Young explorers speak up for ocean health
At the end of their school term, more than 300 primary and intermediate students from nine Wellington schools walked into the Banquet Hall at Parliament in Wellington carrying 3,300 letters written by tamariki from around the motu, all addressed to the Prime Minister, about the ocean they stand to inherit. Tamariki and ragatahi accompanied by the Young Ocean Explorers team shared their passion for our ocean: students advocating for a healthier marine future. It was a powerful opportunity combining ocean education with civic participation, demonstrating to young New Zealanders that their voices matter and can help shape the future of our ocean.
“Please protect our moana so I can enjoy it when I am older.”
Ocean stewardship
The Young Ocean Explorers have a mission to inspire kids to love and steward our ocean through entertaining education. They capture imaginations through storytelling, bringing the beauty, awe and fascination of the ocean and its inhabitants alive for our tamariki and ragatahi. Their vision is to create generational change by connecting hearts and minds with the importance of loving and caring for our oceans, building a better future.
“Young ocean explorers like me are writing letters to ask for your help. Please listen to us and help protect our ocean so that native animals can live safely. We want future generations to be able to see and enjoy these wonderful creatures.”
Students meet with MPs in Wellington to present their letters.
What do you want for the moana?
The campaign began with the release of Young Ocean Explorers new short film, People Like Us. This became the catalyst for the campaign, as an integral part of each Young Ocean Explorers school presentation leading up to the trip to Parliament, encouraging children from around Aotearoa to write letters to the Prime Minister sharing their hopes for the ocean’s future. The film asked tamariki a direct question: what do you want for the moana? Thousands wrote back, from schools across Aotearoa New Zealand. More letters are still arriving! The campaign also reached over 225,000 New Zealanders through nationwide radio coverage, raising the voices of young people advocating for the ocean.
“What you have done really matters. You cared about something, put it into words and brought it all the way to Wellington... keep speaking up, keep caring about our oceans. Your voices are being heard, right here today.”
“Keep caring about our oceans”
A commemorative book showcasing just a few of the significant number of letters from tamariki was presented to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Along with the thousands of letters received, the book is a lasting reminder of the passion and optimism that tamariki have for protecting our marine environment, and a record of one of New Zealand's largest youth-led ocean advocacy initiatives.
Students presented their letters which were formally received on behalf of the Prime Minister by a group of MPs. After delivering their letters, all 300+ students called out the closing line of the film together: “For people like us!” – enthusiastically capturing the spirit of the campaign. The initiative demonstrated the powerful impact that can be achieved when education, storytelling, and advocacy are combined to inspire the next generation of ocean guardians.
“That is what this campaign is about. These letters are a message from our rangatahi to the people who can make a difference, asking them to set a vision for our ocean and to protect it for the generations who come after us.”
Oceans parliament: Government MP and Senior Whip Stuart Smith and Labour’s ocean spokesperson Rachel Boyack.
Ocean parliament
The students’ trip to Parliament also featured Ocean Parliament, the first of its kind: an interactive mock parliamentary debate featuring Government MP and Senior Whip Stuart Smith and Labour’s ocean spokesperson Rachel Boyack. Each MP argued the case for a different marine species, and why theirs deserved to be recognised as Aotearoa New Zealand’s greatest ocean ambassador. Students watched the two politicians debate and disagree across the House, questioned both, and voted on who had made the stronger case, experiencing democracy in action.
The future of the moana
Young Ocean Explorers founder Steve Hathaway put the organisation’s long-term vision for ocean education to a cross-party group of Members of Parliament, highlighting the important role education can play in achieving a thriving ocean for future generations.
“As Kiwis, we’re proud of our spectacular scenery and native species – our kea, kiwi, and Kauri trees. Yet 93% of New Zealand is actually underwater and 80% of our native species live there.
Currently, about 30% of New Zealand’s land mass is protected, but less than half a percent of our ocean is fully protected.
Australia highly protects around 24% of its marine areas, and has steps in place to take its total to 30% highly protected before 2030.”
Steve Hathaway, Young Ocean Explorers with tamariki and ragatahi at Parliament.
Kaitiaki of our marine environment
Through education, advocacy and collaboration, Young Ocean Explorers are helping build a generation of informed and engaged tamariki and ragatahi who are equipped to become future leaders and kaitiaki of our marine environment here in Aotearoa.
Investing in the future of Aotearoa
Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation and TMNZ believe in investing in the future of Aotearoa, and in protecting the health of our ocean. As a purpose-led business, TMNZ is proud to direct its profits to Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation to help build a restored and thriving Aotearoa.
“An increasing number of young adults tell us Young Ocean Explorers inspired their passion for the ocean and influenced the study and career pathways they have chosen. These stories remind us that meaningful change is not only measured by the programmes we deliver today, but by the people we help shape for tomorrow.”
