18 November 2004

Auckland representatives named for youth forum

Natalie Foote, Kamini Ruxmani Deva, Danae Brooks and Caitlyn Cook have been selected to represent the Auckland region at next month’s Sir Peter Blake Youth Environment Forum in Wellington.

Auckland Regional Council Chairman Michael Lee said the four representatives had been selected using an essay writing competition for secondary students on the ‘future of New Zealand’s environment’.

“We fully support the participation of young people in addressing the environment issues of the Auckland region, and next year the ARC intends to focus more on involving the youth of our region,” Mr Lee says.

Auckland Regional Council is one of 16 regional councils and territorial local authorities to send delegates to Wellington for the second Youth Environment Forum, which is being co-hosted by the Sir Peter Blake Trust and the Ministry for the Environment.

Minister for the Environment Marian Hobbs said renaming the event to the Sir Peter Blake Youth Environment Forum is a “tribute to the master mariner’s commitment to environmental leadership and to building generations of future leaders.

“The forum will bring together young people from all over New Zealand to get them inspired and motivated to take action on environmental issues and get involved in decision-making,” Marian Hobbs said.

The successful Auckland representatives are: Natalie Foote, Pinehurst School (yr 12), Kamini Ruxmani Deva, Lynfield College (yr 13), Danae Brooks, Elim Christian College (yr 12), and Caitlyn Cook, Northcote College (Yr 12). They will be accompanied by Bridget Glasgow, TEAM Solutions Environment Education Facilitator for schools.

This year’s forum will run from 6-10 December in Wellington, with three days of workshops, field visits and seminars. Delegates will present their findings directly to the Minister for the Environment Marian Hobbs, Sir Peter Blake Trust representatives and invited guests at the conclusion of the event.

For more information: Ministry for the Environment website: www.mfe.govt.nz Sir Peter Blake Trust website: www.sirpeterblaketrust.org/ Auckand Regional Council: www.arc.govt.nz

ENDS

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