1. The Styx
  2. Become Involved
  3. Awards & Milestones

Awards & Milestones

Young Totara Awards

The Young Totara Award is an initiative of Rotary New Zealand. As part of the “Preserve Planet Earth” project each district Rotary Club is encouraged to seek out young people who display strength of character, courage of conviction, care of community, and pursuit of excellence.  Rotary New Zealand believes that by recognising young people with these qualities they can easily promote their ideals and encourage positive role models for the growing generations.

In June 2008 the Christchurch City Council, in conjunction with the Shirley/Papanui Community Board, gave approval to the Rotary Club of Belfast Kaiapoi to plant Totara trees in a specific area of Styx Mill Conservation Reserve. A Totara tree is planted each time the Rotary Club presents an award to a young person in its locality. Although the planting of Totara trees in the reserve was only approved in 2008 all previous award winners will also have a tree planted in their honour in the Styx Mill Conservation Reserve.

The Totara tree was chosen as an appropriate symbol of leadership and strength. One of the largest trees within a New Zealand native forest, its timber was prised by Maori as being the best for building their massive war canoes. It was also the main timber used for carving, and bridge or wharf construction.

Maori speak of the spirit of the Totara and its common ancestry with the people. They consider it a living elder, and therefore a sacred tree symbolising respect.  The Totara is regarded as being the king of the forest, protecting other trees. For this reason, the Totara tree is an appropriate symbol to recognise leadership amongst young people.

The following saying is often quoted when a leader dies:

Ka hinga te totara i te wao nui a Tane, engari, mate atu he tete kura, whakaete mai he tete kura.

"The Totara tree in Tane's great forest has fallen, however, a leader falls, and another leader thrusts his way to the front."

Winners of the Young Totara Awards presented by the Rotary Club of Belfast Kaiapoi

YEAR RECIPIENT
2022 - 2023 Bianca Manzano
2019 - 2020 Amelia Garvey

2016 - 2017

 Alexandra McCracken
2015 - 2016 Daniel Cooper
2014 - 2015 Caleb Skene
2012 - 2013 Miranda Hitchings
2011 - 2012 Ruben McCartney
2010 - 2011 Claire Everts
2009 - 2010 Rachel Haythornthwaite
2006 - 2007 Andrew Oswin
2005 - 2006 Hannah Cramp
2004 - 2005 Felicity Upjohn
2002 - 2003 Tatum Rickard
2000 - 2001

Scott Shepherd
1998 - 1999 Erin Kelly
1997 - 1998 Helen Edwards
1994 - 1995 Joanne Cribb
1992 - 1993 Graham Todd

 

 

General Awards

Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board Awards

The Styx Living Laboratory Trust won 3rd place in the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board Awards for our conservation efforts in the Catchment.

Planothidium victorbrowniiVictor Brown

13 September 2010

Special award from the Styx Living Laboratory Trust 

Planothidium victorbrownii is a new alga species discovered and isolated in the Styx River catchment in 2010. This name has been proposed as a tribute to Victor Brown’s significant contribution to the community volunteer monitoring work of the Styx Living Laboratory Trust.

 


 

Certificate of Appreciation for Christine HeremaiaChristine Heremaia

1 July 2009

Special Award from the Shirley Papanui Community Board

Christine Heremaia was presented this certificate of appreciation for her leadership and vision in enhancing the Styx River. 

Presented by Yvonne Palmer (Chairperson)

 

 

Victor Brown

18 June 2007

Community Service Award 

 

 

2003 Best Practice AwardsShirley Papanui Community Board

2003

1st Place for the Category of Significant Project

Community Boards Best Practice Awards, a national award funded by The New Plymouth District Council & Power Co, Awarded the Shirley / Papanui Community Board, 1st Place for "The Styx Project", a 40 year vision involving the Shirley Papanui Community Board, Christchurch City Council, Tangata Whenua, other organisations and members of the Styx catchment community.


 

 

Thiess-International-RiverPrize-Finalist 2001Styx River Project

2001

International Thiess Riverprize finalist

Riverprize is the world’s foremost award in river basin management. It recognises and rewards organisations making waves in the sustainable management of the world’s rivers. Winners and finalists become part of a network of river practitioners and experts from around the world.

International River Foundation

 

Milestones

 

YEAR DATE EVENT DESCRIPTION
2010 2 November Improving Urban Waterway Health, Interagency Group meeting Field trip co-hosted by SLLT. Talks by Victor Brown, Leila Chrystall and Chris Phillips.
 2009  17 January  The Brooklands Lagoon Experience  A guided walk through the nothern and southern sections of the Brooklands Lagoon with 2008 Royal Society Teacher Fellow, Graeme Worner examining the diverse plant communities within the Lagoon.
2008
2008 17 November Lecture - "What is the Future of Brooklands Lagoon" 2008 Royal Society Teacher Fellowship holders, Peter Cooper and Graeme Worner present results of their year's research on sedimentation and vegetation in Brooklands Lagoon.
2008 July Styx Living Laboratory Trust Monitoring Volunteers Eureka Trust funding enables distinctive, weather proof uniforms to be provided for use by monitoring volunteers.
2008 4 May Styx Community Planting Day Partnership event hosted by Green Effect Trust, Honda Tree Fund, Trees for Canterbury and Christchurch City Council.
2008 1 March Styx Living Laboratory Trust 4th Annual Styx Function for Volunteers. Source to Sea Bus trip for community volunteers.
2008 14 - 16 February Wai Wetlands Symposium Three community monitoring volunteers sponsored to attend the Wai Wetlands Symposium held at Canterbury University.
2008   Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship The Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand awarded to Peter Cooper. Research topic: Brooklands Lagoon - Past, Present and Future (sedimentation).
2008   Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship The Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship administered by t he Royal Society of New Zealand awarded to Graeme Worner. Research Topic: How do salt marshes age? Temporal and spatial changes in structure and composition (Brooklands Lagoon).
2008   Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship The Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand awarded to Sue Pearce. Research topic: The Styx Web.
2007
2007 November 2007 to February 2007 Styx Living Laboratory Trust's Summer Scholarship Styx Living Laboratory Trust's Summer Scholarship awarded to Katie Collins. Research topic:Spatial Distribution of Aquatic Invertebrates, Styx River, Smacks Creek and upstream of Styx Mill Conservation Reserve.
2007 6 October Styx Living Laboratory Trust Workshop Workshop for Community Volunteers. Topic: Macrophytes.
2007 15 September Styx River Bus Trip and Memorial Service Bus Trip through the Styx catchment for Styx Living Laboratory Trust personnel, inclusing Memorial Service on site of accident resulting in death of Chair of Trustees, Graham Condon.
2007 18 October 5th Annual Styx Living Laboratory Trust's Annual Event 5th Annual Styx Living Laboratory Trust's Annual Address. Speaker: Professor Steve Wratten. Topic: Vineyards, backyards, and biocontrol:biodiversity at work.
2007 10 September Styx Living Laboratory Trust 6th Annual General Meeting
2007   Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship The Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship administered by t he Royal Society of New Zealand awarded to Willem C. van den Ende. Research topic: An Identification Guide to the Freshwater Aquatic Macrophytes of the Styx Catchment.
2007   2006 Styx Living Laboratory Trust's Summer Scholarship Styx Living Laboratory Trust's Summer Scholarship awarded to Guinevere Coleman. Research topic:The effectiveness of restoring the Radcliffe Road drain: a comparison with the Styx River.
2006
2006 18 October 4th Annual Styx Living Laboratory Trust's Annual Event 4th Annual Styx Living Laboratory Trust's Annual Address. Speaker: Dr Bryan Jenkins. Topic: The Styx and beyond: Ecan's role in water management.
2006 18 September Styx Living Laboratory Trust 5th Annual General Meeting
  3 September Annual Styx Planting Day Community working together to plant eastern end of Redwood Springs.
2006   Launch of book 'Settling Near the Styx River' Launch of the second information history book, 'Settling Near the Styx River' by Dennis and Helen Hills.
2005
2005 3 December Styx Living Laboratory Trust Volunteers Function Thank you to volunteers for work during the year plus discussion with experts regarding community monitoring programmes and results.
2005 November 2005 to February 2006 2005 Styx Living Laboratory Trust's Summer Scholarship Styx Living Laboratory Trust's Summer Scholarship awarded to Shona Sam. Research topic: Invertebrate sampling of the Plant Trial area. 75 Lower Styx Road.
2005 15 October Community Invertebrate Monitoring Programme Laboratory Training Day Training of volunteers in invertebrate monitoring and use of microscope.
2005 1 October Community Invertebrate Monitoring Programme Training Day Practical field training for volunteers in how to collect samples and record data.
2005 29 September 3rd Annual Styx Living Laboratory Address University Lecturer, lawyer, writer and environmentalist, David Round delivers the 2005 Styx Living Laboratory Address entitled, “A people, a plain, a river: living together in the 21st century.
2005 29 September Styx Living Laboratory Trust 4th Annual General Meeting.
2005 18 September Annual Clean up the Styx Day Clean up of the lower reaches of the river and environs by members of the community.
2005 28 August Annual Styx Planting Day In conjunction with Belfast Rotary and Christchurch City Council, members of the Community work together planting areas at 608 Marshland Road.
2005 August Lincoln University Environmental Management students complete assignment using Styx catchment as model.
2005 1 July Styx Living Laboratory Research Co-ordinator commences Dr Eric Scott contracted by the Styx Living Laboratory Trust to Co-ordinate the development and promotion of research and monitoring prorgammes in the Styx catchment.
2005 8 - 11 June Styx Project presented as model at International Event Styx Project presented as model at the International Workshop of Administration and Local Government Sustainable Development Safe Guarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Promoting Inner City Networks Conference held in Gangneung City, South Korea.
2005 29 May Community Planting Day Styx Mill Conservation Reserve In conjunction with Trees for Canterbury, members of the Community, along with several members of the Crusader Rugby Team work together planting further areas of the Reserve.
2005 30 April Pa Harakeke Field Day Field Day event at Janet Stewart Reserve to clean up and harvest Harakeke.
2004
2004 20 November Workshop for community monitoring volunteers Styx water quality monitoring group meet for training workshop.
2004 18 November Volunteers Function and Seminar Thank you to volunteers for work during the year plus discussion with experts regarding reasons for certain Monitoring results.
2004 20 September Styx Living Laboratory Trust 3rd Annual General Meeting.
2004 20 September 2nd Annual Styx Living Laboratory Address Scientist and author, Dr Rob McDowall, delivers the 2004 Styx Living Laboratory Annual Address entitled “Discovering New Zealand's freshwater fish fauna”.
2004 19 September Clean up the Styx A clean up of the lower reaches of the river and environs by members of the community.
2004 29 August Community Planting Day Community members work together to improve environment of the Styx River immediately south of Styx bridge on Harbour Road.
2004 July to August Canterbury University Students study in Styx Catchment Second year Civil and Natural Resources Students complete field studies in the catchment.
2004 7 July Styx Mill Wildlife Sanctuary Styx Mill Conservation Reserve Full funding for predator proof fence secured.
2004 15 June Styx website Developed and hosted online.
2004 12 May Community Planting Day Styx Mill Conservation Reserve sponsored by Trees for Canterbury.
2004 22 March Styx Living Laboratory Trust Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between partners Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury, Landcare Research, Lincoln University, National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
2003
2003 23 September First Annual Styx Living Laboratory Annual Address Ornithologist, Andrew Crossland, delivered the 2003 Styx Living Laboratory Annual Address entitled More than feeding the ducks - a vision for integrating wildlife into the proposed Styx Urban National Reserve.
2003 23 September Styx Living Laboratory Trust 2nd Annual General Meeting.
2003 21 September Clean up the Styx A clean up of the lower reaches of the river and environs by members of the community.
2003 12 September Possibilities for the Styx Living Laboratory Field Centre A public presentation by 3rd year Resource Management students from Lincoln University.
2003 7 September Community Planting Day Community planting day held at Styx Mill Conservation Reserve in conjunction with Trees for Canterbury.
2003 31 August Experience the Styx Community Planting Day Community planting day held at 608 Lower Styx Road.
2003 August Community Water Quality Monitoring Programme Abi Wightman appointed by the Styx Living Laboratory to co-ordinate a Community Water monitoring Programme in the Styx catchment.
2003 8 August Styx Living Laboratory Trust receives Certificate of Incorporation Certificate of Incorporation issued certifying that the Styx Living Laboratory Trust was officially incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957.
2003 3 July 51 Lower Styx Road Property at 51 Lower Styx Road purchased providing a wetland link between Janet Stewart Reserve and the Styx Living Laboratory Field Centre.
2003 18 May Inaugural plantings of Trial Plots at Styx Living Laboratory Field Centre Members of the community, Guardians of the Styx, Styx Living Laboratory Board of Management and Trustees plant out nine trial plots at 75 Lower Styx Road. Sponsors for this event were the Guardians of the Styx Community Group, and Wai-ora Forest Landscapes Ltd.
2003 February River Flow Community Monitoring Programme Community members form voluntary group to regularly monitor water flow at selected sites on Styx River and tributaries.
2003 26 January Celebration of the Styx Day A day for community to pause and consider and celebrate the pathway to date. A time also to consult and plan for the future.
2003 26 January Launch of book, 'The Styx Story' Launch of the first information history books 'The Styx Story' by Dennis Hills.
2002
2002 11 December Annual Report to Community Boards and key personnel First annual report presented to those involved in making decisions regarding future developments in the Styx Catchment.
2002 21 October Rafting on the Styx City Councillors and Living Laboratory personnel gain insight into some of the issues relating to the Styx River by touring it in rafts.
2002 22 September Clean up the Styx Day Starting at 955 Lower Styx Road members of the community clean up the area of the Styx River and Boating Reserve.
2002 1 September Community Planting Day Styx Mill Conservation Reserve Car Park Car parking and a bus stop established on the Styx Mill Road side of the Conservation Reserve. This area enhanced by the planting of 4,000 plants by members of the local community.
2002 1 September Godley Kowhai Grove Dr Eric Godley plants first kowhai trees in area adjacent to new car park in what is to become a grove of trees planted to honour the research he has undertaken with this specie.
2002 August to December Styx Living Laboratory Board of Management First official meeting of members of the Styx Living Laboratory Board of Management. Sub- committees formed taking responsibility for such issues as research, funding and sponsorship, publicity and development of facilities.
2002 22 July Styx Living Laboratory Trust Trustees appoint representative voluntary Board members to manage practical aspects of the work of the Trust.
2002 June Styx Calendar of Events Published The first Styx Calendar of events published and distributed.
2002 31 May Registration of the Styx Heron logo trade mark Approval given to use Styx Heron logo as a registered trademark.
2002 24 May Public Presentation by Lincoln Landscape Architect students Students from Lincoln University display and explain their design projects using the Styx Catchment as a basis for their study.
2002 6 May Styx Living Laboratory Trust Deed Signed The aims and objectives of the Styx Living Laboratory finalised and signed by Trustees. 1st Annual General Meeting.
2002 22 February 75 Lower Styx Road Property in Lower Styx Road purchased to be developed as headquarters for the Styx Living Laboratory and community activities.
2002   Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship The Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship administered by t he Royal Society of New Zealand awarded to Julia Tu'ineau.
2001
2001 30 September Community Planting Day Ouruhia Domain Community members work together to improve the environment of the Kaputone Stream at Ouruhia Domain.
2001 23 September Clean Up the Styx Community members clean up of river bank and environs in the lower reaches of the Styx River commencing at the Brooklands Boating Reserve.
2001 6 August Community Planting Day Nunweek Park Commmunity members work together to improve the environment at Nunweek Park, corner Wooldridge and Harewood Roads.
2001 1 July 303 Radcliffe Road This property purchased to be developed as "educational unit" utilising its historic and cultural links with both dairying and horticulture in this area.
2001 June Start of formation of Styx Living Laboratory Trust Community leaders agree to form a Trust to further, and where possible, implement aspects of the "Visions" for the Styx area.
2001 May to August First Cultural harvest of Toe toe at Janet Stewart Reserve Toe toe and harakeke (flax) harvested at Janet Stewart and woven into nineteen tukutuku panels gifted for display in the Christchurch Public Library.
2001 24 May Display by Lincoln Landscape Architect students Students from Lincoln University, having adopted the Styx area for study, mount public display of some of their concepts relating to "Art in the Styx".
2001   Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship The Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship administered by t he Royal Society of New Zealand awarded to Julia Tuineau. Research topic: The Styx Web Living Laboratory - To develop an understanding of, and maximise learning opportunities, centred on the Styx River and its associated wetlands.
2000
2000 Dec Draft of Document Vision 2000-2040 The Styx The draft of the 40 year Styx Vision document presented to the public as part of Christchurch City's 150th Anniversary celebrations.
2000 24 October Presentation of Draft Document Vision 2000-2040 The Styx Joint presentation of the Draft of the document Vision 2000 - 2040 The Styx made to the Guardians of the Styx and members of the Fendalton/Waimairi, Shirley/Papanui and Burwood/Pegasus Community Boards.
2000 30 August Presentation of Draft Document Vision 2000-2040 The Styx Presentation of the Draft document Vision 2000 - 2040 The Styx made to Parks personnel.
2000 27 August Community Planting Day Spencerville Boating Reserve Community members work towards enhancing the area of the Styx River at the Spencerville Boating Reserve.
2000 30 July Clean up the Styx Community members join forces to clean up of riverbank and environs in the lower reaches of the Styx River.
2000 25 May Sister River Relationship formalised wioth Styx River, Alabama, USA Sister River relationship formed to facilitate exchange of information, environmental issues and solutions. A New Zealand first.
2000 February to August Investigation and reporting by Technical Experts Experts begin process of researching geographical, environmental, hydrological and ecological aspects of Styx River catchment.
2000   Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship The Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher’s Fellowship administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand awarded to Margaret Yorke.
1999
1999 7 October Guardian of the Styx Community Group formed Guardians of the Styx Community group formed and adopts as its aim, to protect, restore and raise awareness of the values of the Styx River and its environs.
1999 1 October Styx History Group Formed Community group formed to research and record the history of the Styx area and people who have lived in the community.
1999 29 August Community Planting Day Janet Stewart Reserve Working together planting to improve the environment at Janet Stewart Reserve, Lower Styx Road.
1999 15 August Styx River Bus Tours In response to requests public tours commenced with the aim of gaining an overall view of the Styx river.
1999 July Styx Newsletter First Styx community newsletter published to enable the community to keep up to date with developments within the Styx Catchment. Print run 5,000.
1999 May to October Focus Group Discussions Identifying the interests and concerns of various groups and sharing aspirations and visions for the future.
1999 11 April Styx River Workshop Public event held at Styx Mill Conservation reserce to seek community views, priorities and concerns.
1999 14 March Styx Happening A day of community participation and activities marking the start of consultation with the community.
1999 August to December   Key people within the community meet and begin the consultation process.
Related Newsletters