Like many young kiwi sailors, Brooke Mundy and Katelyn Roberts have spent their fair share of time on the water.
From mucking about, to racing, to coaching and cruising, the high school students from Nelson and Kerikeri have an affinity to the ocean and have only recently deepened their appreciation for their own blue backyards.
The girls were selected by Yachting New Zealand to take part in BLAKE Inspire for students, a week-long environmental leadership programme which took place in Auckland earlier this month.
“I’ve got a lot more appreciation for the ocean now and what it gives us,” says Brooke.
The Nelson Waszp sailor says some of her favorite parts of the programme were learning about the biodiversity on Rotoroa Island, and snorkeling at Goat Island, a marine reserve.
Understanding more about how ecosystems work together prompted her to think about ways she could take action in and around her local sailing grounds.
She’s returning to Nelson with an action plan to approach local groups and council to organizing planting groups on Haulashore Island.
“I want to increase the biodiversity and hopefully bring birds and other species to the area,” she explains.
Brooke and Katelyn were part of a 30-strong group of rangatahi from across New Zealand to take part in BLAKE Inspire for students earlier this month.
The programme aims to empower students to create a more sustainable future for the country which leads into any field they choose.
Activities included a biodiversity day at Rotoroa Island, planting at Pourewa Gardens in Orakei, a tour of Kelly Tarltons and insight into the conservation work being carried out there, a mock-policy simulation, visiting Goat Island and freshwater testing at Mathesons Bay.
One of Katelyn’s highlights from the week was connecting with like-minded teenagers who all had similar reasons for wanting to attend.
She says she feels more in tune with the ocean, now having a better understanding of the life in, around and under the surface.
“I can also take my knowledge back to my teammates and share it with them,” she says.
The group stayed at AUT Millenium on the North Shore in Auckland and carried out day trips from there.
Formerly known as The Sir Peter Blake Trust, BLAKE is an environmental leadership organisation which aims to continue the legacy of sailor and environmentalist, Sir Peter Blake.
