High school pupils from around the country gathered in the capital during their recent school holidays to learn more about environmental issues in New Zealand at a forum organised by the Ministry for the Environment and the Sir Peter Blake Trust.
It was designed to inspire and increase the capability of young environmental leaders in the hope they would create action in their communities.
Otago sent three representatives, Molly Holloway (16), Jessie Lord (16) and Joel Bartlett (17) who, after an application process, were nominated by the Otago Regional Council.
Molly described the forum as being "for teenagers aged 15 to 18, who have a passion for the environment and want a career in it".
The group spent the first day getting to know each other and talking to the Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser, and others at the ministry, before being divided into topic groups for the remaining four days.
Topics included adapting to climate change, fresh water, and sustainable business. Each group presented a project on their topic at Parliament Building's Grand Hall at the end of the forum.
Molly, a year 12 Mt Aspiring College pupil, was raised with an interest in the environment and, though she is unsure what career path she will take, knew her passion for the environment would direct her.
Her topic was adapting to climate change which resulted in going on field trips, learning about flood protection and planting tussocks on a sand dune.
"The thing that got into our heads the most was that instead of trying to stop climate change, we need to learn to adapt to it and the community needs to be the basis for adaptation."
Molly encouraged other young people to think about environmental issues as "it's such a big thing and it's going to get even bigger".
Jessie, a year 12 pupil at Taieri College, also wanted to encourage other young people to think about their environment. Pupils she had spoken to at the forum organised groups at their schools and she wanted to set one up.
"I'd really like to get full recycling going at school," she said.
She first became interested in environmental issues when she studied geography and science and, living on a farm, environmental pressures were constant.
She was part of the group looking at caring for fresh water and went on field trips to the Karori Sanctuary and into urban areas.
Joel, a year 13 pupil at Kaikorai Valley College, was part of the final group, sustainable business. He toured some of the city's hotels to see how they were environmentally friendly.
Hotels which took the most initiative appeared to be the most sustainable, he said.
He also enjoyed meeting new people, saying they were his favourite part of the week.
