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Mangawhai Beach School student Huia McLean is the face of a new ocean conservation campaign, starring in the latest video released by Young Ocean Explorers.
Shared across the group’s social media platforms, the video aims to raise awareness of ocean protection and inspire young people to take an active role in caring for marine environments.
Presented by Huia, the video highlights the importance of preserving oceans for future generations and amplifies the voices of rangatahi calling for change.
Young Ocean Explorers founder Steve Hathaway is leading a nationwide initiative to collect around 5000 letters from young people advocating for stronger marine protection.
In June, the group will travel to the Beehive to hand-deliver the letters. One letter writer will be selected to travel to Wellington with a guardian to personally present the letters to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
“We have booked a visit to Parliament on June 25 and will also be holding an event that day with around 300 children from Wellington and surrounding areas,” Hathaway says. “Then we’ll gather on the steps of Parliament, where we will display a message that says: ‘Protect this place for us.’”
Hathaway says New Zealand, once considered a global leader in marine protection, has fallen behind in recent years.
“New Zealand was a leader in marine protection, but now it has some of the lowest levels in the world. While Australia protects around 13 to 15 per cent of its marine areas, New Zealand protects less than one per cent, significantly below global standards.”
He says the campaign aims to shift public thinking and build wider support for ocean protection.
Physical letters can be sent to PO Box 228, Warkworth 0941, or emailed to info@youngoceanexplorers.com.
To watch the video, visit www.youngoceanexplorers.com
