Iconic Kiwi charity Keep New Zealand Beautiful today welcomed global beverage manufacturer Suntory as an official partner of its successful citizen science programme ‘Upstream Battle’.
This partnership combines Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s dedication to protecting waterways and oceans with Suntory's internationally recognised Mizuiku Education Programme for Nature and Water.
Upstream Battle enables students and individuals across New Zealand to collect and audit litter at key upstream sites such as rivers, lakes and streams to foster a better understanding of how rubbish enters waterways, contributing to the root cause of ocean pollution.
With the support of Suntory's Mizuiku programme, Keep New Zealand Beautiful will be able to develop additional Upstream Battle resources and appoint a dedicated Educational Facilitator to deliver in-classroom learning about the water cycle. These developments will extend the programme's reach to over 200 primary schools nationwide.
Frucor Suntory Oceania CEO Darren Fullerton shared that the company sought an education partner to bring Mizuiku, Suntory’s signature global water education programme to New Zealand.
“At the core of our Suntory business is a deep respect for water and commitment to protecting this vital resource,” said Fullerton.
“Our partnership with Keep New Zealand Beautiful on Upstream Battle brings together the core principles of Mizuiku with a well-established citizen science initiative to create positive change with the next generation in New Zealand.”
Mizuiku, translated from Suntory’s native Japanese, means water education. The programme teaches students the importance of water by deepening their understanding of the natural water cycle and how it relates to their daily lives. It also teaches children how to use water responsibly and the relationship between water and biodiversity.
Originating in Japan in 2004 and having since expanded to Vietnam, Spain, Thailand, Indonesia, France and China, and now New Zealand, the Mizuiku programme, tailored for each country, has welcomed over 320,800 children and teachers to participate worldwide.
In announcing the partnership, Keep New Zealand Beautiful CEO Heather Saunderson noted the strong synergies between Suntory’s Mizuiku programme and Upstream Battle.
“We’re delighted to have the backing of such a prominent global water education initiative to strengthen our international citizen science offering,” stated Saunderson.
“Keep New Beautiful shares a strong common ambition with Suntory’s Mizuiku programme, which aims to teach the next generation about the value of fresh, pollution-free water.”
Saunderson added that with litter in waterways posing a considerable risk to humans and wildlife, the Upstream Battle programme aimed to identify the root causes of this pollution, which ultimately ends up in New Zealand’s water.
Saunderson described the partnership with Suntory’s Mizuiku programme as a chance to help the charity reach more schools across New Zealand by appointing a dedicated Educational Facilitator. Furthermore, the partnership would also help strengthen the global collaboration of our Upstream Battle programme and build an international perspective on the root cause of water pollution.
Schools across New Zealand can now sign up to participate in the ‘Upstream Battle presented by Mizuiku.’ Teachers can teach the programme via online resources or through a Keep New Zealand Beautiful Education Facilitator.
