Start Planning for Seaweek 2017

Start Planning for Seaweek 2017

The New Zealand Association for Environment Education (NZAEE) is delighted to announce the dates and theme for its flagship event Seaweek for 2017.

NZAEE Seaweek 2017 will take place from Saturday 25 February to Sunday 5 March 2017.

The theme will be “Toiora te Moana - Toiora te Tangata - Healthy Seas, Healthy People”.

The theme highlights our many connections with the sea and calls on Kiwis from all walks of life to celebrate Tangaroa's realm, recognise the enormous contribution our beaches, seas and coasts make to our health and wellbeing, and do our bit to keep our coastline and seas healthy for all. We all contribute to taking care of our oceans.

Seaweek 2017 is once again supported by Department of Conservation, NZ Marine Studies Centre University of Otago, Greater Wellington Regional Council, The National Aquarium of New Zealand - Napier City Council, Environment Canterbury Regional Council, the DSP Print Group Ltd and many local sponsors. Other major sponsors are yet to be confirmed.

The New Zealand Coastal Society will again provide the prize for the winning Seaweek Ocean Champion for 2017.

NZAEE Board Member and Seaweek Programme Manager, Pam Crisp says:

“Our supporters can see benefit in the educational outcomes we’re achieving from having an annual focus on the issues affecting the oceans and ways that communities and schools can get involved. We are delighted that councils and agencies around the country are supporting Seaweek by providing Regional Coordinators who are essential in enabling a rich event programme to be developed for their region.”

“It’s wonderful that we are now able to plan early to grow the event and engage more people in this fun and informative week about the sea. Many thanks to our supporters for their continued commitment to Seaweek.”

The Seaweek Strategic Planning team decided to revisit the popular and successful Seaweek 2013 theme and use it for Seaweek 2016-2018 following analysis of evaluation data from participants and coordinators. They found that this theme was the most easily understood, that people could clearly relate to it and apply it to their daily lives. In 2017 we will continue to target the early childhood sector, building on a trial with 55 Auckland pre-schools as part of Seaweek 2016.

NZAEE Seaweek’s website is at www.seaweek.org.nz and later this year you will be able to nominate and vote for the 2017 “Ocean Champion” to celebrate all those individuals, groups and organizations who work so hard to look after our seas and the marine life that lives in them.

Seaweek 2017 will provide more great opportunities to get children involved in citizen science and there will be preparation workshops for teachers organised in November in Auckland. The ‘Marine Metre Squared’ project, overseen by the NZ Marine Studies Centre, encourages schools, families, communities and iwi to get involved in collecting valuable data and monitoring their local seashore environment. Data entered into the MM2 website at www.mm2.net.nz is being used to help scientists improve coastal management.

More information on both initiatives is on our website at www.seaweek.org.nz

Many events will be scheduled around the country during Seaweek 2017, including favourites such as ‘Farewell to the Godwits’ bird watching, clean-ups, adventure races, films, lectures and guided snorkeling trips. If you are interested in organising an event contact the Seaweek Regional Coordinator for your area to discuss how they can support you. Their contact details are available on the Seaweek website.

The Seaweek team would love to hear what your school or group is doing to explore this year’s theme of “Toiora te Moana - Toiora te Tangata - Healthy Seas, Healthy People” and help you with publicity and resources. Please let National Coordinator, Mels Barton know your ideas and plans on mels@subliminal.co.nz

ENDS

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