Kotahi moana – kei konei te tīmatatanga

One Ocean – it starts here

Date: 2 March 2007

Central Wellington Celebrates Seaweek

Giant squids, sharks, nudibranches and other volunteers will be out on the streets promoting a central city Seaweek event at Civic Square on Monday 5 March, from 11am and 2pm.

Shelly Biswell, national Seaweek co-ordinator, said Seaweek is a great time to celebrate our marine and coastal heritage and to think about the role we all need to play in looking after it.

“In Wellington we are surrounded by the beauty and drama of the sea. We love swimming, sailing and visiting the beach. It is part of who we are and we need to be responsible for looking after what belongs to all of us” said Ms Biswell.

“Met Service has promised us a nice day and we have some great entertainment lined up from 11.30 onwards. There will be games, a quiz and prizes including CDs donated by Wellington band, Fat Cat and Fish Face.”

“We want people from the CBD to be involved and our event will give them the chance to find out about the marine environment and what else is happening for Seaweek and have some fun while they are at it! We warmly invite everyone to come down and join in on the celebrations”, said Ms Biswell.

The Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation, Maritime New Zealand, Greater Wellington Regional Council, WWF, Forest and Bird, Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Association for Environmental Education, Te Papa, Victoria University and more are participating in a joint celebration of Seaweek to bring marine conservation to Wellington's city centre.

The nationwide theme for Seaweek this year is “One Ocean – it starts here – Kotahi Moana – Kei konei te tīmatatanga.”

Ms Biswell said the theme highlights the conservation work being done in New Zealand and its surrounding seas, in particular its stance on whaling. It is also a call to New Zealanders to clean up our act and make sustainable practices a part of everything we do, from not using plastic bags to thinking about what we pour down the drain.

The event in Civic Square is just one of many nation-wide activities celebrating Seaweek, which runs from 4 -11 March this year.

Seaweek is co-ordinated by the New Zealand Association of Environmental Education to raise awareness of the marine environment and promote actions people can take to help look after their local marine areas.

--

Background information for media

What is Seaweek?

Seaweek is an annual week-long celebration of our marine environment co-ordinated in New Zealand by the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education Incorporated (NZAEE). It is usually held in the first week of March each year.

Seaweek is a fantastic opportunity to highlight community awareness and appreciation of the coast and ocean, provide information and education about marine related issues, and to encourage everyday New Zealanders to get involved with projects that help protect and enhance the local marine environment.

The objectives of Seaweek are to:

- Celebrate the sea; its beauty, diversity and cultural significance for New Zealanders
- Promote understanding and awareness of the significance of marine and coastal biodiversity and sustainable practices both at sea and on the land
- Organise activities to raise awareness of the need for marine and coastal conservation

Each year a different theme is chosen to provide a focus for activities. With the theme in mind regional co-ordinators throughout the country come together with their Seaweek committee members to organise a series of events in their areas.

Many organisations get involved with Seaweek including iwi organisations, schools, Central Government agencies, councils, outdoor recreations groups, zoos, aquaria, museums and NGOs.

Dates for 2007

4 - 11 March

This year’s theme

“One Ocean – it starts here – Kotahi Moana – Kei konei te tīmatatanga”.

10 things we can do to help:

1. Take part in a Seaweek activity or organise your own. Look on the www.seaweek.org.nz website for a list of activities happening in your region.

2. Don't litter! Plastic and rubbish left on beaches or dropped in the sea can kill birds and marine animals if they swallow it or get entangled in it.

3. Outdoor drains are only designed to drain rain. Be careful with chemicals and what you pour down your drain and throw on the street – it all ends up in the sea.

4. Look after the birds nesting on beaches and in sand dune areas. Avoid driving on beaches but take care if you must. Keep your dog on a leash.

5. Find out if you can get involved in a coastal conservation project.

6. Boaties – dispose of rubbish on land and keep your boat hull clean to stop the spread of marine pests.

7. Recreational fishers – know your legal limit and throw the little ones back. Help look after our dolphins. Remember that set nets catch more than fish - know the regulations in your area. Call 0800 4 RULES for information.

8. Go snorkelling or diving or check out your local shore’s rockpools. You will be amazed at what you can see.

9. Report suspicious activity on our coasts, phone the Mfish or DOC hotlines 0800 4 POACHER or 0800 DOCHOT

10. Pick up any rubbish you see next time you are at the beach.

ENDS

© Scoop Media