Nga Tahatai o Te Pune is the winner of the ‘heritage and environment' category at the TrustPower Western Bay of Plenty Community Awards.

Organisation spokesman Tommy Kapai says they worked with organisations and businesses such as the Weekend Sun to get the Tukoro island restoration project underway.

Children were involved in the island restoration project.

'We ran a number of stories and held public meetings, which gained the project public support,” says Sun Media director Brian Rogers.

'It was a cool way to draw a united effort from both Maori and non-Maori.”

Brian says generations of Te Puna children grew up playing on the island and it would've been sad to see it disappear.

Tommy Kapai agrees.

'Tukoro is a small island which was about to disappear. Our little group, Nga Tahatai o Te Puna Coastal Care wanted to try and save it,” says Tommy.

'Along with sister groups and funds from Environment Bay of Plenty we were able to get Geodesic bags to preserve it forever.”

Tommy says the bags stop erosion on beach fronts.

'By filling bags with sand and placing them at the edge of the island, we have been able to stop the tide hitting and wearing away the beach.

'We wanted to save the island because it has significant value.”

Tribe Ngati Taka used to live there and since the change of tides, a channel has created a gap between the main land and the island.

'It's also about Maori and non-Maori building bridges in the community and leaving a legacy of learning for children,” says Tommy.