01 May 2009

Environmental Achiever

Otamatea High's Ripley Dean is thrilled to be selected as one of three Northland representatives to participate in this year's Sir Peter Blake Environment Forum in Wellington from April 19 to 21.

Callum Harris, from Whangarei Boys' High, and Christine Berkers, from Kamo High will join Dean at the forum  along with 46 other young people selected from throughout New Zealand.

As a member of the Otamatea High's 'enviro group', Dean is helping to establish a walk-way alongside a stream in Maungaturoto, with the aim of providing visitors with a readily accessible experience in the Kaipara's natural environment.

Ms Dean is strongly committed to ensuring that New Zealand's environment is sustainable for future generations and is looking forward to sharing ideas with students from other schools.

"The people from other schools will have different ideas and we can put our ideas together and exchange with each other. And that should give us some ideas to bring back and apply to our own environment," she says.

Regional Councils from around the country selected participants for the forum which is organised by the Ministry for the Environment in partnership with the Sir Peter Blake Trust.

"It's a hands on, youth-driven forum designed to inspire and build the capability of young environmental leaders," says Communications Advisor for the Ministry for the Environment Sophie Lee.

"They participate in practical projects, voice their opinions on environmental issues and learn about environmental management through field trips, workshops and activities.

"This forum will focus on caring for fresh water, climate change and environmentally sustainable business. At the end of the forum they present their projects to invited guests at Parliament."

Rodney Times - 07/04/09