Helping to shape our future

Press, 30 July 1986, Page 17

Helping to shape our future

CONSERVATION IS . . .

“Conserving Our Future” is the theme for Conservation Week 1986.

Concentrating on the young people who will help shape our future, Conservation New Zealand is trying to promote an awareness and understanding of environmental planning for our wildlife, scenic, and recreational resources.

From August 1 to August 10, a wide range of activities, displays, and demonstrations are being held around the country to promote the theme of balance between people’s needs and the earth’s resources.

The week-long campaign looks at some of the waysan ecologically sustainable society can be achieved. It will also look at practices which deteriorate the qualityof our air, soil, or water — and

what can be done about them.

To mark the week in Christchurch, a young person’s poster display will be on show at the Christchurch Town Hall on August 1, with prizes for the top posters to be presented at 5 p.m. A Conservation Week colouring competition is also being held, with the prizegiving at “The Star” board room on August 6 at 3.45 p.m.

The Canterbury Library has peace displays on show. School kits containing information and study ideas on the week’s theme have been distributed throughout New Zealand. More information on

these activities is available from Bernard Hansen, phone 266-174. Awards Rangiora High School students have featured prominently in this year’s Young Conservators Awards for New Zealand.

Three group awards and one individual aware were chosen for 1986. The first group award went to a group of seventh formers at the high school, and the individual award to Andrea Byrom, also from Rangiora.

The seventh form biology students won their award for helping conserve a valuble bird habitat on the Ashley River.

Andrea’s success for her work in mastering a difficult technique for assessing bird numbers, and using the method to add to the knowledge of native and introduced birds in the North Canterbury area.

The awards, chosen by Conservation New Zealand committee members, will be presented at a school assembly this Thursday at 11 a.m. Also receiving conservation awards are two Riccarton High School students, Christine McCurdy and Mark Panckhurst, who came second and third respectively in a national Conservation New Zealand short story competition.

The well-known author and mountaineer, Philip Temple, will present the awards at a school assembly on August 8 at 1 p.m.