Schools encouraged to turn scrap to sculpture for a good cause

Seventy North Shore primary, intermediate and secondary schools are being encouraged to turn old pipes, drain grates, plastic and paper bags, cardboard boxes, nuts, bolts, wire and string - in fact any old junk - into works of art to help raise money for the local Forest and Bird, Kiwi Conservation Club.

As part of the week-long eco-fest celebrations (March 3 - 9), the council is holding its first 'scrap - 2 - sculpture' competition with four age-group categories and an award for the most popular sculpture overall.

The competition theme - street, stream, sea - aims to educate children about where water from outside drains and gutters ends up and what impact it has on the environment, especially if that water is polluted.

North Shore City's works and environment committee chairperson, Joel Cayford, says many people wrongly think water from outside drains ends up at the city's wastewater plant where it is treated before being discharged into the sea.

"We often hear stories about people who clean paint brushes or car engines over stormwater drains for example, and don't know that the polluted water ends up in streams and at the beaches we're working so hard to keep clean," says Councillor Cayford.

"Getting children involved in something creative to help get this message across will play a huge part in preventing pollution and protecting our environment in the future."

Sculptures will be accepted from schools until February 14 and finalists will then be selected to display their creations in the council's head office foyer at 1 The Strand, Takapuna.

Three winning sculptures in each age-group category and the most popular sculpture overall will then be chosen at the eco-fest environmental awards ceremony on March 7. The finale will be when the sculptures are auctioned at the Browns Bay 'green market' on March 9.

North Shore City's environmental programmes co-ordinator, Trish Kirkland-Smith, says the blind auction (when bids are put in writing into a ballot box) is a bit of fun for a good cause.

"We're hoping people will get behind the spirit of the auction so that Forest and Bird North Shore can continue working to encourage children to appreciate nature and know how to protect it," says Ms Kirkland-Smith.

For more information about the 'scrap-2-sculpture' competition and auction, people are invited to visit www.northshorecity.govt.nz, or contact Karina Williams by calling North Shore City Actionline on 486 8600.

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