BLAKE 2025 Year-in-review: Looking back at what we’ve achieved
While it's easy to charge rapidly into the festive season, December also brings a chance for us at BLAKE to step back and look at what we've achieved over the year. Every programme at BLAKE has the goal of inspiring environmental leadership. While some have evolved...
Aku whakaaro huritao
Aku whakaaro huritao - Leigh Takirau // Kaihautū Māori Manager As the year winds down, it's a natural and much-needed time to hit the pause button. We get a chance to look back at what we've achieved and what challenges we've faced, and then look ahead with fresh hope...
Introducing…The 2025/26 BLAKE Ambassadors!
From over 100 applicants.. to TWELVE amazing young people... We're excited to introduce you to the 2025/26 BLAKE Ambassadors! Through our partnerships with Earth Sciences New Zealand, Department of Conservation, University of Waikato, and Antarctica NZ, these...
Understanding the ocean: Young sailors take part in environmental leadership week
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...
How learning about the natural world helped one teacher find her spark again
Heidi-Ann kept putting it off. Despite countless recommendations, the Napier teacher found every excuse not to apply for BLAKE Inspire. Today, she has one regret; "Not applying sooner." The July participant now knows exactly what she was missing. In the Q&A below,...
Sir Alan Mark named 2025 BLAKE Medallist alongside eight other inspiring BLAKE Leadership awardees
Emeritus Professor Sir Alan Mark has been awarded the the BLAKE Medal to acknowledge and celebrate his outstanding contribution to New Zealand as a leading plant ecologist, lifelong environmentalist, and champion of science-based conservation which has helped protect...
August update: What’s been happening at BLAKE?
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...
Luca Pudda’s experience with BLAKE Inspire for Students
Featured in Kia Manawaroa Luca Pudda (Ngāi Tahu) is a Year 12 ākonga from Verdon College in Invercargill and one of just 30 rangatahi selected from across Aotearoa to participate in BLAKE Inspire for Students this past April. BLAKE Inspire for Students is a dynamic,...
BLAKE Ambassadors reflect on two weeks with DoC’s takahē recovery team
BLAKE DOC Ambassadors Rāwinia Wikaira and Jake Benny spent two weeks in Te Anau, shadowing the Department of Conservation’s Takahē recovery team. Once thought to be extinct, a population of this flightless bird was found in 1948 and since then Doc have been working to...
WATCH: BLAKE Expeditions 2025 to the Subantarctic Islands
In early March 2025, HMNZS Canterbury headed into the Southern Ocean with 20 BLAKE Expeditions participants aboard. The crew of scientists, students, and teachers from Aotearoa journeyed toward the remote Auckland and Campbell islands on a 10-day scientific mission in...
Teen student dedicated to driving change
Meet Aarthi Candadai - BLAKE Inspire 2025 student and Westpac scholarship recipient Aarthi is a 18-year-old high school student from Wellington with big dreams for an Aotearoa where all voices can be heard. As a natural connector with the tools to create platforms (in...
The BLAKE Awards: Honouring Leadership for a Sustainable Future
For more than two decades, the BLAKE Awards have recognised New Zealanders whose leadership has delivered impact across all walks of life. Now, as we step into our 21st year, the BLAKE Awards evolve to honour our history while reflecting the future. From 2025, the...