World Environment Day Waihi

World Environment Day is celebrated on the 5th of June each year in more than 100 countries. It is an opportunity to raise awareness and promote action on environmental issues through public engagement.
This year New Zealand is hosting World Environment Day in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Ministry for the Environment is the lead government agency co-ordinating the event for the New Zealand Government, alongside UNEP.
The World Environment Day international slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy in recognition that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era. The theme will also include the role of forest conservation and sustainable forestry in achieving domestic and global climate change goals.

In Waihi, World Environment Day was celebrated through school activities in the Waitete Catchment. Organised by HELP (Habitat Enhancement Landcare Partnership) Waihi and sponsored by The Ministry for the Environment, this year’s focus is “kicking the CO2 habit” and we planted native sedges and toetoe to help stabilise stream banks and create flood protection. With global warming, increased flash floods are anticipated in our region. Climate change predictions of greater stream flow variations will impact significantly on Waihi’s vulnerable streams. Of particular concern are extreme weather events that will produce higher flows, accelerating stream bank erosion and sediment contamination. Surface runoff will carry other contaminants to waterways too. Low flows are also anticipated leading to (potentially) increased water temperatures and a reduction in dissolved oxygen, placing greater pressure on the life supporting capacity of Waitete Stream.

View this related site: Wild about New Zealand

Waihi East Primary and Waimata Primary - Years 5 & 6.
All classes were visited the previous week and participated in an interactive 1hr powerpoint session about WED, CO2, what we can do to help and what could happen in the Waihi environment.
The location of the planting where banks are crumbling already was the lower Waitete Stream, on Orchard Rd. There were three classes that visited throughout the day, planting sedges, toetoe and completing a freshwater macroinvertebrate survey to test the water quality of the stream.
"Carbon Credits" were awarded to students who were helpful, worked well or successfully answered quiz questions based on the previous week's prepatory in-class lesson. Prizes were then given out to those who'd collected credits.

The process of educating, planting and stream surveying was repeated on the 5th - World Environment Day proper! There were three classes separately involved, two from Waihi Central (Year 5 & 6) and one class from St Joseph's Waihi (Years 5-8). A bright cold morning led to sunny winter's day with much eagerness and participation from the classes.