellence, small wins and beautiful behaviour, whether personal or professional, is now more important than ever. And that’s precisely what the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards are all about,” she says.

There are 13 awards - the most hotly contested are the location based categories - Most Beautiful Small Town (Waiheke Island and Arrowtown), Most Beautiful Large Town (Cambridge and Hastings) and Most Beautiful City (Whanganui and Hamilton).

The finalists must have demonstrated sustainable and environmentally conscious behaviours across four key areas: Litter Prevention and Waste Minimisation, Community Beautification, Recycling Projects and Sustainable Tourism.

Arrowtown is a finalist in the Most Beautiful Small Town Category. Image credit - Unsplash, Nik Shuliahin.

Heather Saunderson says her team has had some “amazing nominations this year, that show, by working together, we will come out of this pandemic a stronger community and a stronger nation, with a more sustainable future. All of the towns and cities finalists have worked hard to secure a spot in the top six.”

Waiheke Island is the other finalist in the Small Town category. Image credit - Unsplash, Kevin Pottier.

The team at Keep New Zealand Beautiful says the organisation has been at the forefront of driving environmental change through the education, inspiration and empowerment of communities across New Zealand for more than half a century.

The Beautiful Awards is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the efforts of all Kiwis, in particular, those who have gone above and beyond to help Keep New Zealand Beautiful.

“The role Keep New Zealand Beautiful plays is vital and it’s a role that we’re passionately committed to.” says Saunderson. “In order to achieve this, collaboration and cooperation with central government is essential.”

The Routeburn Track is a finalist in the Kiwis’ Choice category. Image credit - Unsplash, Andreas Sjovall.

The winners will be announced in October at a gala dinner in Auckland.

Here is the list of finalists;

Most Beautiful City

Whanganui

Hamilton

Most Beautiful Large Town

Cambridge

Hastings

Most Beautiful Small Town

Waiheke Island

Arrowtown

Best Loo

Anderson Park toilets, Napier

Hunua Falls Toilet, Auckland

Waitati Public Toilet, Otago

Best Street

Main Street, Cambridge

Victoria Ave, Whanganui

Rangiora Street, Whanganui

Kiwis’ Choice

Hunua Falls, Auckland

Ruakuri Bush Walk, Waitomo

The Routeburn Track, Fiordland National Park and Mount Aspiring National Park

Community

Community Environmental Initiative Award

TerraCycle's Oral Care Recycling Programme

Tarata Stream Team

Seagull Centre

Community Group Award

OneCoast

Beautify Waitara

Progress Castlecliff

Sustainable Schools

Murchison Area School, Murchison

Aparima College, Riverton

Rangi Ruru Girls' School, Christchurch

Most Sustainable Business Project

Sport Wellington

Vendella

Discover Waitomo

Tidy Kiwi

Susan Hodkinson

Des Watson

Gary Mitchell

Young Legend

Jessica Lamb

Joe Howells

Oli Kirke

Local Hero Winners

Katherine Clayton

Joe Sherriff & Jo Wilson