Media release: 5 December 2012
Message Of Support: All Power To Power Shift
Student association presidents meeting in Wellington this week have joined in sending a message of support to the
organisers of the Power Shift NZ-Pacific Youth Climate Summit taking place at the University of Auckland and via www.powershift.org.nz this weekend.
Francisco Hernandez and Daniel Haines, the newly elected Presidents of the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA)
and Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA) respectively, have both described the Power Shift Summit as a
source of inspiration for young people everywhere.
“Being able to attend workshops that are future focused and about taking action to create a sustainable world is
inspiring,” says Haines.
“The AUSA Executive has endorsed Power Shift and assisted by giving space in the student union building to organise the
event on campus. We believe that empowering students to organise grass roots events like this, is fundamental to
developing leaders on a local and national platform.
“We join the organisers in their hope that Power Shift will create a powerful movement that will push New Zealand to
lift its game on environmental issues,” says Haines
Hernandez who will be attending Power Shift with OUSA campaigns officer Ruby Sycamore-Smith and environment officer
Joshua Pemberton had this to say: “OUSA is proud to support Power Shift for several reasons and particularly because it
shows that working to take action together can create the conditions for change.
“Not only have students at the University of Otago endorsed local moves towards carbon neutrality, this also ties in
with our commitment to investing in our future through insulated flats and greener housing.
“We support student leadership in tackling the issues of climate change and the wider issue of sustainability, and
applaud Otago University students like Lindsey Horne for their awesome efforts in biking the length of the country, from
Dunedin to Auckland – arriving tomorrow (Thursday) to what I’m sure will be a huge welcome.
NZUSA is running a series of workshops in Wellington this week for newly elected student leaders.
NZUSA’s second-term President Pete Hodkinson said that as today is International Volunteer Day it was also an
opportunity to acknowledge the significance of volunteering in New Zealand.
“I encourage everyone to engage with Volunteering New Zealand to learn more about volunteering and to watch their video
clip for International Volunteer day at http://youtu.be/vQzLn2rzEdY or at www.facebook.com/VolunteeringNZ”.
ENDS