PRESS RELEASE : 1 March 2010

Loss of Enviroschools blow to future .

The demise of 'Enviroschools' in Hawkes Bay will be a blow for the thousands of youngsters and their families who have been inspired by the award winning programme, says Hawke's Bay Regional Councillor, Liz Remmerswaal.

Council voted last week to decline financial support to the programme which aims to develop a generation of innovative and motivated young people to instinctively think and act sustainably.

Mrs Remmerswaal says the programme was incredibly successful, with 23 schools ensuring that the environment is cared for in a holistic way, both now and in the future.

"Council seems to have forgotten that is it expected to be proactive in sustaining a healthy environment, no matter what cutbacks central government may make," she says.

"Now, more than ever, young people need the skills to cope as they struggle to deal with the environmental problems that we are handing down to them," she says.

Mrs Remmerswaal hopes that council will reconsider this decision, and urges all those who support the continuation of Enviroschools to make their voices heard, both now and in submissions to council's annual plan shortly.

ENDS

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