Media Release
23 June 2009

Pippa, Lady Blake to help clean up Sir Peter's childhood beach

To celebrate the renewed sponsorship between Westpac and the Sir Peter Blake Trust, Pippa, Lady Blake will help children from Sir Peter's old school, Bayswater Primary School, clean up their local coastline tomorrow, Wednesday 24 June.

The beach clean up is part of the Sir Peter Blake Trust's Care For Our Coast programme. The initiative encourages New Zealanders, particularly school children, to make a positive impact on their environment.

Pippa, Lady Blake, wife of the late Sir Peter Blake jumped at the opportunity to help clean up the area where Sir Peter grew up and learned to sail.

"Peter recognised that the world's marine environment was deteriorating because of pollution, and he knew he had to do something. In following his footsteps the Trust also enables ordinary people to implement change. The Care for our Coast programme engages ordinary Kiwis to demonstrate environmental leadership. It's an education programme as well - children, their parents, teachers and volunteers - all learn so much from the beach clean ups."

Westpac has just re-signed its sponsorship of the Sir Peter Blake Trust for a further three years, continuing to support its programmes inspiring leadership in action. Westpac was a Foundation partner when the Trust was established in Sir Peter Blake's honour in 2004.

"The Care For Our Coast programme is an important part of what the Sir Peter Blake Trust stands for. Developing environmental leadership in the youth sector is close to our hearts, and it is great to have Westpac continuing to support Sir Peter's legacy," says Vicki Watson, Sir Peter Blake Trust CEO.

Westpac staff have helped organise more than 200 of the total 340 beach clean-ups. Since the programme began volunteers have picked up nearly a quarter of a million pieces of rubbish from five million square metres of New Zealand coastline.

Some of the more interesting pieces of rubbish that have been picked up include a blowtorch, three square metres of carpet, a television screen, a rusty filing cabinet, a truck battery, a washing machine, road cones and even a kitchen sink!

The children from Bayswater Primary School will be given red bibs, gloves and collection bags for the clean up. The clean up will take place around 2pm at low tide.

"It is important for us all, as a community to look after our coastline, and Westpac is proud to support the Care For Our Coast programme along with the Sir Peter Blake Trust. We are committed to making a positive difference to the environment to ensure a safe, clean future for our children," says Mark Graham, Westpac National Sponsorship Manager.

Westpac has committed close to $75 million in the past decade to support its sponsorship programmes throughout New Zealand, including the Halberg Trust, Rescue Helicopters, regional Business Excellence Awards and Wellington's iconic Westpac Stadium.

ENDS

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