Auckland Enviroschools celebrate achievements

4 December 2012

Auckland Enviroschools celebrate achievements

Meadowbank School is the first Enviroschool in New Zealand to be recognised for having moved ‘beyond Green Gold’, an acknowledgement of their long-term and ongoing commitment to sustainability.

Forty-one environmentally active schools across Auckland will be recognised for their commitment to sustainability at the Enviroschools celebration. At the annual event, this year held at Sylvia Park School, schools’ commitment to environmental sustainability will be recognised with Bronze, Silver and Green-Gold certificates of achievement. Meadowbank School will receive a beyond Green-Gold certificate.

Facilitated in the Auckland region by Auckland Council, Enviroschools is a national education for sustainability programme that supports children and young people to be active environmental citizens, contributing to ecological regeneration and the creation of healthy, resilient, peaceful and sustainable communities.

“The Enviroschools programme is a great example of young people leading the way in the field of sustainability. As they get involved in sustainable projects within their community and learn the skills of decision making, these young people are on their way to become the environmental leaders of the future,” says Environment and Sustainability Forum Chairman Wayne Walker, who, along with Councillor Richard Northey, will present the Enviroschool certificates on Friday.

“As schools progress through the Enviroschools programme, students work on more complex projects and think at a much deeper level about why they are taking action for a sustainable future,” says Councillor Northey, who represents the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki ward and chairs the council’s Accountability and Performance Committee.

“I am confident that the children recognised today will play an important role in Auckland’s journey to becoming the world’s most liveable city.”

As well as helping their wider community, students at Enviroschools introduce initiatives to improve their own schools. Some of those initiatives have included making submissions to government about protecting Maui dolphins, implementing plans to build wind turbines in their school and planting their own vegetable gardens.

There are 862 Enviroschools in New Zealand, of which 160 are in Auckland. Early childhood centres, primary, intermediate and secondary schools are all part of the nationwide programme.

Friday’s event will be attended by over 270 teachers and children from Auckland Enviroschools. Certificates will be presented by councillors Walker and Northey and by Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board members Josephine Bartley and Chris Makorae.

ENDS

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