Locals outstanding in their field

Three Marlburians have been announced as semi-finalists for the KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year Awards.

Leatham Landon-Lane is in for 2degrees New Zealand Innovator of the Year, for revolutionising zinc recovery from industrial waste with a new hydrogen-based technique with Zinctovery, Go Media Young New Zealander of the Year semi-finalist Lucy Blakiston is behind Shit You Should Care About, while Peter Adams is a semi-finalist for the Tower New Zealand Local Hero of the Year awards for his efforts in Taskforce Kiwi during the severe weather events and flooding in Tasman.

Leatham credited growing up in Marlborough for the nomination, mentioning “inspiring science teachers, the Marlborough Lines Science Fair and Angel Investor’s Marlborough”,

“It’s a privilege to be recognized. We’re at a very exciting time, nearing completion of our world first Demonstration plant in Christchurch that will make low-carbon zinc, copper and nickel … the last step before we build commercial plants around the world, entering the $400B critical minerals market”.

Having been nominated for the award previously, Lucy commented that her second nomination is just as much of an honour also a great personal benchmark.

“I was nominated for this award a few years ago and was so depressed at the time that I missed the email and didn’t even accept the nomination, but they generously still let me have it - it’s lovely to be nominated again, now that I’m in a mental space to be proud of myself!”

Section finalists will be whittled down on 26 February, ahead of the Awards Gala Dinner on 19 March.