December 04, 2020
Ihumaatao crew wins conservation award
A group of green-fingered rangatahi have taken the top prize at Auckland’s Mayoral Conservation Awards for restoring South Auckland waterways.
The Para Patrol were named the Penny Hulse Supreme Environment Award winner for their work clearing rubbish, pest plants and animals around Māngere and Otāhuhu while educating other young people about conservation.
Leader Honey Olsen says the project began with her and a cousin reporting people illegally dumping rubbish on their papakainga at Ihumaatao, eventually growing into a collective of rangatahi with a passion for the environment.
She's recruiting more young people to the cause.
"I have been teaching small tips on how to set-up and clean traps. Just for our kids because we have a lot of pests in our area and a lot of compost our own food scraps." Ms Olsen says.
Para Patrol also took out the Schools and Youth Award.
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