Name: Erana Walker
Age: 17
School: Te Wharekura o Te Rawhitiroa
Area:  Whangarei
Interests: School, friends, taking action on climate change and being awesome!

“Kia ora!  I think taking action on climate change is important because we must preserve and sustain everything around us for future generations!! 

I want to bring as much information back from Copenhagen to help my school, my hapu, my iwi. I’m really excited about going to Copenhagen and I know it will be an awesome experience!”


Name: Phoebe Hunt
Age: 17
School: Western Heights High School
Area: Rotorua, Bay of Plenty
Interests: Rowing, water polo, singing, the environment, playing guitar and horse riding.

“Climate change is important to me because it is threatening millions of lives. I feel that this is not being taken seriously enough; decisions made now will affect the level of damage in the future. Climate change affects us all; I believe we need to work together globally to minimise the effects. 

In Copenhagen I aim to share my ideas for achieving sustainability; in return, I want to learn of other ideas and activities to minimise climate change. I think the conference is an ideal place to meet like-minded people and to form a worldwide network of contacts with the same goals.”


Name: Travis Mills
Age: 14
School: Waimea College
Area: Sunny Nelson
Interests: Hanging out with friends, creating movies, going for bike rides and cuddling up on the couch with a good book.

"My mates would best describe me as chatty and understanding but someone who never backs down from a challenge.  Climate change is important to me because our world is so beautiful with so many amazing creations and I want my grandchildren’s children to be able to experience every single one of them. 

From Copenhagen I hope to gain more understanding of how people from other parts of the world feel about climate change and what they’re scared of. I also hope to take away the experience of speaking to an international audience."


Name: Abby Ward
Age: 17
School: Nayland College
Area: Nelson/Tasman
Interests: dancing, debating, tramping, skiing, drama and environmental activism
 
"Hailing from the happening village of Upper Moutere near Nelson, I spent my childhood flitting between Kahurangi and Abel Tasman National Parks. Since 2005, two friends and I embraced the cheesy label of "Green Teens" in order to reduce plastic bags in Nelson by at least 20%. Our recent campaigns have included an eco bag art exhibition and an Eco Bag month in Nelson.
 
I am extremely excited about the opportunity to engage with fellow young greenies in Copehagen. Next year, I plan to pursue my environmental interests in studying for a Law and Arts degree in Wellington."

Meet the Kiribati Climate Delegation

delegation support crew

Name: Liz Philips
Age: 30
Occupation: Web Development Manager, UNICEF NZ
Area:  Wellington
Interests: Swimming, op-shopping, crafty things like knitting, uni study, international development issues including climate change and women's rights.

"I’ve worked at UNICEF for nearly four years.  My role involves looking after the website, e-communications and online marketing.  Prior to this I was the coordinator of the NZ Make Poverty History Campaign. I’m very committed to social justice issues and I’m particularly interested in gender and development as well as climate change. I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies and I’m currently studying towards a Masters in Women’s Studies. I’m really excited about going to Copenhagen and working with such an amazing group of young people on climate change issues!"


Name: Steve Tierney
Occupation: Director, Enviro-Challenge
Area: Tauranga
Interests: All things outdoors including climbing, skiing and kayaking

"I’m delighted and honoured to be working with UNICEF to take some of New Zealand’s finest young environmental leaders to Copenhagen.  I trained in Education for Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh and I’ve been working in Environmental Education for eight years. Because our children will inherit the Earth, I believe it is our duty to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to live in balance with the Earth’s systems. I currently direct the Enviro-Challenge high-schools programme www.envirochallenge.co.nz."