Dive into Seaweek 2016 from this weekend

Dive into Seaweek 2016 from this weekend

With only a few days to go until the start of NZAEE Seaweek 2016 on Saturday 27 February the number of events listed on the Seaweek website at seaweek.org.nz has swelled to over 190, with 60 events happening in Auckland, plus 14 competitions. So dive into Seaweek, visit the website and check out the events near you!

Seaweek National Coordinator Dr Mels Barton is delighted at the response:

“We are getting more groups organising events every year, and many more repeating events year after year. It’s great to have so many opportunities around the country for families to learn about the amazing marine environment we have in New Zealand and how to protect it.”

Voting for the 2016 Seaweek Ocean Champion closes on Friday 26 February and the competition is intense. The winner of the $500 award sponsored by the New Zealand Coastal Society will be announced at the Marine Conservation Futures and the Legacy of Bill Ballantine lecture and panel debate evening on Thursday 3 March at the University of Auckland.

The biggest event in the country will be Sustainable Coastlines’ ‘Love Your Coast’ Manukau Harbour Clean-up, with 6 clean-up stations located around the harbour on the public day, Saturday 5 March.

Other event highlights around the country include:

Northland - Community Guided Kayaking and Snorkeling with Experiencing Marine Reserves at Waikaraka on 28 Feb, Tapeka Point, Bay of Islands on 6 and 13 March and Reotahi, Whangarei on 12 March, plus Seaweek Pecha Kucha in Whangarei on 2 March.

Auckland – ‘Planet Ocean’ film screening on Friday 4 March, Open Days on Motutapu Island on Sunday 28 Feb and 6 March, Children’s Day on Rotoroa Island on 6 March. Community Guided Snorkeling with Experiencing Marine Reserves on Waiheke Island on 27 Feb and at Tawharanui on 5 March. Lots happening at Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre all week. Plus a bunch of events on the Manukau Harbour including Goodbye Godwits on 27 Feb and Sand Sculptures at Whatipu on 6 March.

Bay of Plenty - Guided tours of the rockpools of Mauao all week plus Seafaris Ocean Extravaganza cruise on 29 Feb and a guided walk and talk up Mauao on 5 March.

Gisborne / East Coast - Gizzy Clean-up on 5 March plus Community Guided Snorkeling with Experiencing Marine Reserves at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve on 6 March.

Hawkes Bay - Gannet Adventures Beach Clean-up from Clifton to Cape Kidnappers on 5 March and the HBHC Awatoto Beach Clean-up on 27 Feb. Plus the Royal Society lecture on 1 March and the finals of the Poetry Competition on 3 March.

Taranaki - Picnic at Brookland Zoo on 28 Feb, monitor the reef on 1 March, listen to guest speakers Shane Orchard and Nicola Sturgess on 1 March, Clean-up Waitara Beach with Taranaki Conservationists on 5 March plus Community Guided Snorkeling with Experiencing Marine Reserves at Nga Motu Beach, New Plymouth on 3 and 6 March.

Wellington - Kapiti College clean-up at Raumati Beach and Wharemauku Estuary on 5 March. Community Guided Snorkeling with Experiencing Marine Reserves at Whitireia Regional Park on 27 Feb and 5 March plus guided tours of Moa Point Treatment Plant on 1 and 4 March.

Nelson / Tasman - Community Guided Snorkeling with Experiencing Marine Reserves at Tonga Island Marine Reserve on 5 March.

Marlborough - Waikawa Dive’s underwater clean-up on 28 Feb or visit Perano Whaling Station for an historic tour on 28 Feb. Small Ocean Creatures Day on 28 Feb. Snorkel lessons and scavenger hunts on 29 Feb, 2 and 5 March. Learn about Kaikoura’s Whales on 2 March and experience the 7x7 Imagining Our Ocean event on 3 March.

Christchurch / Canterbury - Clean-up New Brighton on 27 Feb, Cycle the Edge and Picnic at Sumner on 28 Feb. The Great Seaweek Pub Quiz on 29 Feb, ephemeral art on Sumner beach on 2 March. Estuary Festival on 5 March and foraging at Akaroa on 6 March.

Otago - Visit Quarantine Island or Clean-up Dunedin on 27 Feb. Discover snorkel with Dive Otago on 5 March or watch Our Big Blue Backyard and meet the Producer on 28 Feb at Otago Museum.

West Coast - Clean-up Cobden and Hokitika Beaches on 5 March, enjoy Haast Community Day on 6 March and an evening walk around Okarito Estuary with Helen Kettles on 10 March.

There are also 14 exciting and fun competitions to enter this year with great prizes on offer. For full details of all the events and competitions check out the Seaweek website at seaweek.org.nz.

The theme for this year’s Seaweek, which runs from Saturday 27 February to Sunday 6 March 2016, is “Toiora te Moana - Toiora te Tangata, Healthy Seas - Healthy People”.

Seaweek 2016 is coordinated by the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education (NZAEE) and supported by Foundation North (formerly ASB Community Trust), Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Marine Studies Centre (Otago University), Environment Canterbury Regional Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, The National Aquarium - Napier City Council, DSP Print Group Ltd, New Zealand Coastal Society and many local sponsors.

ENDS

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