24 April 2006 Media Statement

Young people keen to return to ‘amazing’ forum

Young people are keen to return to Wellington this week to attend a national forum about the environment.

The Sir Peter Blake Youth Environment Forum will run from the 24 to 28 April 2006. Four of the former participants in the previous Sir Peter Blake Youth Environment Forum 18 months ago felt the experience was so ‘amazing’ they were delighted to be back again.

Terra Dumont, a student with Garin College in Nelson is one of the mentors returning to the forum next week. ”I am very honoured to be selected as a mentor and really look forward to being able to help the delegates enjoy and learn as much from their first forum as I did,” Terra said.

Terra has been involved in many environmental projects at her college and has also helped organise the Nelson Youth Environment Forum as well as the ‘Recycling Night with the Stars’.

Mathew Smart, of St Peter’s School in Cambridge is another mentor returning to the forum. Since attending the forum previously, Mathew led his school’s environmental team which successfully gained Silver Enviroschool award in 2005.

Mathew said, “The forum is great in bringing like-minded people together, and I really enjoy exploring opportunities and solutions in environmental issues.”

The 2006 Sir Peter Blake Trust Youth Environment Forum is a Ministry for the Environment initiative, run in partnership with Sir Peter Blake Trust and with the support of regional councils.

Sue Powell, acting Chief Executive with the Ministry for the Environment, said, “The ministry believes in providing this opportunity for young people to develop their interest and to learn first hand about environmental management. We see the natural affinity with Sir Peter Blake Trust in building environmental leaders of the future.”

The Sir Peter Blake Trust Youth Environment Forum will see 45 young people, between the ages of 15 to 18 years from 15 from different regions attend the forum. The aim of the forum is to provide an opportunity for young people to have a voice on environmental issues and to learn first-hand about environmental management.

To find out more about the Sir Peter Blake Youth Environment Forum, visit www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/youth/index.html

ENDS

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