This category recognises individuals or groups who are working collaboratively within their community to protect and improve Northland’s environment.

The winner of this award will demonstrate:

• A commitment to working collaboratively within their community to deliver a successful environmental project
• Measurable outcomes that show how the project/contribution supports and advances ecological values in Northland.

This category recognises individuals or groups who are working to control pest animals, pest plants, and/or diseases to help our native life flourish.

The winner of this award will demonstrate:

• A commitment to a project or activity that is working to protect, restore or improve biodiversity on land and/or in the water
• Measurable outcomes that show how the project/contribution supports and advances ecological values in Northland.

This category recognises those in the education sector who are driving learning and action to bring about change on environmental issues. The award includes but is not limited to schools, kura kaupapa Māori, early childhood centres or tertiary institutions, and can include groups or individuals.

The winner of this award will demonstrate:

• A commitment to a project that engages and empowers students to protect the environment
• Measurable outcomes that show how the project supports and advances ecological values in Northland.

This category recognises individuals or groups who are taking action to protect and enhance water quality and biodiversity values within water bodies in Northland.

The winner of this award will demonstrate:

• A commitment to helping improve water quality and/or protect, conserve, or restore biodiversity through soil conservation, erosion control and/or riparian management
• Measurable outcomes that show how the project/contribution supports and advances ecological values in Northland.

This category recognises businesses (individual or a collective) that demonstrate a notable contribution to the sustainable development of natural resources in Northland.

The winner of this award will demonstrate:

• A commitment to a project/activity that uses innovative systems, technologies, processes, or practices to protect and/or improve Northland's environment
• Measurable outcomes that show how a project/activity brings about positive outcomes for the environment that go beyond standard techniques or regulatory requirements.

This category recognises an individual or group whose leadership, support of others and willingness to share ideas and resources is making a significant contribution to Northland’s environment.

The winner of this award will demonstrate:

• A commitment to a project that supports the protection and improvement of Northland's environment
• Leadership and support of others, contributing to the achievement of a collective environmental goal.

This category recognises a young individual or group, aged 12-24, whose leadership, support of others and willingness to share ideas and resources is making a significant contribution to Northland’s environment.

The winner of this award will demonstrate:

• A commitment to a project that supports the protection and improvement of Northland's environment.
• Leadership and support of others, contributing to the achievement of a collective environmental goal.

This category recognises individuals or groups who are taking action to adapt to a changing climate and transition to a low-carbon future for Northland.

The winner of this award will demonstrate:

• A commitment to a project that addresses projected climate change impacts on communities and natural systems and takes action to adapt to these changes
• Measurable outcomes that show how the project/contribution seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or improve resilience to climate change in Northland.

This category recognises the unique relationship tangata whenua have with natural and physical resources in accordance with tikanga Māori, and is open to whānau, hapū, iwi, and Māori organisations.

The winner of this award will demonstrate:

• Outstanding kaitiaki leadership and a commitment to empowering whānau, hāpu, iwi to take action to restore or sustain the mauri of the taiao
• Measurable outcomes that show inter-generational environmental kaitiakitanga that includes growing the current and future capacity of tangata whenua to protect and improve the environment of Te Taitokerau.