Award winning AKV volunteers

We are thrilled to share that Paul Southworth has been named the Supreme Award winner at the Keep Dunedin Beautiful Awards, a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Kaikorai Valley and the wider Dunedin community.

Paul founded AKV with a clear vision: to create a healthier, more sustainable future for the Kaikorai Catchment. Through his passion for the environment and unwavering commitment to community action, he has inspired hundreds of people to get involved in caring for this special place.

What started as a vision has grown into a thriving community movement. AKV now connects people from all walks of life, from participants in the AKV Business+ programme learning about local waterways and environmental stewardship, to residents hosting traps in their backyards, community trappers monitoring tracks, and volunteers taking part in regular clean-up events.

Perhaps Paul's greatest achievement has been his ability to inspire and empower others. He has created a welcoming and supportive environment where people feel encouraged to take action, learn new skills, and make a meaningful contribution. Whether it's helping someone set their first trap, celebrating a successful possum catch, or motivating volunteers to keep going when the work feels challenging, Paul has a unique ability to bring people together and remind us that every effort makes a difference.

We also celebrated the volunteer efforts of Dianne Clark and Anja Gray. Dianne was our first back yard trapper and has volunteered many hours to AKV, doing rubbish cleanups, delivering flyers and supporting our meetings.

Anja received her award for her commitment to the volunteer team, arranging hundreds of trap installations and undertaking trapping and practical work herself. 

AKV as a group was recognised as a Friend of Keep Dunedin Beautiful, and awarded a certificate from Mayor Sophie Barker. We were proud to be recognised and thanked on behalf of the AKV community for all the work we do throughout the year to make our patch of Ōtepoti Dunedin more beautiful.

Congratulations Paul, Dianne, Anja and AKV for  making our valley a healthier, more vibrant place for nature and for future generations. This recognition is richly deserved.