Environmental Hero of the Year announced

The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards celebrated the dedication and commitment of those in our communities doing their bit to make Aotearoa a better place for us all. 

The Environmental Hero of the Year Te Taiao o Te Tau Award celebrates those in our communities protecting and restoring our unique taiao (environment) and safeguard for future generations.  

As Ministry for the Environment Chief Executive James Palmer said, “What we know at the Ministry is it’s the actions of every New Zealander, every day, that ultimately determines whether we step closer to a truly sustainable future.”   

"It’s the work that is often unpaid and unseen, by tens of thousands of New Zealanders of all ages, in every town, in every region, that is protecting and restoring the natural systems that we all depend upon for our wellbeing." 

Among the nominees we awarded the Environmental Hero of The Year award to protector of our coast lines and the co-founder of national charity Sustainable Coastlines, Camden Howitt. 

As a member of Pricewaterhouse Cooper’s Sustainability and Climate Change team and the Aotearoa Plastic Pollution Alliance, Camden is a driving force for collaborative solutions for te taiao. He has spent the past 14 years devoted to ending ocean pollution and regenerating nature. He has also designed and delivered community environmental programmes around Aotearoa and the South Pacific, engaging 150,000 volunteers in protecting the places they love. 

Camden's dedication is making an impact. To date, the charity team has removed a staggering 1.7 million litres of litter from our coastlines, planted 330,000 trees to restore waterways, and provided education for ocean action for 250,000 people, most of which were school students.   

“We had been working in schools for over a decade, speaking with over a quarter of a million children, and found what we were doing was actually working.” 

During the development of the plastic bags phase out, several children had been inspired by the Sustainable Coastlines Trust and decided to write letters to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pleading to solve our plastics and pollution crisis. At the launch of the plastic bags phase out, a few children read out their letters. Watching the children understand the change they’d enacted through action affirmed the purpose of Camden and his team’s mahi. 

“It shows us that if we can give our rangatahi and our tamariki a voice, and much more importantly, if we listen, there is no end to the problems we can solve.” 

Camden has also been recognised for his work with MfE through Litter Intelligence [Sustainable Coastlines website] funded through the Waste Minimisation Fund, which was the first illustration of citizen science included in the 2019 Our Marine Environment report. 

The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards honour those who use their passion to make our country a better place. Camden was joined by Simon Hall and Jessi Morgan as finalists for the Environmental Hero of The Year Award. 

We also congratulate Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year, Dr Rangi Mātāmua. 

As Co-Chair of Ministry for the Environment’s Mātauranga Māori and Insights Panel, Rangi was also a mentor and guardian that sat in a governance role for the development of Environment Aotearoa 2022, the first State of Environment report where we used a Te Ao Māori frame of Matariki for our narrative.   

“Matariki speaks to the best parts of who we are. Those stars are celebrated around the world. They mark when to plant, when to harvest, when to celebrate, when to come together when the new year is upon us. And they have always been a shining light within the history of humanity.”

As we commemorate the many amazing New Zealanders who were nominated, we reflect on Camden's words as Environmental Hero of the Year.   

“There is no one winner here. There is no one solution. We need everyone working together, doing their bit every day. So, this is for you all. Kia ora.”

Watch the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa ceremony [YouTube].