NZAEE Seaweek 2016 ‘Ocean Champion’ Winner Announced

NZAEE Seaweek 2016 ‘Ocean Champion’ Winner Announced

NZAEE Seaweek is delighted to announce that the NZAEE Seaweek “Ocean Champion” for 2016 is Taranaki community group the Friends of Waitara River.

The New Zealand Coastal Society (NZCS) is sponsoring the initiative by donating $500 prize money for the winner which was presented by NZCS Deputy Chair Hugh Leersnyder at tonight’s Marine Conservation Futures and the Legacy of Bill Ballantine event at the University of Auckland.

“NZAEE Seaweek and the New Zealand Coastal Society congratulate the Friends of Waitara River and all of this year’s nominees for inspiring us all with their work. They are all Ocean Champions and anyone can be one, just by taking care of their local beach. That’s the kind of guardianship that we hope the Ocean Champions programme will inspire in everyone,” Hugh said.

NZAEE Seaweek National Coordinator Dr Mels Barton was delighted that the Friends of Waitara River had come out on top.

“The Ocean Champion initiative celebrates all those individuals, groups and organizations who work so hard to look after our seas and the marine life that lives in them. It is wonderful to have a winner who is so typical of the hundreds of small community organisations that work tirelessly to protect our marine and freshwater environment. This group has been campaigning in their local community for clean water for over 35 years and we are delighted to be able to recognise and celebrate their achievement“ she said.

The theme for NZAEE’s Seaweek 2015 is “Toiora te Moana – Toiora te Tangata – Healthy Seas, Healthy People”. The theme highlights how important it is to look after the sea in order to maintain our own health and wellbeing.

The collaboration between NZAEE SeaWeek and the NZCS coastalsociety.org.nz is a partnership that will continue and expand for the benefit of New Zealand’s ocean and coastal communities.

More than 200 events are scheduled around the country during NZAEE Seaweek 2016 from February 27 to March 6, and these are all listed on the NZAEE Seaweek website at www.seaweek.org.nz.

You can see all the Seaweek 2016 Ocean Champion nominees here: http://seaweek.org.nz/nominate-your-ocean-champion/

ENDS

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