Annual NRC Youth Summit looms

ACTION PLANS: Young participants address coastal marine issues at the Northland Regional Council's 2011 Youth Summit.

 

A record 60 students from 17 Northland schools will gather for a special Youth Summit at Whangarei’s Onerahi foreshore to discuss coastal environmental issues – and what they can do to make a difference.

The day-long workshop, organised by the Northland Regional Council, is held annually and brings together Year 7 and 8 students nominated by schools from throughout Northland.

The Thursday October 18 summit is built around a coastal marine theme and investigates ways in which young people can take an active role in the sustainable management of Northland’s coast. Regional council staff will work with students on a variety of subjects related to coastal marine management, as well as leading students through a mock resource consent hearing.

The students will also develop action plans to help them deal with an extensive range of coastal environmental issues that they have already identified as concerns. Those issues include pelicans in Northern Wairoa River, Paihia wharf water bottle filling station to reduce Bay of Islands pollution, dune planting, Maui’s dolphin protection, eel breeding ground accessibility, water quality and marine reserves.

The student’s efforts will contribute to the health of Bay of Islands, Kaipara, Whangarei, Hokianga harbours along with Ngunguru Estuary and Bream Bay.

The free summit – the 17th hosted by the council – will be held at Onerahi Yacht Club between 8.40am and 3.30 pm.

Students will be attending from the following schools: Bream Bay College, Kamo Intermediate, Kokopu and Mangakahia Area Schools, Maungakaramea , Maungatapere, Ngunguru,  Opua and Oromahoe Schools, Otamatea High School, Ruawai College, Springbank,  Tangiteroria, Tangowahine and Te Horo Schools, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Tonga o Hokianga and Whangarei Intermediate.