The New Zealand River Awards is an initiative of the Morgan Foundation and began in 2013. The Awards event is held each year in Wellington at the end of November.
The inaugural Reo mō te Awa River Voice Award was presented to Dr Mike Joy from Massey University. Dr Joy's selection was made jointly by the Morgan Foundation and Listener journalist Rebecca Macfie. The Award was presented for the first time in 2015 and recognised Dr Joy as an outstanding communicator about the issues facing New Zealand’s rivers and streams.
See their media release here: www.lawa.org.nz/get-involved/news-and-stories/otago-regional-council/2015/november/the-new-zealand-river-awards/#reo