Unitec Community Celebrates World Environment Day

Unitec Community Celebrates World Environment Day in Its Own Backyard

On 5 June, 2012 individuals and organisations worldwide will celebrate sustainability for the internationally recognised, Environment Day. Unitec took a hands-on approach in its celebrations and fostered the ecological future of its Mt. Albert campus. Hundreds of students, staff and community members gathered today at the Wairaka Stream, which runs throughout the Unitec campus, to participate in the Tree Planting Event.

Unitec's Chief Executive, Dr. Rick Ede, opened the event this morning with a few words on the sustainable future of Unitec, "The event today is part of our commitment to this magnificent campus, which has an awful lot of both environmental and cultural heritage attached to it. We, as custodians and guardians of this campus, have a commitment to improving its biodiversity."

Shannon Pennefather, President of Unitec's Student Association explained the impact that events such as these have on the student community. "It is inspiring for Unitec students to see their institution taking such a leading role in environmental awareness."

The event was held in cooperation with Friends of Oakley Creek who seek to "ensure the stream and its surrounds are protected and restored to their full ecological potential". The Wairaka Stream which runs through Unitec's campus eventually leads to Oakley Creek. In improving the local surroundings of Wairaka, Unitec ultimately contributes to the mission of our environmentally communal partners at Oakley Creek.

Carolyn Cox, Manager of Environmental Sustainability at Unitec, was happy to see such a great turn out from an array of Unitec community members. "This is a really physical way of improving our biodiversity on campus and getting everyone involved. We have got students here today from Hydrology, Landscape Architecture and Film as well as many other community groups. It is a nice way of covering all the elements; teaching, advocacy, research and also contributing to our campus simultaneously."

Appropriately, Dr. Rick Ede used World Environment Day to announce Unitec's recent initiative and pro activity in looking towards a more sustainable future.

"Unitec has signed the United Nation's Sustainable Practices of Higher Education Institutions agreement.that makes us the first tertiary institution in New Zealand to sign...There is an incredible alignment between the United Nations commitment and our sustainability strategy that we've [developed] over the last three years."

Unitec is proudly taking steps towards a more sustainable future for its students and environment. The hands on strategy of Tree Planting Day is a prolific example of the direction in which Unitec hopes to maintain momentum.

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