Carbon News
  • Members
    • Login
      Forgot Password?
    • Not a member? Subscribe
    • Forgot Password
      Back to Login
    • Not a member? Subscribe
  • Home
  • New Zealand
    • Politics
    • Energy
    • Agriculture
    • Carbon emissions
    • Transport
    • Forestry
    • Business
  • Markets
    • Analysis
    • NZ carbon price
  • International
    • Australia
    • United States
    • China
    • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • Asia
    • Pacific
    • Antarctic/Arctic
    • Africa
    • South America
    • United Nations
  • News Direct
    • Media releases
    • Climate calendar
  • About Carbon News
    • Contact us
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Service
    • Policies

Rangatahi gear up to tackle climate change in World Vision challenge

12 Jun 2024


Media release | A rugby star, prominent TikTok content creators, singer, actor, teacher and climate activist are just some of the well-known New Zealanders putting their names behind this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge.

Athlete Caleb Clarke, content creators Win Wolf, Judah Metu-Teaukura and Liv Martin, actor Kimberley Crossman, singer/songwriter Paige Tapara, and climate advocate Brianna Fruean are inspiring rangatahi to take on challenges to raise funds for this year’s focus – the climate crisis.

 

The climate crisis is one of the biggest issues facing humanity, and over the weekend of 21-23 June, thousands of young people around New Zealand will take part in a series of challenges to raise funds for World Vision’s work fighting the impacts of climate change across the Asia-Pacific region.

 

“I’m stoked to be part of this campaign again,” says rugby player Caleb Clarke. “The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is really special because it gets New Zealanders on board to help other people around the world in need. I think the coolest thing is giving back to people who are less fortunate than yourself.”

 

This year the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is in its 50th year and the campaign’s focus is to partner with communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis to help restore forests – fast.

 

World Vision 40 Hour Challenge Ambassador, TikTok content creator Win Wolf, travelled to Timor-Leste in December to see the regreening approach World Vision is using in partnership with communities across Asia and the Pacific.

 

He says the technique, known as Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), will be a total game-changer for the children of Timor-Leste who have lost 90 percent of their original forests.

 

“In Timor-Leste, I experienced extreme heavy rain and flooding. Sadly, this is something people in the Asia-Pacific region experience on a regular basis. They are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and face an increase in cyclones, heavy rain, and landslides on a yearly basis,” says Win.

 

Win says he found hope in the work World Vision is doing to help regreen communities in Timor-Leste.

 

“The regreening technique is so simple and involves tapping into existing root networks to regrow trees. It’s much faster and more effective than planting new trees!

 

“I met locals who are seeing the benefits of revived forests to help provide cleaner air, prevent landslides, increase biodiversity, and protect water sources during droughts. They can use the better soil to grow their own produce, and this means they don’t have to walk as far to get fruit and vegetables, freeing up their time for things like education.”

 

The climate crisis is affecting livelihoods around the world, and World Vision is seeing first-hand the impact of the changing climate on the lives of children. The organisation is helping communities to build resilience through disaster preparedness, planning, and improving food and water security measures. World Vision is also working to increase environment-enhancing development activities such as reforestation, agro-forestry, and conservation farming.

 

Upon his return to New Zealand, Win collaborated with Caleb, Judah, Liv, Paige, Kim and Brianna in a few climate-friendly challenges to put the spotlight on the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge. In boots gifted by gumboot brand Merry People, they got their green thumbs moving to plant a herb garden before upcycling an item of clothing from an op shop. Some of the items of clothing will be auctioned off on Trade Me in June with funds raised going towards World Vision’s work to help regreen communities.

 

Climate activist Brianna Fruean is passionate about this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge and hopes young people will take this opportunity to become change agents.

 

“The climate crisis is the biggest issue in any country that is vulnerable to climate effects. It impacts everything in life – from a huge cyclone that can tear down your home to the coral bleaching, making it hard for your family to get fish to feed the village. It impacts livelihoods in vulnerable communities and it’s something that is happening right now.”

 

She says the emotional and mental toll of the climate crisis is often overlooked but these factors are having a big impact on youth.

 

“When we think about the climate crisis, we talk about the physical aspect, but we don't really talk about the emotional and mental health impact on vulnerable people.

 

“There is a village in Samoa on the Vaisigano River, which is hit with flash floods almost every year. A child who lives there today would have experienced multiple flash floods and cyclones at such a young age – that’s not a natural thing for a child to experience. You can only imagine the state of their mental health and the anxiety they have when they hear raindrops,” she says.

 

By signing up for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge they can choose a challenge that is fun, and helps fight the impacts of climate change, such as planting 40 trees in 40 hours, 40 hours in nature, or a 40 hours 4km beach clean-up.

 

“Join the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge. This can be your moment to begin,” says Brianna.

 

“The climate crisis is caused by humans, and therefore the solution is humans. We can be the change agents that we need to be to spin this around. For anyone wanting to join this fight the impacts of climate change this is great entry point. It starts with 40 hours, and this could be the beginning of a long movement for you to do something so fulfilling for yourself in the climate movement,” says Brianna.

 

New Zealand youth are invited to sign up and choose their challenge now at 40hour.org.nz.

print this story


More >
Media releases
More >

Kiwi farmers unaware of positive public opinion on their environmental performance

Thu 19 Jun 2025

Media Release | Close to 90% of NZ's commercial farmers believe their environmental performance is good, according to a survey of almost 3000 farmers, while less than half that number think the public agrees.

Aviation sector’s climate claims unsupported by credible transition plans

Wed 18 Jun 2025

Media Release | New analysis finds over-reliance on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and lack of investment in zero-emission tech, risking long-term decarbonisation failure.

Government undermines regional powers to protect coastal biodiversity

Mon 16 Jun 2025

Media Release | The Environmental Defence Society opposes the Government’s decision to press ahead with amendments to the Resource Management Act that severely curtail the ability of regional councils to manage the impacts of fishing on coastal marine biodiversity.

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari

'Time is right' for nature credits

13 Jun 2025

Media release | Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and Ekos are thrilled to be partnering with central government on the development of a voluntary Nature Credits Market pilot programme, announced by Associate Minister for the Environment Andrew Hoggard yesterday.

As methane climate impacts soar, NGOs, scientists, and advocates launch campaign to 'pull the methane emergency brake'

13 Jun 2025

Media release | International NGOs, scientists, and climate advocates are launching a global campaign calling for deep, rapid, mandatory cuts in methane emissions as the best way to lower near-term global temperature rise.

Wetlands at Glenorchy Lagoon

IRD offers tax tips for destroying precious wetlands

12 Jun 2025

Media release | Forest & Bird is asking Inland Revenue Te Tari Taake whether the fines for illegally draining a wetland are also tax deductible, after the department published a "how-to" on claiming expenses for destroying critical habitats.

Ship anchors are squashing life on Antarctic seafloors

10 Jun 2025

Media release | First video footage shows the impacts of anchor and chain damage caused by cruise, research, fishing, and private vessels on Antarctic sea floor and animals, highlighting a critically understudied conservation issue

Lodestone Energy expands solar footprint into the South Island

10 Jun 2025

Media release | New Zealand solar energy company, Lodestone Energy, continues to expand its footprint with its first South Island solar project in Clandeboye, Canterbury.

E-bike upgrades for NZ cycle trails

9 Jun 2025

Media release | The Government is boosting economic growth in the regions by supporting Hawke’s Bay Trails and the Remutaka Cycle Trail to set up e-bike charging stations with more regions set to benefit from a second funding round, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.

Common low-grade clay strengthens low-carbon concrete

5 Jun 2025

Media release | Engineers at RMIT University have converted low-grade clay into a high-performance cement supplement, opening a potential new market in sustainable construction materials.

Carbon News

Subscriptions, Advertising & General

[email protected]

Editorial

[email protected]

We welcome comments, news tips and suggestions - please also use this address to submit all media releases for News Direct).

Useful Links
Home About Carbon News Contact us Advertising Subscribe Service Policies
New Zealand
Politics Energy Agriculture Carbon emissions Transport Forestry Business
International
Australia United States China Europe United Kingdom Canada Asia Pacific Antarctic/Arctic Africa South America United Nations
Home
Markets
Analysis NZ carbon price
News Direct
Media releases Climate calendar

© 2008-2025 Carbon News. All Rights Reserved. • Your IP Address: 18.97.14.84 • User account: Sign In

Please wait...
Audit log: