Waimakariri youth take lead for the environment

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

From local democracy reporter David Hill:

The Waimakariri Youth Council is taking the lead with environmental initiatives for Conservation Week (September 5 to 11) and the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up Week (September 17 to 23).

Co-chairperson Chloe Betony said the youth council had been busy establishing relationships with local environmental organisations.

‘‘For me personally, the environment has always been a priority in my study and on the youth council, I have been looking at how we can get young people involved.

‘‘Young people want to make a difference, but sometimes they don’t know how to get involved, so it’s about making those connections.

‘‘We have been building relationships with community partners and helping to get things happening.’’

Youth council members will be joining planting days at Silverstream Reserve, near Kaiapoi, on Tuesday (September 6) from 10am to 2.30pm, and at Tūhaitara Coastal Park, near Kaiapoi, on Thursday, September 8, from 10am to 12pm.

The Silverstream Reserve volunteers also have planting days on Sundays from 10am to 12.30pm, for those who cannot make it during the week, Betony said.

‘‘We went there (Silverstream) on Sunday and they’re a really nice group of people. They brought home-baked goods along, which was just lovely.’’

After joining a clean-up day with the Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group and other local groups following last year’s floods, the youth council decided to take the lead this year, Betony said.

‘‘Last year we were invited to the initial meeting and we encouraged them to use online registration.

‘‘It was my highlight of last year and hopefully it will be again.’’

An Ashley-Rakahuri River Clean Up Day will be held on Sunday, September 18, as part of Clean Up Week.

The rivercare group will be out in force, while Lesley Ottey, from Eco Educate, will provide a briefing.

‘‘It would be good if we can get people excited about it. We had around 100 people last year including children,’’ Betony said.

Last year’s clean-up saw nearly six tonnes of rubbish and more than 100 tyres removed from the river banks.

To raise awareness of the environment, the youth council will also be running a colouring-in competition for children aged 12 years and under and an art competition for young people aged 12 years and over from September 5 to 25.

The theme of the art competition is ‘‘what does conservation mean to you’’.

Entrants are able to express themselves in any form of art, whether painting, photography, collage or sculpture.

■ Betony is keen to hear from anyone who has a four-wheel-drive and trailer and would like to help out.

The cleanup day is open to all ages and registration is essential.

Assemble at the car park just after the SH1 bridge heading north from 9.30am.

The clean-up day will finish with a sausage sizzle at 12pm. For more information, go to the Ashley-Rakahuri River Clean Up event page on Facebook.