Nate Wilbourne

Nate Wilbourne (born 17 March 2008) is a New Zealand environmentalist, activist, speaker, and photographer. He has worked for environmental organisations since 2020, working on both regional and national levels. Wilbourne is recognised for his contribution to his local community as a conservationist.[1][2]

Nate Wilbourne
Wilbourne in 2023
Born (2008-03-17) 17 March 2008
Nelson, New Zealand
EducationGarin College
Occupation(s)Environmentalist, photographer
Known forEnvironmental activism and contributions to nature
Websitewww.natewilbourne.com

Biography

Wilbourne lives in Nelson, and was born on 17 March 2008.[3][1] He grew up in the suburb of Brightwater, where he attended the local primary school.[4] He is a current student at Garin College, where he is the Enviroschools Captain.[5]

In 2022, Wilbourne was a speaker at TEDxNelson[6] and gave a TEDx talk titled 'The Power Of Connecting Young People To Nature'.[7] He is a member of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand's youth wing and the Motueka Branch.[8]

Work for the environment, climate, and community

Environment

In 2023, Wilbourne took part in the translocation of 56 fluttering shearwater chicks to the Wharariki Ecosanctuary, a predator-proof fenced sanctuary established by HealthPost Nature Trust at the northern-most point of the South Island. The translocation was part of a three-year plan to translocate a total of 250 fluttering shearwater chicks to the sanctuary.[9][10][11]

Around the same time, Wilbourne set up a 'youth hub' in his local area, to get young people involved in conservation with the New Zealand organisation, Forest & Bird. The hub now has over 30 youth supporting the hub.[12][13][14]

In April 2023, Wilbourne attended BLAKE Inspire in the Waikato, New Zealand. BLAKE Inspire is a week long leadership program, where young environmental leaders from across New Zealand work alongside environmental scientists.[15]

One of Wilbourne's photos of a long-tailed cuckoo is shown in RNZ's Critter of the Week.[16]

Climate

Wilbourne has worked with School Strike 4 Climate New Zealand and is a current spokesperson.[17] He organised his local climate strike in March 2023, which mobilised local students and handed an open letter to Nelson Mayor Nick Smith.[18][19][20] Wilbourne was mentioned in RNZ's story: 'Climate Strikes: Thousands march around New Zealand to demand action'.[19]

In December 2022, Wilbourne was a panellist for Save the Children New Zealand's youth panel that interviewed Climate Change Minister James Shaw ahead of COP27.[21]

Community

Wilbourne has been involved with the 'Streets for People' project led by Tasman District Council, in which he "provided input for the Richmond Streets for People Project". The project has received $2.4 million in Government funding and support to re-design several local streets to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists.[22] Wilbourne was a panellist at the 'MILKED' screening in Nelson, a documentary that exposes New Zealand's agricultural industry.[23]

Awards and recognition
  • Impact Award 2023 – Climate category semi-finalist[24]
  • Keep New Zealand Beautiful 2023 – Young Legend Award[25][26]

References
  1. Ridout, Amy (7 September 2022). "The 14-year-old leading the charge to get young people into nature". Stuff. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  2. "School trip sparks passion for nature | Nelson App". nelsonapp.co.nz. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  3. F, Lola. "About Create Happy Media – Create Happy Media". Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  4. "Brightwater School's past catches up". Stuff. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  5. "Student Leaders – Garin College". 16 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  6. "Speakers". TEDxNelson. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  7. Wilbourne, Nate (29 November 2022), The importance of connecting Youth with Nature, archived from the original on 9 June 2023, retrieved 8 June 2023
  8. "Regular People Can Change Things". Guardian. 12 July 2023. p. 7. Retrieved 14 July 2023 – via issuu.
  9. "Volunteers to release 100 pakahā chicks at Cape Farewell ecosanctuary". RNZ. 21 January 2023. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  10. "Second round of fluttering shearwater introduced to Cape Farewell from Marlborough Sounds". RNZ. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  11. "HealthPost Nature Trust – Wharariki Ecosanctuary, Golden Bay, NZ". HealthPost Nature Trust. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  12. "NelsonTasman: Evening talk by Nate Wilbourne about F&B Youth | Forest and Bird". www.forestandbird.org.nz. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  13. "Newest Forest & Bird Youth Hub's inspirational co-ordinator | Forest and Bird". www.forestandbird.org.nz. 24 August 2022. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  14. Buddle, Mike (11 June 2022). "Congratulations to Nate Wilbourne, winner of our Tidy Kiwi Volunteer of the Month for May 2022". Keep New Zealand Beautiful. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  15. "BLAKE Inspire 2023". Blake NZ. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  16. "Critter of the Week: koekoea or long-tailed cuckoo". RNZ. 12 May 2023. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  17. "Countdown To Climate Action Week". www.scoop.co.nz. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  18. Ridout, Amy (3 March 2023). "Nelson youth-led climate marchers protest 'business as usual'". Stuff. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  19. "Climate strikes: Thousands march around New Zealand to demand action from government". RNZ. 3 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  20. "Press Release: School Strike 4 Climate". www.scoop.co.nz. 15 March 2023. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  21. "Heidi Coetzee: Let's ensure the voices of children are heard | Save the Children". www.savethechildren.org.nz. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  22. Tobin, Chris (24 January 2023). "New cycle lanes being tested on Salisbury Road". Stuff. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  23. "MILKED Screening Nelson 2023 (Plus Kōrero & Kai after film: Paella & Karaoke-Jam Night), The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū, Nelson, 11 March 2023". stayhappening.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  24. "The Impact Awards". Inspiring Stories. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  25. "Finalists! Tauranga up for most beautiful city, Rotorua best loo". NZ Herald. 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  26. "Beautiful Awards". Keep New Zealand Beautiful. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
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