Enviro-Schools Awards

Wednesday 13 April 2005

It’s great to see the Enviro-Schools idea alive and growing in Christchurch and Canterbury.

It is also a good lesson for the grown ups here today that this is a regional partnership that works on a basis of working together, rather than in competition.

This way of working lets you do more, with less to produce a better end result.

There is no result, nor issue, more important than learning how to show our environment some real respect.

People used to say that they wanted to leave a better world for their grandchildren. The reality is we should all be working hard, right now, to try and preserve and nurture what we have for our children.

We have to be prepared to help our young people learn about sustainability in schools, in their community and by their actions.

I'm pleased to hear that the Enviro-Schools programme encourages young people to speak up about their environment and their society. I'm even more pleased to hear they are then encouraged to turn this into positive action in their communities.

There is no better lesson than to learn that you have a voice, the power to turn that voice into action, and that those actions can help literally change your world for the better.

I'm delighted to have this chance for thanking schools and staff for your actions, your optimism and the reminder that most of us want the best for our families, our friends and ultimately our planet.