Sir Peter Blake Environmental Students

Three Hawke’s Bay secondary school students have been selected for the Sir Peter Blake Trust Youth Environment Forum being held in Wellington from 19 – 24 April.

Ngawai Huriwai from St Joseph’s M
ori Girls College, Katie Jenssen from Sacred Heart College, and Victoria Tatam from Iona College were selected from 14 Hawke’s Bay students who applied.

They were required to write about an environmental issue of concern to them, how they could personally make a change and how they were involved in their school and community.

The girls will attend the four day event in Wellington, with their travel and accommodation sponsored by the Trust and the Ministry for the Environment.

The Sir Peter Blake Trust Environmental Forum is held annually and 48 young people (15-18yrs) will travel from around New Zealand and take part in workshops and activities, culminating with a presentation of their projects to invited guests at Parliament Building’s Grand Hall.

Students will be involved in projects that typically focus on important environmental issues such as electronic waste (e-waste), water conservation, sustainable households, climate change and invasive species.

The Forum is student driven, hands on and is designed to inspire and build the capability of young environmental leaders. On returning to their regions, students are encouraged to continue with their environmental work and help lead other youth in the environmental stewardship.

When they return to Hawke’s Bay, the students will be asked to report to the Regional Council and the Hawke’s Bay Youth Environment Council on their projects and what they learned at the event.