New Zealander of the Year: How a swim with whales led to Environmental Hero of the Year
Thursday, 30 March 2023
Auckland’s Camden Howitt dedicated his life to protecting and regenerating te taiao more than a decade ago – a life mission that was spurred by a swim with humpback whales.
Now, as 2023 Environmental Hero of the Year Te Toa Taiao o te Tau, the Sustainable Coastlines founder called the win a, “major celebration of [the] collaborative and cumulative mahi” of the entire team.
Howitt received the recognition at the annual awards on Thursday night, which celebrates Kiwis achievements across seven categories, including New Zealander of the Year.
About 150 people gathered at the live event at Cordis Hotel in Auckland, hosted by Scotty Morrison and Toni Street.
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For Howitt, who is the co-founder and programmes director of charity Sustainable Coastlines, the nod is “recognition of work that goes much broader than myself”.
He told Stuff the success of the charity is largely thanks to volunteers, interns, stakeholders and “everyone that engaged with the work I’ve done over the last 14 years with [the charity]”.
Of fellow finalists Jessi Morgan and Simon John Hall, Howitt said both have done, “absolutely stellar work” in environmental fields.
“I’m always so impressed with anyone that dedicates their life to this work. I wholeheartedly see them as winners.”
Howitt was lucky enough to grow up in a nature-loving family, but originally was working in advertising before dedicating his life to the multiple award-winning Sustainable Coastlines - which aims to prevent litter and restore waterways by connecting people to nature and inspiring change.
It was on a trip to Tonga more than a decade ago that Howitt found himself on a boat trip to swim with humpback whales. There, he realised he wanted to dedicate his life to protecting te taiao.
“It was at that moment underwater with a humpback whale mother and her calf that I decided there was so much beauty, and so much value in te taiao, that we absolutely needed more people out there dedicated to protect it. And I needed to be one of them.”
And while the recognition is a great nod to the work he does, Howitt said on a day-to-day basis the work, and seeing the outcomes of that māhi is rewarding in itself.
“Going back to a site you've planted, and seeing established native bush with birds in it … seeing that is the best reward you could ever get.
“Of course environmental hero sounds great, but it’s certainly not my work alone. It’s the work of our 150,000 volunteers over the years, and the work of our teams that deserve that recognition.”
When asked what he would say to young people who may be inspired by Howitt’s win, he barely hesitated.
“I would say make a start now. It often can feel like it’s too hard, or too late, but the absolute best time to start is now.
“Do it today, because we need more of you.”