Spectacular sculptures at Long Bay beach for Seaweek

February 19, 2007

Children from nearly 30 North Shore schools will create works of art in the sand at Long Bay Regional Park to celebrate Seaweek.

On Monday March 5, students from junior primary to senior college will build sand sculptures in competition for a $500 grand prize for their school and fabulous team prizes. They will also participate in a range of other activities to learn about pollution and marine and coastal biodiversity, sustainability and conservation.

This event is part of a New Zealand-wide series of activities organised under the Seaweek umbrella to celebrate and raise awareness of the marine environment.

The fun day of activities at Long Bay is organised by North Shore City Council to reinforce important messages about the link between pollution, stormwater, streams and beach water quality, as well as summer safety.

Mayor George Wood will get the sand sculpture competition under way at 11.45am and people are welcome to come and watch (head for the northern end of Long Bay beach, adjacent to picnic site 5).

The event’s co-ordinator Jo Harrison says the day promises to be quite a spectacle for passers-by, and she encourages North Shore residents to attend.

“Last year’s sculptures were impressive, and I’m sure all participants will be keen to reach an equally high standard,” says the council’s environmental programmes co-ordinator.

The sand sculptures will be judged in five age groups with themes including sea creatures, outside drains impact on streams and the sea, protecting our streams and sea, the sea as a source of food and the sea as a place of leisure.

Guest judges include WWF’s Barbara Breen, Teresa Grant from the Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC) and last year’s grand prize winners from Albany Junior High School.

This Seaweek event is only open to teams registered by North Shore schools. For details about late registrations, please phone Jo Harrison, on 486 8600 ext. 7299.

The day is made possible through the support of Westpac, Recreational Services, Takapuna Dive Centre, MERC, Ovlov Marine, Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club, North Shore City Council, Wai Care and the Auckland Regional Council.

ENDS

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