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Forty students from 19 Northland schools will gather for a special Youth Summit at Whangarei’s Onerahi foreshore next month 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 Seven and Eight (Form One and Two) students nominated by schools from throughout Northland.

The Thursday 18 October summit is built around a coastal marine theme and how 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 lead students through a mock resource consent hearing.

Students will also develop action plans to help them deal with an extensive range of coastal environmental issues the students themselves have already identified as concerns.
 
These include:

• the effects of increasing tourism on Hokianga beaches
• motorbikes running over seabird nests
• protecting inanga in Northern Wairoa River
• the effects of rising sea levels on Whangarei city
• the effect on recreational fishing of the major newly-proposed Northland East Coast marine reserve
• climate change’s effect on sea levels and marine animal habitats

The free 8.40am to 4pm summit – the fifth hosted by the Council - will be held at Onerahi Yacht Club.

Students will be attending from the following schools: Ahipara School, Aranga School, Bream Bay College, Broadwood Area School, Christian Renewal School, Dargaville Intermediate, Kaitaia Abundant Life School, Kamo Intermediate, Kokopu School, Matarau School, Okaihau College, Oruaiti School, Pompallier College, Rawene School, Tangiteroria School, Tautoro School, Tikipunga High School, Whangarei Heads School and Whangarei Intermediate.