The trio were named at a ceremony at Our City O-Tautahi this evening. Commended was the regional council, Environment Canterbury, with a Certificate of Merit for Services to the Environment for its Living Canterbury Gallery at Canterbury Museum.

Bernard Robert (Bernie) Hansen, who died in May aged 82, has won the award for Services to the Environment. He was a strong and persuasive advocate for the seaside suburb and the environment and took part in many community groups. The Port Hills and Estuary were particular concerns, and over many years Mr Hansen used his influence and intellect on their behalf, speaking at meetings and writing letters to newspapers and councillors and making submissions on resource issues.

Christ’s College has repeated its 1998 awards success by winning the Built Environment category, this year for its Arts and Technology Centre. In 1998 the school won for its ongoing use of heritage buildings and for integrating a range of building designs in a place of learning.

Although it is tall at four stories, the new Arts and Technology Centre sits comfortably among five Historic Places Trust-listed buildings. It was designed by architects Sir Miles Warren and Alec Bruce and opened in June.

Clearwater has won the Natural Environment category. The $100 million resort development has about 190ha of land. It includes an international standard golf course woven around natural waterways and spring-fed lakes, equestrian trails, jogging tracks, walkways and fishing streams.

• The City of Christchurch Environmental Awards have been running since 1998. They were set up by the City Council as a significant and practical way of promoting achievement of the city’s environmental policies and are presented for outstanding contributions by individuals, groups, organisations or companies.
  
  Past winners have included the New Brighton Pier Library and clock tower, the Christchurch Beautifying Association, Broadoaks subdivision, Riccarton Bush and the Summit Road Society.