Promising Bay of Plenty teens selected for Sir Peter Blake environmental programme

Charlotte Cameron from Otumoetai College. Photo / Supplied

Climate change and water health will be at the forefront of two local students' minds as they attend the Blake Inspire forum next week.

Nicholas Jones from Whakatāne High School and Charlotte Cameron from Otumoetai College have been selected from hundreds of applications to represent the Bay of Plenty at the event formerly known as the Sir Peter Blake Trust Youth EnviroLeaders Forum.

The week-long programme runs from April 12 to 18 where 56 Year 11 to 13 students from regions right across the country will gather in the Waikato to learn about environmental issues facing New Zealand.

Sir Peter Blake Trust chief executive James Gibson said the programme aimed to kick-start environmental passion, leadership and action in young New Zealanders.

"At Blake our purpose is to restart people caring for the environment, and we want to do this through adventure, participation, education and enjoyment."

He said the programme developed young New Zealanders who were prepared to take on the environmental challenges faced today.

"They will spend the week with some of New Zealand's environmental leaders and experts so they have huge opportunity to absorb as much as they can and come away with new skills, networks and leadership ability to start driving positive change in their communities."

Blake Inspire is run in partnership with the Ministry for the Environment and chief executive Vicky Robertson said the environmental legacy was now being passed to young people to shape the future.

"And they are very aware of that responsibility. The Ministry for the Environment sees part of its role is to support the education and leadership skills of New Zealand's next generation.

"Blake Inspire is the place where discussion and debate flourish, and this is fundamental to progress our work on environmental issues."

Robertson said she was thrilled Blake Inspire offered rangatahi the chance to connect, deepen their knowledge and learn how to be kaitiaki.

The students will spend the week developing their leadership skills as well as learning about environmental issues and innovation in the Waikato region.

They'll also be exposed to career paths in their field of interest and will be shown real-world applications of subjects they learn in the classroom.

Over the week the students will be involved in range of activities including
• Developing leadership skills through a range of field trips, workshops and exercises throughout the week.
• Learning about climate change and sustainable energy, and how future impacts of climate change may affect the environment. They will also take part in a climate change workshop facilitated by Ministry for the Environment with a focus on policies.
• Addressing a range of topical environmental issues facing New Zealand.
• Visiting, engaging and learning about the importance of estuaries and landscape management to improve water quality and environmental performance.
• Learning about urban ecological restoration and visiting Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park.
• Visiting Waitomo Caves. Students will learn about eco-tourism and environmental sustainability. In particular, catchment and stream management which impacts the condition of the caves.
• Working work with local organisations on environmental projects in the community.
• The students will be hosted by local organisations and businesses who will showcase innovation and challenges in Waikato. This includes a hosted visit with Genesis Energy to the Huntly Power Station and visiting Tatua dairy farm.