Lighthouse Aotearoa

Lighthouse Aotearoa is an extracurricular youth organisation comprised of over forty young members across Te Tauihu-o-te-Waka | the Top of the South Island. Our mission is to illuminate the voices of rangatahi from all walks of life who share consciousness of – and compassion for – all living beings in the face of unprecedented impact on the environment and climate.

Origins

In the inspiration for Lighthouse Aotearoa, we owe a great deal to Sian Carvell of Future Curious and the Climate Change Learning Programme, as well as to what the young people of Next Generation Conversation (NGC) have achieved in Ōtautahi Christchurch around representation and children’s rights. For more detail about how the Climate Change Learning Programme began in Te Tauihu, and the extracurricular group that would become Lighthouse Aotearoa formed, see this NZAEE story.

Our Kaupapa

Young people and future generations of all life will bear the consequences of human-induced environmental impact disproportionately, despite having no say in the decisions that perpetuate ecological and climate crises. At Lighthouse Aotearoa, we believe this is a great injustice, and we are deeply committed to honouring every child’s right to grow up in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment – as affirmed by the United Nations in 2023.

What We Do

Our work is aligned with a strong peer-reviewed consensus that optimism and positive mental health outcomes for environmentally conscious young people are built through action and camaraderie. Therefore, we aim to provide opportunities to participate in a range of activities including engagements with local and central government, community events focused on bi-directional learning, and immersive experiences in Aotearoa’s beautiful environments. For more information on specific projects, see the featured stories on our website.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Lighthouse Aotearoa recognises Māori as tangata whēnua of Aotearoa. We are deeply committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and feel that a worldview that honours the intrinsic value of all elements of nature is essential for humanity to thrive.