Future leaders in climate change from New Zealand, Chile and China are in Wānaka and the Mackenzie Basin this week to learn about grassroots environmental initiatives.

Sixteen postgraduate students and young professionals from the Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPE) Winds of Change programme are here for a field trip to investigate common climate change issues and how sustainable development strategies can be created for the future.

Yesterday (Tuesday December 6) the group visited Alpha Burn Station with WAI Wānaka and the Wānaka Catchment Group to look at water quality work, its links to climate change, and talk to WAI about their work programmes.

The group – six from China studying in New Zealand, three from Chile studying in New Zealand and seven New Zealanders – are part of a cohort of 40 postgraduates and young professionals taking part in the Winds of Change programme, which launched in 2020 to create a bilateral network between New Zealanders and other countries.

“The future of this network is exciting, and we are very happy to include in this network the agencies in Central Otago that are examples of working together for a sustainable future,” CAPE director Matthew O’Meagher said.

Yesterday the group also visited Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust, a long-running, community based native plant nursery.

A day earlier they headed to Mt Pisa to see zero farming in action at the Forest Lodge Carbon Free Orchard.

Later in the week the group will head to the Mackenzie Basin to learn from staff at the Department of Conservation and Environment Canterbury and the Mackenzie Basin Wildings Trust.

CAPE is supported by a consortium of four New Zealand universities: University of Auckland, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, University of Otago, and University of Waikato. 

PHOTO: Supplied