Green Jam 2024!

Green Jam 2024 was held on the 19th of August at Auckland Zoo. The event was organised by our Wastewise students with support from the Kaitiaki rōpū. It included workshops focusing on environmental sustainability such as Predator Control, Te Whau Pathway Project, Social and Economic Impacts of Climate Change, Composting, Fair Food, encouraging people to ride bikes and others.

As a member of the Pest Trapping Club at Western Springs, I was especially excited to join the workshop on Predator Control. This workshop, hosted by Paul, Sian and Tarn from Urban Ark taught me about humane forms of trapping different pests like rats, possums, ferrets and stoats to protect our native birds.

My main job for this event was assisting the presenters and audience, which allowed me to gain a new perspective on the many ways people can help combat the Climate Crisis and encourage Environmental Sustainability. I was surprised by the passion of the presenters, as Climate Change is so often viewed in a hopeless light. This event is important to communicate not just solutions for Climate Change, but also hope for a future of Environmental Sustainability.

For me, the importance of this event was clear when I saw the younger students becoming truly invested. Over the day, students attended three workshops that took a different approach to sustainability. For instance, the Te Whau Pathway Project took a local perspective on improving sustainability in a major way for a small area, whereas the workshop on Social and Economic Impacts of Climate Change viewed the worldwide impacts on impoverished or displaced communities. The different approaches gave students a wide range of perspectives to think about when considering climate change and sustainability, which is why so many students were actively interested.

Towards the end of the day, there was a Panel Session where students were invited to ask questions to panel members from a wide range of organisations about their different approaches to Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability. This panel sparked conversations on humane trapping, public transportation and the benefits of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ as well as other topics. Again, the participation of the younger students highlighted to me the impact events like this can have on our community, and how they can lead to real improvements to the environment.

We are very grateful to the Zoo for once again hosting the event. In particular PJ Bickerstaff and the amazing Zoo education team. Thanks to our organizing team of Wastewise Leaders, Mila and Isla and our Kaitiaki leaders Hine and Lovey as well as Zariya and Enzo. Thanks to all of the students who brought this event to life. This event would not have been possible without the workshop presenters, panel members, students and teachers volunteering their time.

Overall, the day taught me that Green Jam and events like it are crucial in the fight against Climate Change and our fight for Environmental Sustainability, and I feel very lucky to be part of it.
Rosa Wigley, Year 10, Pest Trapping