Northlanders urged to mark 'Earth Hour'

The Northland Regional Council is adding its voice to calls for Northlanders to join millions of others around the globe and switch off their lights and other electrical appliances to mark ‘Earth Hour 2010’.


Organisers of the worldwide Saturday March 27 event are hoping as many as a billion people globally will flick off their lights and other electrical appliances between 8.30pm and 9.30pm for Earth Hour.


Liz Woodward, Events Co-ordinator for the Northland Regional Council (NRC), says the annual event aims to highlight the actions people can take to make their lives more sustainable.


New Zealand’s geographical position means it will be among the first places in the world to observe Earth Hour and the NRC will also be quick off the mark. From 7am to 11am it will hold a sustainability exhibition outside its Water St, Whangarei offices, across the road from the popular early morning farmers’ markets.


Visitors to the NRC event will have the chance to view displays and chat about a range of ways to reduce their ‘environmental footprint’ from worm farming and composting, weed and pest control to using CityLink Whangarei buses.


“Regional Council staff will be on site bright and early to answer questions and provide information,” Ms Woodward says. “The team will also be firing up the barbeque and has native herb-flavoured sausages to give away.”

To find out more about Earth Hour in New Zealand visit www.earthhour.org

For ideas on small changes you can make to your everyday life that can make a big difference to the environment, go to www.nrc.govt.nz/takeaction