Seaweek Shaping Up To Be Oceanic!

1 March 2012

NZAEE Seaweek 2012 will have more events nationwide than ever before, showing how important the sea is in the lives of New Zealanders.

National Coordinator Mels Barton says “the public have really come on board with Seaweek this year, organising their own events and wanting to know what they can do to get involved. It’s a great signal that the word is out about Seaweek and that people really do care and want to do their bit to improve the marine environment.”

The theme for Seaweek 2012 is “One Ocean - Too Much Love? Turning the Tide” which explores the many and sometimes conflicting uses of our seas. Mels says the question of too much love is key to the way in which we treat the sea.

“We all love the sea, the beach, the animals that live in it, and we love being in and on it - but we don’t care for the sea in the way we need to if we want it to stay the way we like it. We live on an island surrounded by sea and it is essential to support our lives in so many ways. Seaweek is here to remind us that everything we do every day directly affects the sea - from dropping a cigarette butt or litter onto the road that ends up in a drain and in the sea - to demanding more oil and products from overseas that ends up with disasters like the Rena. Our daily actions all affect the quality of our marine environment. So let’s truly love the sea the way we should and clean up our act!”

The Seaweek 2012 website lists all the events happening around the country, plus many competitons to enter with great prizes, including a national video competition for anyone attending a Seaweek event. Updates on changes due to the weather will be posted on the events pages and on the Seaweek 2012 Facebook Page.

Seaweek 2012 starts with a splash on Saturday 3 March and flows through to Sunday March 11. The National Launch by the Minister for Conservation Kate Wilkinson takes place at Auckland Zoo on Monday 5 March at 7pm (informal Zoo tour from 6pm). The National Closing event with Dr Gareth Morgan takes place in Akaroa on Saturday 10 March at 7pm.

Seaweek is organised by the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education (NZAEE) and is in it’s 21st year. Seaweek 2012 is sponsored by ASB Community Trust, Department of Conservation, Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture, NZ Marine Studies Centre, Auckland Council and DSP Print Group Ltd, plus many local sponsors.

Links:

Facebook: Sea Week and Seaweek 2012

Twitter: @Seaweek2012

YouTube: NZAEESeaweek

Web: www.seaweek.org.nz

Seaweek 2012 is sponsored by ASB Community Trust, Department of Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, NZ Marine Studies Centre, Auckland Council, DSP Print Group Ltd.

ENDS

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