Students Strike for Climate Change in Rotorua draws a crowd

Finn Liley leads the climate change march in Rotorua. Photo / Andrew Warner

"We're going to keep striking and pushing until real change is made."

That is what Finn Liley, one of the organisers of the Rotorua School Strike for Climate Change says.

Finn, 17, was among about 100 Rotorua people, young and old, to march through the city's CBD on Friday to call for greater action on climate change.

The march was one of several held throughout New Zealand as part of a national push to highlight the impact of climate change.

The march started at 2pm at the Government Gardens and participants marched along Fenton, Hinemoa, and Tutanekai Sts to the Village Green holding signs saying things like "you can't recycle time," "there is no planet B," and "why get an education if you won't listen to the educated".

Speaking to the Rotorua Daily Post after the march, Finn said they were happy with the turnout.

"We as young people need to do our part to prevent climate change and hold those in power to account," he said.

"The younger generations and generations in the future are going to be the ones inheriting this problem.

"There needs to be action to stop it and if people in power are not going to do it we need to push them."

Focus on national demands

Finn said while he acknowledged some action was already being taken by local and central Government more always needed to be done and they would continue to push until change was made.

Rotorua councillor Fisher Wang and former Green Party candidate Kaya Sparke spoke at the march as did students.

As part of the march, students made six demands related to fossil fuels, renewable energy, the Pacific Islands, agricultural emissions and climate education.

At a march held in Tauranga Bay of Plenty Regional Council councillor Stacey Rose formally accepted the demands from organisers of what they wanted to see from local authorities.

About 60 people participated in the march. Photo / Andrew Warner

Rose, 21, told the crowd that as the youngest elected member on the council hearing what the youth voice had to say was "actually quite a deep thing for myself, personally".

"These demands mean a lot more than just an envelope with a piece of paper in them. They will mean a voice for you guys and I highly encourage you, if you want to come, to a council meeting. Do not be afraid ... speak your voice.

"Climate change is huge. It's something Bay of Plenty Regional Council is very serious about and we plan to push harder and faster."

Green MPs attended multiple marches nationwide. While there wasn't a party representative in Rotorua Green Party MP Ricardo Mendez March was at the Tauranga event.

Menendez March said the march showed young people had a clear message that needed to be listened to.

Regional council chief executive Fiona McTavish said they would be happy to meet with march representatives and invite them to the next Strategy and Policy council meeting to discuss the "best way to combat climate change together".

The march was a "prime opportunity" for the council to listen and share information, McTavish said.

In 2019 the regional council declared a climate emergency and created a targeted action plan.