Electorate News 

Five school and community projects marking New Zealand's hosting of World Environment Day on June 5 are to receive government funding in Central Auckland, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard and Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard announced today.

"World Environment Day is coming to Auckland, with some help from government funding. It is great to see the local community take such enthusiastic interest in New Zealand's hosting of this international event by organising their own local projects," Trevor Mallard said.

"The projects and events are among more than 100 taking place across the country that will receive support through a $1 million government fund in the lead-up to June 5 when we will mark the first time New Zealand has ever hosted this important international United Nations event.

"World Environment Day is an opportunity to bring the world’s communities together to find new ways to protect our environment and form stronger networks to support and build on the work that is already underway. Various sectors in New Zealand have introduced innovations towards combating climate change, and this is our chance to share them.

"It is also a great opportunity for New Zealanders to showcase the positive things we are doing nationally, regionally and internationally to promote sustainability and reduce the impacts of climate change."

Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard urged people to get in behind the local World Environment Day programmes.

"This is a fantastic chance to show off Auckland’s commitment to looking after our environment in a sustainable way. Even small steps for sustainability, when undertaken by many, can make a big difference," Judith Tizard said.

"We are proud to host World Environment Day. The government is committed to working towards a carbon neutral New Zealand and sustainable development through various different initiatives, including the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme, as well as household and business sustainability programmes," Trevor Mallard said.

Central Auckland’s projects are:

• Auckland City Council’s ‘Project Meola Revegetation Project’ has been approved for $5,000 in funding to undertake a major revegetation project to cover an old landfill site for which the council undertook remediation work in 2005. The planting area is at Meola Reef Reserve. It contributes to a wider catchment-based revegetation project aiming to re-establish a green link and bird corridor between the sea, the Auckland Zoo, Western Springs park, and urban dwellings in the upper catchment area of Mt. Albert and Western Springs. Revegetation commenced last year with 1,200 trees planted by volunteer groups. The planting will take place on 5 June.
• ABC’s childcare centres in Panmure, Onehunga, Glendowie, Newmarket, Mt Eden, Mauranui Avenue, Kelvin Road, Gillies Avenue and Ascot Avenue are all undertaking a ‘Kick the habit – it’s as easy as ABC!’ project which educates staff and children about reducing, reusing and recycling. They will be establishing an indoor composting system for food scraps generated during the day, which the children will have ownership of maintaining. They will be using the compost from the food scraps as nutrients for the gardens they aim to plant. The project will take place between 2 and 8 June and the childcare centres will receive between $300 and $990 in funding for the project, depending on the numbers of children at each centre.
• Owairaka District School’s ‘Why Waste Water’ project has been approved for $990 in funding for two water tanks so that the Enviro School can demonstrate to the students and the community initiatives that contribute to children’s understanding of the importance of this precious resource.  The school will initially use the water tanks for their worm farm and their gardens. The school plans to begin this project on 5 June.
• Collectively Kids Ltd’s ‘Supporting environmentally friendly ways to travel to daycare’ project has been approved for $400 in funding to research, develop and distribute information and resources about reducing the use of private cars for travel to and from the daycare centre. This will include an information handout for parents about climate change and sustainability which will outline suggestions including reducing car use, providing parents with train tickets, bus tickets and information regarding transportation options – bus and train timetables, addresses of other parents travelling to and from the centre. An ongoing incentive scheme for teachers to reduce use of cars will be established also. The project will take place between 2 and 8 June.
• Kindercare Learning Centre – Kohimarama’s ‘Kai from the Garden’ project has been approved for $730 in funding to educate children and families about practical ways of growing their own food in small city spaces to reduce the carbon footprint of vegetables we regularly eat.  They will build a garden with the children with the support of Kings Plant Barn in Orakei who will supply the plants and educate children and teachers on how to grow plants. The project will take place between 2 and 8 June.

More details on World Environment Day including a calendar showing the build-up of events in New Zealand can be found at www.world.environment.govt.nz.

Eleven other regional events have already been announced from the first funding round. http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/world+environment+day+events+announced
 

Background to World Environment Day, June 05 2008

This is the first time New Zealand has hosted the United Nations Environment Programme event since its establishment in 1972.

The World Environment Day theme for 2008 is ‘Working Towards a Low Carbon Economy’.

Core events so far include:
• The Art for the Environment Exhibition with works from renowned international artists
• Photographic exhibition from the UNEP International Photographic Competition on the Environment
• International children’s painting competition
• The Green Ribbon Awards, to be held on 5 June at the Wellington Town Hall
• A Leadership in Climate Change Solutions symposium, organised by the Hillary Institute
• An Auckland Business and Science Leaders Breakfast on the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change, presented by the Victoria University of Wellington Institute of Policy Studies, in collaboration with the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute.

Guests:
A number of high profile international guests and journalists will be in New Zealand to help celebrate World Environment Day 2008. Dr Rajendra Pauchari (United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change Nobel laureate), Achim Steiner (United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director) and President Tong of Kiribati have been confirmed so far.

• OUR MPs | 
• FEATURES | 
• LATEST NEWS | 
• SPEECHES | 
• PORTFOLIOS | 
• POLICY | 
• MULTIMEDIA | 
• SEARCH | 
• CONTACT US