Christchurch Boards won two out of four of the inaugural Community Board Best Practice Awards and two of four Highly Commended placings. New Plymouth MP Harry Duynhoven and Dean Finton from sponsor, Powerco, presented the awards on 14 June.

The Shirley/Papanui Community Board was most successful among the Christchurch Boards. It won the Supreme Award in the Significant Project Category for its 40-year vision for the Styx River and was Highly Commended in the Facilitation Category for initiating and encouraging Neighbourhood Week.

The Burwood/Pegasus Community Board won the Supreme Award in the Facilitation Category for its Project Employment Environmental Enhancement Programme (PEEEP), which works to improve the environment and assist jobseekers.

A Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board project aimed at upgrading Linwood Park was Highly Commended in the Consultation Category. Presentations made by the Boards were each judged in one of four categories – Facilitation, Consultation, Significant Project and Partnership.

A Grand Winner Award was also presented. It went to Raglan Community Board for its community consultation around the development of a $2 million community facility.

Yvonne Palmer, chairperson of the Shirley/ Papanui Community Board, is “absolutely delighted” with her Board’s success.

“To win two awards from the four presentations that we made was just superb. It makes me proud to think that Shirley/Papanui is one of the leading Boards in the country.”

Don Rowlands, the Burwood/Pegasus Community Board Chairman, says his board’s award is for a scheme that has a double benefit. “Not only does it enable environmental work to be done for community organisations and public areas but it also provides volunteers with work skills, and employment for a number of people in the community,” he says.

Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board Chairperson Bob Todd says his Board’s placing is “real recognition of a process that worked well. Much of the credit for it must go to the Advocacy Team in putting together the project and submitting the nomination.

Mrs Palmer, who is also chairperson of the New Zealand Community Boards Executive Committee, says the Best Practice Awards were initiated by the New Plymouth Community Boards. It is hoped they will be presented every two years.