BUSY DIGGING: Botany Downs Secondary College student Tommy Long plants a native kohekohe with Environment Minister Nick Smith. Photo supplied.Student honoured
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
By AMANDA KING
Howick and Botany Times (New Zealand)
A SCHOOLBOY’S hands-on approach to saving the environment has caught the eye of government and overseas officials who have presented him with a special award.
The annual Green Ribbon Awards attract hundreds of candidates from across New Zealand.
This year there were just nine prize recipients and Botany Downs Secondary College student Tommy Long was one of them.
Tommy recently travelled to Wellington to receive an award for community action for the environment.
His speech was impressive enough that the High Commissioner of Mexico gave him a special mention, and Environment Minister Nick Smith flew to Manukau to donate some native trees to the college.
The 15-year-old not only set up the school’s first environmental committee, but he created an entire constitution – including environmental awards and how to best tackle the school’s rubbish problems.
“I wanted to inspire others to take action and make a big difference to their tomorrows,” he says.
The Year 11 pupil says he was slightly nervous addressing Parliament when receiving his award but was “proud and humbled” to be in the presence of MPs.
“I think New Zealand is doing a reasonably good job at protecting the environment,” says Tommy. “But I think everyone needs to unite together to achieve a common goal for sustainability.”
Mr Smith donated 10 plants to Botany Downs, which has a natives-only policy for its gardens.
He was impressed with the efforts of the keen young environmentalist, who emigrated from Cambodia nine years ago.
“It’s really exciting when you see new migrants taking up the passion of protecting New Zealand’s unique and special environment,” says Mr Smith.
It’s the 19th year of the Green Ribbon Awards, and the minister says they acknowledge outstanding contributions made by individuals who give up their own time to provide environmental leadership in their communities.
“At the end of the day, the Ministry of Environment and Department of Conservation can do all they like, but unless we have hands-on community based efforts it won’t make a big difference,” says Mr Smith.
Tommy is chairman of the school’s Enviroschools group and last year the college received a bronze Enviroschools award.
The annual Green Ribbon Awards attract hundreds of candidates from across New Zealand.
This year there were just nine prize recipients and Botany Downs Secondary College student Tommy Long was one of them.
Tommy recently travelled to Wellington to receive an award for community action for the environment.
His speech was impressive enough that the High Commissioner of Mexico gave him a special mention, and Environment Minister Nick Smith flew to Manukau to donate some native trees to the college.
The 15-year-old not only set up the school’s first environmental committee, but he created an entire constitution – including environmental awards and how to best tackle the school’s rubbish problems.
“I wanted to inspire others to take action and make a big difference to their tomorrows,” he says.
The Year 11 pupil says he was slightly nervous addressing Parliament when receiving his award but was “proud and humbled” to be in the presence of MPs.
“I think New Zealand is doing a reasonably good job at protecting the environment,” says Tommy. “But I think everyone needs to unite together to achieve a common goal for sustainability.”
Mr Smith donated 10 plants to Botany Downs, which has a natives-only policy for its gardens.
He was impressed with the efforts of the keen young environmentalist, who emigrated from Cambodia nine years ago.
“It’s really exciting when you see new migrants taking up the passion of protecting New Zealand’s unique and special environment,” says Mr Smith.
It’s the 19th year of the Green Ribbon Awards, and the minister says they acknowledge outstanding contributions made by individuals who give up their own time to provide environmental leadership in their communities.
“At the end of the day, the Ministry of Environment and Department of Conservation can do all they like, but unless we have hands-on community based efforts it won’t make a big difference,” says Mr Smith.
Tommy is chairman of the school’s Enviroschools group and last year the college received a bronze Enviroschools award.
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