Nate Wilbourne Explained

Nate Wilbourne
Birth Date:17 March 2008
Birth Place:Nelson, New Zealand
Education:Garin College, UWC Robert Bosch College
Occupation:Environmentalist, photographer
Known For:Environmental activism and contributions to nature

Nate Wilbourne (born 17 March 2008) is a New Zealand environmentalist, activist, speaker, and photographer. He has worked for environmental organisations, working on both regional and national levels. Wilbourne is recognised for his contribution to his local community as a conservationist.[1] [2] [3]

Biography

Wilbourne lives in Nelson, and was born on 17 March 2008.[4] He grew up in the suburb of Brightwater, where he attended the local primary school.[5]

At 12 years old, he transitioned to a plant-based diet after learning that farming was responsible for nearly half of New Zealand’s emissions each year.

Wilbourne is the founder of 'Gen-Z Aotearoa'[6] a youth-led organisation who "use the power of social media to drive positive change."[7]

In 2022, Wilbourne was a speaker at TEDxNelson[8] and gave a TEDx talk titled 'The Power Of Connecting Young People To Nature'. In 2024, Wilbourne was invited to speak at the Youth Environmental Education Congress (YEEC) as part of the World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC) in Abu Dhabi on, from the 29th of January to the 2nd of February, on "Intergenerational Action for Biodiversity."[9]

Education

Wilbourne attended Garin College, where he was the Enviroschools Captain.[10] During his studies at Garin College he was awarded a 'Sustainability Champion' scholarship to study a two-year International Baccalaureate (IBDP) program at UWC Robert Bosch College in Germany.[11] [12]

Environmental and climate activism

In 2023 and 2024, Wilbourne took part in the translocation of 198 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.[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] His conservation work also includes helping boost the number of Kororā (Little Penguins/Blue Penguins) and Tītī (Sooty Shearwaters) in the area. At 13 years old, Wilbourne became involved with Forest & Bird Youth. To get young people involved in conservation within his region, he set up a 'Youth Hub.' There is now up to 40 youth supporting the hub.[18] [19] [20] Wilbourne has worked with School Strike 4 Climate New Zealand and is a current spokesperson.[21] He organised his local climate strike in March 2023, which mobilised local students and handed an open letter to Nelson Mayor Nick Smith.[22] [23] [24] Wilbourne was mentioned in RNZ's story: 'Climate Strikes: Thousands march around New Zealand to demand action'.

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.[25]

Political views

He is a member of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.[26]

He is an advocate for turning his home city, Nelson into a Climate-resilient city, that incorporates Mātauranga Māori, affordable housing, and green spaces.[27] He also advocates for more cycleways in his community.[28] Wilbourne criticised the ACT party's plan to introduce a 'Treaty Principles Bill' that would re-define the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, stating that "ACT preys on Pākehā fear, capitalising on the ignorance and misunderstanding of Te Tiriti."[29]

Awards and recognition

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Ridout . Amy . 7 September 2022 . The 14-year-old leading the charge to get young people into nature . 8 June 2023 . . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609005138/https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/129535011/the-14yearold-leading-the-charge-to-get-young-people-into-nature . live .
  2. Web site: School trip sparks passion for nature Nelson App . 2023-09-08 . nelsonapp.co.nz.
  3. Web site: Wannan . Olivia . February 13, 2024 . Worried about the planet, this 15-year-old threw himself into conservation . 2024-02-14 . www.stuff.co.nz.
  4. Web site: F . Lola . About Create Happy Media – Create Happy Media . 2023-09-11 . en-NZ.
  5. Web site: 26 March 2013 . Brightwater School's past catches up . 13 June 2023 . Stuff . en . 13 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230613211751/https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/8469054/Brightwater-Schools-past-catches-up . live .
  6. Web site: Wilbourne . Nate . February 8, 2024 . Your Say: Gen Z voices are crucial, so let’s listen . 2024-02-14 . www.stuff.co.nz.
  7. Web site: Gen-Z Aotearoa . 2024-02-14 . Gen-Z for Change Aotearoa . en-NZ.
  8. Web site: Speakers . 9 June 2023 . TEDxNelson . en-US . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609203839/https://www.tedxnelson.com/speakers . live .
  9. Wilbourne . Nate . 19 January 2024 . Nate Wilbourne To Speak At Youth Environmental Education Congress (YEEC) . Scoop News . 2024-01-20.
  10. Web site: 16 August 2018 . Student Leaders – Garin College . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609203840/https://www.garincollege.ac.nz/student-leaders/ . 9 June 2023 . 9 June 2023 . en-NZ.
  11. Web site: Hardie . Anne . 2024-03-23 . Nate joins global movement with scholarship . 2024-03-23 . nelsonapp.co.nz.
  12. Web site: Jones . Katy . 2024-03-28 . Teen's love for nature takes him places . 2024-07-01 . www.stuff.co.nz.
  13. Web site: 21 January 2023 . Volunteers to release 100 pakahā chicks at Cape Farewell ecosanctuary . 8 June 2023 . RNZ . en-nz . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609005138/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/482841/volunteers-to-release-100-pakaha-chicks-at-cape-farewell-ecosanctuary . live .
  14. Web site: 2023-01-24 . Second round of fluttering shearwater introduced to Cape Farewell from Marlborough Sounds . 2023-06-23 . RNZ . en-nz.
  15. Web site: HealthPost Nature Trust – Wharariki Ecosanctuary, Golden Bay, NZ . 10 June 2023 . HealthPost Nature Trust . en-NZ . 10 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610102604/https://www.naturetrust.nz/ . live .
  16. Web site: January 11, 2024 . Third round of seabird chicks headed for Cape Farewell in restoration effort . 2024-01-20 . www.stuff.co.nz.
  17. Web site: Jones . Katy . January 21, 2024 . Bigger haul of seabirds in effort for first re-established colony on South Island’s mainland . 2024-01-21 . www.stuff.co.nz.
  18. Web site: 2023-10-11 . NelsonTasman: Evening talk by Nate Wilbourne about F&B Youth Forest and Bird . 2023-10-16 . www.forestandbird.org.nz . en.
  19. Web site: 24 August 2022 . Newest Forest & Bird Youth Hub's inspirational co-ordinator Forest and Bird . 8 June 2023 . www.forestandbird.org.nz . en . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609005139/https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/newest-forest-bird-youth-hubs-inspirational-co-ordinator . live .
  20. Web site: Buddle . Mike . 11 June 2022 . Congratulations to Nate Wilbourne, winner of our Tidy Kiwi Volunteer of the Month for May 2022 . 8 June 2023 . Keep New Zealand Beautiful . en-NZ . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609005140/https://www.knzb.org.nz/congratulations-to-nate-wilbourne-winner-of-our-tidy-kiwi-volunteer-of-the-month-for-may-2022/ . live .
  21. Web site: September 12, 2023 . Countdown To Climate Action Week . 2023-10-16 . www.scoop.co.nz.
  22. Web site: Ridout . Amy . 3 March 2023 . Nelson youth-led climate marchers protest 'business as usual' . 8 June 2023 . Stuff . en . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609005139/https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/131393029/nelson-youthled-climate-marchers-protest-business-as-usual . live .
  23. Web site: 3 March 2023 . Climate strikes: Thousands march around New Zealand to demand action from government . 8 June 2023 . RNZ . en-nz . 26 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230526043716/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/485231/climate-strikes-thousands-march-around-new-zealand-to-demand-action-from-government . live .
  24. Web site: 15 March 2023 . Press Release: School Strike 4 Climate . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609005314/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2303/S00109/school-strike-for-climate-nz-fridays-for-future-nz.htm . 9 June 2023 . 8 June 2023 . www.scoop.co.nz.
  25. Web site: Heidi Coetzee: Let's ensure the voices of children are heard Save the Children . 9 June 2023 . www.savethechildren.org.nz . en.
  26. News: 12 July 2023 . Regular People Can Change Things . 14 July 2023 . Guardian . 7 . en-NZ . issuu.
  27. Web site: Wilbourne . Nate . November 8, 2024 . Nate Wilbourne: My vision for Nelson . 2024-02-14 . www.stuff.co.nz.
  28. Web site: Frethey . Max . February 7, 2024 . LDR: Are Richmond’s new cycleways ‘ludicrous’? . 2024-02-14 . www.stuff.co.nz.
  29. Web site: Wilbourne . Nate . 4 April 2024 . Let’s not mess with Te Tiriti . 2024-05-05 . www.stuff.co.nz.
  30. Web site: The Impact Awards . 8 September 2023 . Inspiring Stories . en-NZ. https://web.archive.org/web/20230908052716/https://www.inspiringstories.org.nz/the-impact-awards-semi-finalists. 8 September 2023.
  31. Web site: 2023-09-08 . Finalists! Tauranga up for most beautiful city, Rotorua best loo . 8 September 2023 . NZ Herald . en-NZ. https://web.archive.org/web/20230908052945/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/new-zealands-most-beautiful-towns-finalists-announced-for-2023-competition/YHSL3WSYDZD4RI6ZNLMPZNS6NU/. 8 September 2023.
  32. Web site: Beautiful Awards . 8 September 2023 . Keep New Zealand Beautiful . en-NZ. https://web.archive.org/web/20230908053130/https://www.knzb.org.nz/programmes/rewards-and-recognition/beautiful-awards/. 8 September 2023.
  33. Web site: 2024-06-22 . Forest & Bird honours Youth conservationist Forest and Bird . 2024-07-01 . www.forestandbird.org.nz . en.