HUMANS OF ŌTAUTAHI: CIARA

“I’ve always been my own person and I think Unlimited (Ao Tawhiti) has suited me best
for that. I’ve never enjoyed uniforms or the formality of most schools and Unlimited gives me the freedom to pursue what I’m actually interested in. I suppose everything is optional and – how do I put this – it makes things less of a chore and more of a choice. So even if I’m taking maths it’s something I put myself into rather than something I have to do.

“I suppose my passion is activism. And I know that’s super broad, but I think it’s really about empowering people to do what they want to do – whatever that is – if it is fighting for a better future for themselves, or even just living a normal life.

“I’ve taken a lot of time off school during term two working with the school strike for climate change group and school has been just totally cool with that, which is wonderful.

We have been campaigning for a more ambitious Zero-Carbon Bill in NZ, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2040 and also for more education around climate change.

“If I’m listening to the radio or the news, I’m hearing all these horrifying statistics and it conflicts so harshly with the life I’m living now. It’s not something I can ignore.

“I find so many people don’t understand what’s happening all around the world. We live in our own little internet bubbles. I think it’s important to learn as much as you possibly can and then learn how to cope with the knowledge.

“I think Civics should be taught in all schools. I think it’s so important to know that you actually have power as a citizen even though it may not feel like it – and as a consumer, we have so much power if we only realise how to wield it. Be an active citizen and as boring as that sounds, it’s incredibly important.”

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