Since 2023 we have been building the support to launch New Zealand's very own Blue Schools network, targeting years 7/8 students. This initiative is to begin an experiential pilot Ocean Literacy Programme across schools in Waitaha/Canterbury.

As a large ocean country, Aotearoa will benefit from having an inclusive & holistic ocean literacy education curriculum.

Our goal is for all programme graduates to understand the ocean’s influence on us and our influence on the ocean. Thereby fostering collective, collaborative actions that connect ancestral, indigenous, and scientific visions to allow NZ’s unique marine biodiversity to flourish.

The seven Essential Ocean Literacy Principles

  1. The earth has one big ocean with many features.

  2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the Earth.

  3. The ocean is a significant influence on weather and climate.

  4. The ocean makes the Earth habitable.

  5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

  6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.

  7. The ocean is largely unexplored.

Being Ocean Literate means

  • Understanding the principles and concepts of the ocean

  • Communicating understanding in a meaningful way

  • Making informed, responsible decisions about the ocean and its resources

We have been inspired by the UNESCO Ocean Literacy for All (2017) publication, and the EU Commission’s EU4Ocean Coalition which brings together three communities: the Blue Schools Network, the EU4Ocean Platform (Our Founder James Nikitine has been the Co-Chair since 2019) and the Youth4Ocean Forum.

More information here.

Project Leads

James Nikitine

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Project Manager
Mātauranga Education Lead

Matt Bateman

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Education Lead

Sarah Bishop

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