Youth For Seas

Thursday, 1st May 2025 at 9:59am

Tomorrow's leaders are stepping up to protect our marine ecosystems.

Year 11 students Stella Raccuglia, Nora Vastag, and Molly Mongston are leading their own marine conservation project or event, as part of a leadership development project facilitated by Our Seas Our Future (OSOF).

Their proposed project is to look at the seawater of Green Bay beach - one of the beaches in our local community which is often deemed unswimmable. Using scientific testing such as pH, salinity and enterococcus bacteria to analyze the parameters, the group will carry out some cost-effective testing to investigate why the water quality is often poor. The results will help them understand what can be done in order to improve water quality and help our local beach recover.

Supported by their Science teacher and Assistant Year 11 Dean Dr Angelo Tedoldi, who will assist the group with setting up some of the testing and offering guidance on graphs and information to be shared with the community. This project may also align towards their Student Volunteer Army badge or Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Stella plans to create an illustrative book describing the impact of plastic pollution on our ocean (supported by her mum, Lene Toni Kjeld, who is an artist), while Molly and Nora will be looking at analysing samples of water from our local beach (Green Bay), as well as two other sites around West Auckland.

They also plan to contact the council for some help and support.

As a collective effort, the group is looking forward to informing the public about what can be done to improve our wai.

This programme is generously supported by Quadrant Rail Consulting - experts in environmental planning and solutions and AT.