Tarras, free buses on strike agenda

Christchurch’s youngest climate activists are calling for free public transport and for the city council to immediately halt plans to build a new international airport in Central Otago.

Students around the country will be walking out of school today, with School Strike 4 Climate events organised from Auckland to Dunedin, to demand fast and effective action from the Government to protect the planet.

Christchurch’s event will start in Cathedral Square at noon, before strikers march to the council’s Hereford St offices, where organisers have a meeting with mayor Lianne Dalziel.

A handful of them spent last night writing chalk messages in the Square, including Cashmere High School Year 12 student Ra¯ ta¯ Airey. She said between 2500 and 5000 people were expected to turn up. On top of School Strike 4 Climate’s six national demands, Christchurch campaigners have three local requests.

‘‘We really want to push free, green public transport. We also want increased funding for climate education is our schools, and for Christchurch International Airport and Christchurch City Holdings Limited to put an immediate halt on building Tarras Airport,’’ Airey said.

Christchurch Airport created widespread shock last July, when it announced it has bought four properties near Tarras in Central Otago, right in Queenstown Airport’s backyard, and wanted longhaul jets flying there within 10 years. Not only were rival airports opposed, but climate activists were also concerned about its environmental impact, with the global aviation industry creating hundreds of millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.