MEDIA RELEASE

May 26 2008

Waikato School Children To Drive World Environment Day

Thursday 5th June is World Environment Day. Each year on this date the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) showcases a chosen country or continent. In 2007 it was Antarctica. This year it’s New Zealand.

The Hubbards Carbon Crusade in the Waikato kicks off at Wintec’s Avalon campus at 12:00 noon on Thursday June 5.

More than 600 school children run/walk the course and plant a native tree en-route to completing the 4km circuit.
The planting will take place on Hamilton’s first Natural Heritage Park, Waiwhakareke, which joins the Wintec campus.

The event which forms part of the Hubbards Carbon Crusade series will see over 1,000 trees planted at the park by local school children and members of the public.

Spark Events Director, Callum Anderson, said the free lunchtime event will showcase on World Environment Day, New Zealand’s contribution to fighting climate change.

“We’re encouraging kiwis to get behind this great initiative which enables participants to make a positive contribution towards our environment,” Callum said.

“Research shows that most people are aware of climate change issues and are keen to address their individual contribution to it. However, beyond recycling and turning lights off, many people simply aren’t aware of other practical options available to them such as tree planting.”

Hamilton City Council Sustainable Environment Team Leader, Liz Hallsworth, said the tree planting will go a long towards helping to restore the Park to its pre-European state.

“Waiwhakareke is an ongoing project aimed at bringing back to the 60 hectare park native plant and animal species. Located on the outskirts of Hamilton, the first tree was planted at Waiwhakareke in 2004. Under the 20 year plan, a pest-proof fence will be erected around the Park plus there will be ongoing planting.”

The free event on World Environment day forms part of the larger Hubbards Carbon Crusade national series which requires participants to run or walk a set distance and plant a tree.

The four part series includes a 9km Auckland event which will take place on Sunday 7 September at Puhinui Reserve, followed by a 10km Hamilton event on Sunday 14 September at Lake Rotokauri. The final Crusade will be held in Christchurch on Saturday 20 September at Bottle Lake Forest and involves an 11km walk or run.

Hubbards is the main sponsor of the Carbon Crusade series. Other organisations supporting the series include Suzuki, MoreFM, Boomrock, Icebreaker and Grove Mill Wines.

To find out more about the Hubbards Carbon Crusade and how to enter, visit www.carboncrusade.com.

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