Auckland City Council
Media release

13 May 2008

World Environment Day comes to Auckland city

Plans to celebrate World Environment Day received resounding approval from Auckland City Council’s City Development committee.

This year’s World Environment Day theme - CO2, kick the habit - will be celebrated through a number of coordinated council events on 5 June 2008.

“Auckland City Council will reward commuters for making sustainable transport choices with an event centring on the Britomart transport centre between 7am and 9.30am,” says committee chairperson, Councillor Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

The event will include:

• a celebration targeting commuters using public transport, cycling or walking
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• giveaways (while stocks last) designed to encourage everyday sustainable activities, such as energy efficiency and saying no to plastic bags
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• free entertainment and other promotions.
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Waitakere City Council will host a similar event at the Henderson rail station.

Other events coming to the community from Auckland City Council on World Environment Day are:

• walk, cycle or travel to the Auckland Zoo by public transport and you’ll get in for half price
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• in association with Timberland and Point Chevalier Primary, over 1000 native plants will be planted at Meola Reef Reserve
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• celebrating sustainable transport with schools by rewarding walking school buses and other student-driven sustainability initiatives.
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“Internally, Auckland City Council will celebrate its travel plan to staff, which includes initiatives for cycling, driving, motorcycling, walking and public transport. The travel plan will improve staff access to, and information about, options to reduce the need to travel by car,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

Auckland City Council is collaborating with Waitakere City Council and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority on World Environment Day. Additional funding for the events was gratefully received from the Ministry for the Environment.

The council’s support of World Environment Day reflects its commitment to a sustainable future as outlined in its long-term plan for sustainable Auckland city, Keeping Auckland’s Future Bright.

Ends

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