Communities, whānau and environmental leaders from across New Zealand have been recognised for their efforts to restore and protect freshwater ecosystems.
Five Freshwater Champions and a special recognition award recipient were named at the Freshwater Champions Forum at the Suter Art Gallery on 28 August. The awards were presented by Cawthron Institute with support from NZ Landcare Trust.
More than 60 nominations were received from across Aotearoa, with Cawthron Institute freshwater ecosystems group manager Dr Roger Young noting the diversity and quality of entries reflected the growing commitment to freshwater restoration.
“Communities are facing increasing pressure on freshwater resources, and these Champions demonstrate the impact that local action can have. Their work shows how people can come together to improve freshwater outcomes in ways that are both practical and enduring.”
The recognition comes as communities across New Zealand respond to increasingly complex freshwater challenges, including climate-related flooding and drought, pressure on water quality and the need to build more resilient catchments.
The 2026 Freshwater Champions were:
• The Riddiford whānau, for their work through the Ruamāhanga Farm Foundation in South Wairarapa.
• Mana Moana Three Lakes, for bringing together the Whakakī Lake Trust in Hawke's Bay, Wairewa Rūnaka in Canterbury and Lake Ōmāpere Trust in Northland to restore and protect the mauri of their culturally significant lakes.
• Sam Ludden, for his contribution to freshwater restoration, environmental education and cultural leadership across Wairarapa.
• Arapārera Community Catchment Society, for planting more than 3000 native trees, undertaking fish and eDNA monitoring, completing freshwater mussel surveys and installing water quality monitoring equipment across an 8800ha catchment flowing into Kaipara Harbour.
• The Lake Rotorua farming community, represented by the Lake Rotorua Primary Producers Collective and Te Arawa Arataua, for its long-term contribution to improving water quality in the Lake Rotorua catchment.
A Special Recognition Award in Māori Engagement was presented to Dr Te Kīpa Kēpa Brian Morgan, who has created practical tools that help iwi, councils and communities assess freshwater health in ways that reflect both cultural and environmental values.
