Kiwi innovators from the Bay of Plenty could win a share of $90,000 to develop fresh ideas that benefit conservation in a new national awards scheme being launched today.

The first-ever World Wildlife Fund-New Zealand Conservation Innovation Awards seeks to showcase novel and effective ways to support communities to protect and restore our unique biodiversity.

Bay of Plenty innovators are being called on to enter their fresh ideas that benefit conservation in the first-ever WWF-New Zealand Conservation Innovation Awards.

First prize in each of three categories – product, project and research – is a $25,000 grant, with three runner-up grants of $5000 each.

WWF-New Zealand Head of Conservation Projects Lee Barry says New Zealanders have a proud history as conservation pioneers, inventing ground-breaking traps and tranquiliser darts now used throughout the world.

'Perhaps our next great idea for saving endangered species will come from the Bay of Plenty region? If you have an idea, we want to hear from you,” says Lee.

The awards are part of WWF's long-term approach to enabling the voluntary and community conservation sectors to be as effective as possible.

'Common conservation activities – such as checking ground predator traps – can be time consuming and back-breaking,” says Lee.

'The scale of the task to protect and restore New Zealand's special places and species means we need to develop smarter and more effective tools.”

Lee says whether in the field, in a lab, a back shed or a design studio, WWF want to hear about Kiwi's new ideas for nature.

'The grants for the best entries will provide much-needed capital to take these innovations to the next stage, and ultimately to deploy them to benefit our hard-working volunteer conservation army across the country.”

Judging will be by a panel of experts across the fields of research, practical conservation projects, and product design.

Project Janszoon director Devon McLean, who is the awards judge, welcomes the initiative.

'New Zealand leads the world in many innovative aspects of conservation but there is so much more to be done.

'These awards create an opportunity to help great ideas see the light of day. We are looking for key concepts or tools that empower and inspire our communities in the challenge to secure the future of our unique biodiversity.”

Entries are open until September 30.

Award winners will be announced at an event during Conservation Week November 1-9, 2014.

For more details and guidelines for applicants, visit: www.wwf.org.nz/innovation