Social Change Collective Chair and former National Coordinator of School Strike 4 Climate, Ethan Reille, will address thousands of young people and activists gathered outside Parliament tomorrow as part of the nationwide climate strike movement.

The rally comes amidst this Government’s rollback of climate policies, including cuts to public transport funding, the scrapping of clean car incentives, the reopening of offshore oil and gas exploration, and recent moves to shield major polluters from legal accountability.

Reille, who first spoke at climate strikes outside Parliament five years ago as an organiser, says the movement is entering a new phase.

“Climate justice has never just been about emissions targets or policy documents. It is about justice for tangata whenua, justice for working people, and justice for our Pacific neighbours already living through the consequences of climate change,” Reille said.

“Just weeks ago Wellington experienced some of the heaviest rainfall in decades. Families were cleaning up flooded homes yet again while this Government continues to weaken climate action and protect polluters. Young people are watching that happen in real time.”

The speech will call on young people to organise politically ahead of the 2026 General Election, with nearly 300,000 eligible young people in Aotearoa still unenrolled to vote.

“The people in power are hoping young people disengage. We will not,” Reille said.

“The only way to safeguard our collective future is to change this Government.”

The nationwide strikes are an opportunity to bring people across Aotearoa together, with organisers demanding urgent climate action, stronger emissions reductions, and policies grounded in intergenerational and Te Tiriti justice.

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