August update: What's been happening at BLAKE?

August update: What’s been happening at BLAKE?

News

August 19, 2025

Kia ora e te whānau

What an amazing first half of 2025 we’ve had!

We’re excited to share the latest news from across our BLAKE programmes in this update, including details of the BLAKE Ambassadors applications launch, reflections from two BLAKE Inspire programmes, and an overview of what’s been happening in the ever-busy world of NZ-VR.

Our virtual reality lessons are on track to reach another 40,000 tamariki this year, and have recently been introduced to rest homes and also featured at Fieldays, New Zealand’s largest agricultural event. Another 30 high school students and 30 teachers have come through BLAKE Inspire, and this update provides some reflections from participants which highlight the programme’s profound impact. There are some very exciting ambassador opportunities this year for rangatahi aged between 18-24. Applications for this are open for one more week, so if you, or someone you know is keen and eligible please feel free to share. Details below.

As always, we are grateful for the help of our sponsors, supporters and partners to enable the continuation of our mahi, as we aim to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.

If you would like to know more about BLAKE programmes or find out how they can be incorporated into your school or community feel free to visit our website, or reach out to [email protected] with any specific questions.

Ngā mihi nui,

The team at BLAKE
“We want to restart people caring about the environment … through adventure, through participation, through education and through enjoyment.” – Sir Peter Blake

BLAKE Ambassadors – 2025/26 Applications open NOW!

Through BLAKE’s partnerships with Earth Science NZ (formerly NIWA and GNS Science), Department of Conservation (DOC), University of Waikato, and Antarctica New Zealand , 11 young New Zealanders will be given the opportunity to take part in science and conservation projects across the motu across 2025/26.

Could this be you? We are looking for a diverse group of young people with different backgrounds & experience between the ages of 18 – 24 who also have a passion for working towards solving some of New Zealand’s biggest environmental problems.

Ambassadorships overview:
• 1 University of Waikato/Antarctica NZ Ambassador
• 1 DOC Kākāpō Ambassador
• 1 DOC Hoiho Ambassador
• 1 DOC Southern New Zealand Dotterel Ambassador
• 2 Earth Science NZ Marine Ambassadors
• 1 Earth Science NZ Climate/Atmosphere Ambassador
• 2 Earth Science NZ Freshwater Ambassadors
• 2 Earth Science NZ Aquaculture AmbassadorsEach programme is designed to both advance BLAKE Ambassadors’ understanding of some of the big questions and challenges facing the environment and develop their leadership capability to drive positive change and inspire other New Zealanders.

Applications close on 22nd August – 11.59pm.

More information about this year’s programmes is available on our website here, or reach out to our programmes manager Alice McCullough [email protected]

BLAKE Inspire for Students – Reflections

With support from our foundation partner Westpac, we were able to give five students the opportunity to attend BLAKE Inspire for students in April this year. Wellington High School student Aarthi Candadai was one of the Westpac scholarship recipients, and shared some powerful thoughts from her time as one of 35 motivated young leaders on the five-day programme in Auckland.
Read her story on our website.

The week was packed with activities like hearing from Sam Johnson, founder of the Student Volunteer Army, volunteering at Pourewa Māra Kai, and diving into local environmental issues through hands-on science activities. With mātauranga Māori woven into the programme, participants deepened their understanding of leadership, community and kaitiakitanga.

Fellow Westpac scholarship recipient Luca Pudda found the policy simulation to be his week highlight. This is where students formed a mock government to tackle real-world issues drawn from New Zealand’s current political landscape.
Luca featured in Kia Manawararoa about his time on BLAKE and you can check it out here.

BLAKE Inspire provides an opportunity for passionate, like-minded rangatahi to connect with one another and nature, especially in a world that is becoming increasingly overwhelmed with social media and digital technology. We can’t wait to see how this group carries their experience forward and what meaningful impact they create in their communities and beyond.

BLAKE Inspire – the teachers’ turn!

Photo // Sally Carson, a well-known marine biologist and director at the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, spent several days with teachers. She introduced them to the Marine Meter Squared project, which was a key part of her thesis and is now used nationwide.

BLAKE Inspire for teachers is always a BIG week – with a jam packed run sheet giving participants plenty of opportunities to be inspired, and chances to learn and connect with one-another. Our first of three intakes took place in July, with another two scheduled for the coming school holidays.

An informative tour at the Sawmill Brewery was the perfect way to warm up after the deluge of rain which participants braved on one of the final days. After exploring the Tāwharanui Ecology Trail on a wild blustery day (and being treated to the rare daylight sighting of a kiwi!) the warm welcome to this brewery is always a highlight.

The Sawmill Brewery is one of BLAKE’s supporters, and is proud to be New Zealand’s first B Corp certified Brewery. It is always amazing to hear about their ethos of resourcefulness and creativity, a shining beacon of business sustainability in action.

Sending a huge mihi to the experts who shared their knowledge throughout the week;

Te Kahuratai Moko-Painting on Mātauranga Māori
Ruud Kleinpaste on bugs and biodiversity
Sally Carson on Marine Science and Education
Steve Hathaway on Young Ocean Explorers, and the power of storyteling
Nava Fedaeff from NIWA, on climate change from a New Zealand perspective

Thank you to our teachers participants – without whom the week could not have run!

BLAKE Ambassadors: Spotlight on the future

BLAKE DOC Ambassadors reflect on two weeks with takahē recovery team

Rediscovered in 1948 after being thought extinct, the large, flightless Takahē are still regarded as a threatened species. During their ambassadorship at the Burwood Takahē Recovery centre, BLAKE DoC ambassadors Rāwinia Wikaira and Jake Benny experienced the conservation efforts first hand.
Read more here.

NZ-VR – Around Aotearoa

Set on woodchips, surrounded by agricultural exhibitions in the Waikato, Fieldays’ showgoers had a unique opportunity to experience an underwater world this year. This was yet another unique setting for the virtual reality programme which is powered by Westpac, providing the opportunity to recognise the interconnectedness of land and sea.
Westpac and BLAKE have enjoyed a 20-year partnership, and their support has enabled BLAKE to inspire thousands of young New Zealanders through various programmes which continue the legacy of Sir Peter Blake.

In partnership with New Zealand Geographic, and powered by Westpac, NZ-VR is our school outreach programme that connects thousands of young New Zealand. This year we aim to educate and inspire a further 40,000 students across the country.

Ōtautahi update: BLAKE Educator Abbie Cider recaps 2025 so far.

In the first half of 2025, our Christchurch-based BLAKE NZ-VR team has reached almost 4000 students across the region! We have visited a wide range of schools, delivering our immersive, ocean-focused virtual reality experience to rangatahi from Year 4 through to Year 9.

A highlight from the year so far has been our visit to Waitaha School, a specialist school that supports students with diverse learning needs. While a few students were slightly hesitant at first, with a bit of support and gentle encouragement, everyone gave the VR headsets a try, and they all loved it!

They were particularly captivated by the sound of dolphins and whales communicating underwater. Watching the students’ faces light up as they explored Aotearoa’s ocean through VR emphasised the power of this technology to engage and connect all learners with our marine environment. As we move into the second half of the year, we can’t wait to continue to grow our reach throughout Christchurch and inspire kaitiakitanga.

If you have not seen our BLAKE Expeditions 2025 video yet, watch here for an overview of this year’s voyage to the Subantarctic Islands.
Filmed by Josh Chapman, edited by Brendon O’Hagan.

Me mahi tahi tātou mō te oranga o te katoa
We should work together for the wellbeing of everyone