Charmaine Bailie
New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year
2022
Genesis
New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year
Te Toa Taiao o te Tau
Charmaine Bailie
Charmaine Bailie (Te Uri o Hau – Ngati Whatua ki Kaipara) has been an inspirational ecologist, ethnobotanist and an active community leader for more than 20 years. Her voluntary work has had a demonstrable and profound impact on communities and the land. Charmaine led the establishment of Ōkahu Rākau nursery and restoration of Whenua Rangatira in Ōrākei. This is the largest urban, Māori-led restoration project in Aotearoa, and has become a template for others to learn from. An ecological lead working on the Ara Tūhono Pūhoi to Warkworth highway, Charmaine′s knowledge and influence has enriched 1.2 million trees planted along 18km of motorway. Working on Motutapu Island with Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki, Charmaine has helped establish a nursery, developed a kaitiaki team and plan for the planting of 120,000 natives on Hukanui Pā. Charmaine works with multiple Iwi and nursery programmes such as the Kaipara Moana Remediation, which aims to restore 20 million native plants.
The people working towards a sustainable and thriving future for Aotearoa. Making remarkable contributions to the wellbeing of our planet. They are actively engaged in initiatives that protect, restore, and regenerate the environment of Aotearoa, and beyond.
Nominees for this Award must:
- Demonstrate tangible actions, with proven impact, towards global sustainability goals focused on environment – including (but not limited to) climate change, air and water pollution, water scarcity, food insecurity, deforestation, rising sea levels, loss of species and habitat biodiversity, or loss of indigenous environmental knowledge and traditions.
- Show significant impact within the past year.
- Serve as role models fellow New Zealanders (and beyond) – inspiring a sustainable and thriving future for Aotearoa.
- Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.
Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:
- 10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you over the past year to nominate them as the 2025 New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year Te Toa Taiao o te Tau. - 10 points: PURPOSE
How does the planet benefit from the mahi, contribution, or influence of this person – and how? - 10 points: COMMITMENT
Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to create an impact to this point (this may still be ongoing). What have they done that has gone above and beyond to show leadership, creativity/innovation, and create change? - 10 points: PROVEN IMPACT
How has this person clearly demonstrated a positive contribution, with proven impact, towards sustainability (particularly over the last 12 -months)? How has this been measured? - 10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT
If known, how does the nominee plan to grow and/or adapt their work, contribution, or influence in the future? How would winning this award impact this person and the work that they are doing?
2025
Finalists
