24 May 2006
2006 Youth Environment Forum a Great Success
Perhaps the 45 senior high school students who were selected for the 2006 Forum were not aware of our ambitions for them when they arrived at the start of the week in Wellington, but by the end of it they were. The delegates attending were selected to represent their regions by their regional councils. Some wrote essays, some were subjected to a selection interview, others were selected as a result of their involvement in school and community environmental groups. They were a diverse group, a number of delegates came from small communities of only a few hundred people while others came from our largest city. What unified the group was their interest in and passion for nature.
This passion and motivation is always inspirational and a pre-requisite for taking on the significant environmental challenges that New Zealand faces. The intent of the week long forum was to provide support and encouragement for the ambitions of those attending. More important, however, was the role of the forum in giving the tools for these youngsters to take on these challenges and not to succumb to the frustration and eventual cynicism that is often the result of trying to make a positive difference in the face of widespread apathy.
The program involved a series of workshops, field-trips and activities designed to engage and involve the students. Many agencies and individuals gave of their time and expertise to contribute. Many staff from the Ministry for the Environment, Great Wellington Regional Council, Auckland Regional Transport Ltd, Victoria University of Wellington, the Cawthron Institute, Porirua City Council, Wellington City Council, Telecom and Vodafone NZ, Trash Palace, Korori Wildlife Sanctuary, the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education and others were fantastic.
Programmes were focussed on several themes, water quality, waste and recycling (with a particular focus on “e-waste” - mobile phones, computers and so on) and urban design. Additional workshops on creating sustainable special events and sustainable transport options also featured. The week’s activities culminated in presentations from the youth teams to special invited guests, including the Minister for the Environment, at Grand Hall in Old Parliament House on the Friday.
Exhausted, but enthusiastic, delegates returned to their homes around the country at the end of the week determined to further develop environmental initiatives at their schools and in their local communities. The catalyst of the Sir Peter Blake Youth Environment Forum is already seeing a number of environment committees set up at schools, regional youth environment forums established and active young leaders inspiring others, taking charge and creating projects and activities to contribute to a better future.
