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The Hawke’s Bay Youth Environment Council (HBYEC) is made of local high school students who are environmental leaders within their schools. The aim of this group is to represent and be the ‘voice’ of the youth (12–18 year olds) of the Hawke’s Bay region, with regard to environmental issues, awareness and education. Most of the students join the group during year 11 or 12 and finish during year 13, giving them 2 years to gain knowledge and leadership experience.
The group has, instigated, organised and facilitated many projects over the past year including a stream clean up at Anderson Park in Napier, paper recycling programme at the Hawke’s Bay Airport, a local 350 awareness and action campaign, a climate change forum with Hastings Youth Council, participation at Hawke’s Bay Regional Council public events and an annual overnight Regional Environmental Forum event.
As the leaders of the environmental group at their schools, Youth Environment Council students promote environmental education initiatives throughout the school community. Some of these projects include, waste and energy audit, worm farm, compost bin, whole school presentation of environmental topics, a bike to school event, planting gardens, and water saving ideas.
For more information on how to get your school involved contact Emily Rockwell (06) 835 9200 or email Environmental Education.
YES is an award winning, biennial, youth event focussing on environmental science and stewardship held at Lincoln University.
Youth EnviroSchool Sponsorship
The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Rotary Club of Greenmeadows provide sponsorship to send one Hawke's Bay student to the Youth Enviroschool.
Previous recipients of the sponsorship:
- 2006 - Sophie Carty from Napier Girls' High School
- 2004 - Amy Hanson from Sacred Heart College, Napier
- 2002 - Daniel Sheely from St John’s College, Hastings
For more information contact Emily by email or phone her on (06) 833 8036.
Every year schools showcase their students’ investigative science and technology projects. The Regional Council sponsors five prizes of $200 for exhibits that “best illustrate environmental awareness and understanding.“
A national week focussed on restoring the biodiversity of New Zealand.
Since 1992 the Department of Conservation, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Pan Pac Forest Products Ltd have celebrated Conservation Week by taking school groups to visit two local sites of great conservation importance - White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve and Tutira Country Park.
During that time over 3000 Hawke’s Bay students have taken part in this programme, planting thousands of native trees around Lake Tutira.
Students visit a remnant of native forest at White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve, learn lots of interesting facts about the modern forestry industry, and take action for the environment by planting native trees to help with the fight against erosion control.
For more information on Conservation Week check out:
For more information on Conservation Week, contact Emily Rockwell by email or phone her on (06) 833 8036.