Rangatahi Leadership - Rangatahi, rangawhenua, rangatangata
This category celebrates 'leaders in the making' (individuals or groups of rangatahi/young people) (under 18 years) showing commitment and leadership to reducing waste in their communities / Mō te rangatahi e whakapau ngoi ana ki te hāpai me te ārahi i te kaupapa para kore.
This is the best category for school groups, school children, and environmentally focused youth groups.
However, to nominate an educational organisation, eg. an early childhood centre, for their efforts as a business rather than for the rangatahi efforts within the centre, use the Community Collaboration category.
To nominate an individual over 18 years old, including a teacher or educator who is leading or supporting rangatahi, please use the Growing The Movement category.
For a school wide project where there is a large adult support and adult-led component, please use the Community Collaboration or Growing the Movement category.
In 2021 the winner in this category was Faiesea Ah Chee, who was President of the Kelston Girls High School Environmental Committee during 2020, leading waste minimisation activities including a waste audit which provided compelling evidence to the school’s Board of Trustees to set up recycling stations.
Growing the Movement - Whakakanohi i te kaupapa para kore
This category celebrates 'local heroes' (individuals or groups) raising awareness, inspiring change, and spreading their tautoko/support of the pare kore kaupapa / zero waste purpose / Mō te tangata, ratonga rānei e whakapau werawera, e whakakanohi ana hoki i te kaupapa para kore.
This category is for recognising the efforts of individuals or groups, rather than businesses, who are spreading awareness of the zero waste kaupapa. If you are nominating a business or social enterprise, please use Innovation or Community Collaboration.
In 2021 the winner of this category was Joseph Youssef, the founder, Chief Encourager and trustee of All Heart NZ Charitable Trust. In helping build up All Heart NZ, Joe has become an advocate for zero waste, encouraging businesses to set up more sustainable procurement processes.
Community Collaboration - Hā ora, Hāpori
This category celebrates local businesses or social enterprises ‘walking the talk’ demonstrating commitment in building community partnerships to reduce waste / Mō te pakihi, ratonga rānei e mahi ngātahi ana ki te hāpori kia para kore.
This category is for recognising a business or social enterprise, rather than an individual. It is for businesses or social enterprises that are building community partnerships. To celebrate the work of an individual, please use another category.
In 2021 the winner was Perfectly Imperfect Charitable Trust who are all about rescuing food, tackling the issue of pre-harvest food loss by gleaning produce that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it to those in need, and those that don’t mind a few blemishes.
Cultural Connection - Whīria te ahurea, whīria te kaitīakitanga
This category celebrates individuals or groups ‘keeping it local’ using culturally appropriate approaches to educate, inspire and manāki/care for their communities to reduce waste / Mō te tangata, rōpu rānei e whīria ana te ahurea hei whakamana i te kaupapa kia para kore.
This category is for recognising individuals or groups who work with people using an culturally-specific approach.
2021 winner Victoria Azaro, through her project The Travelling Sewing Box, gives migrant and refugee women the opportunity to celebrate their own cultural background, life journeys and memories through textile crafts inherent to their own culture and repurposed fabric waste, while celebrating the value immigrant women bring to Aotearoa.
Innovation - Anga whakamua
This category celebrates zero waste initiatives ‘making it happen’, demonstrating innovation, the circular economy in action, and promising results / Mō te auaha, mō te ihumanea, mō te ihuoneone e anga whakamua kia para kore.
This category is for recognising a project/initiative, rather than an individual. To celebrate the work of an individual, please use another category.
In 2021 the joint winners were The Link Alliance, the lead contractor delivering the City Rail Link, and TROW Group, a business specialising in deconstruction and soft strip of buildings. By working together, more than 58 tonnes of usable materials were salvaged from buildings needing to be demolished or relocated for the City Rail Link construction project. These materials were then shipped to Tonga and used to rebuild community buildings following Cyclone Gita.