Students return to streets calling for climate action

Lena Huia Booth, 16, was among the high school students striking for climate action in Kerikeri on Friday. Photo / Peter de Graaf

More than 100 students protested in Kerikeri on Friday calling for action against climate change, with similar numbers taking to the streets in Kaitaia.

The protests were a follow-up to the global student protests of March 15, which were bigger but overshadowed by the terror attack in Christchurch.

Most of the marchers in Kerikeri were from the local high school but some came from as far away as Russell, Kawakawa and Kaeo.

They included the Russell Primary School trio of Evie Trotter, 9, and Lia and Kira Kammerer, 12, who were the first in Northland to get board with the global School Strike 4 Climate movement earlier this year.

School strikers call for more action against climate change in Kerikeri on Friday. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Also taking part was Lena Huia Booth, 16, of Kerikeri High School.

She said it was wrong that children would be forced to clean up the mess left by the current generation of adults.

''It's really important that we make adults aware of what's happening to our planet. I don't think they're doing enough. It's their children and grandchildren that will suffer.''

Lena Huia called on the Government to do more to encourage drivers to switch to electric vehicles, to boost public transport, and reduce wasteful and excessive packaging.