Thank you for inviting me to this event. It's nice to have such talented young people here. It is always great to see the enthusiasm and energy young people have - especially when this energy is used to improve the environment. 

As Minister for the Environment I think it is essential that you, the future of New Zealand, understand the importance of our environment so that it will be well taken care of.

Recycling is also very important and a habit that we all need to get into so that recycled products can be given a second life, and do not end up as rubbish. By recycling we can also save the energy it takes to make new products.

That's why I encourage all New Zealanders, especially young New Zealanders, to be vocal about recycling and the environment and do all that they can to protect the clean green image our country is known for.

This government also thinks recycling is important so we are installing 600 recycling bins in public places and tourist hot spots around the country so people can recycle when they are out and about, as well as at home.

But there is no better way to get young people involved than through their peers, and I hope the raps these teams have developed get the recycling message out there and inspire young people to do what they can to protect our environment.

I am encouraged to hear that over sixty schools entered the Glass Packaging Forum’s rap competition. The entrants have used their own time to research recycling, with some teams even contacting all the councils in their area and visiting landfills to understand how recycling is done.

And it is amazing what you can do with crushed glass. Earlier this year I visited a recycling plant in Christchurch, and was amazed to learn that some of their crushed glass is used in golf bunkers and vineyards. The two winning teams also have some great examples in their raps of how we use recycled glass.

Following some hard work, the judges have selected the two winning teams which were visited at school by Che Fu to tell them they had won. I understand that the two winning teams have also recorded their raps with Che Fu at the York Street recording studio in Auckland, which must have been a lot of fun, and we are to be treated to a performance of their rap shortly.

I applaud the Glass Packaging Forum for organising the competition. Thanks also to Che Fu for his time and being such a great role model for young kiwis.

Now, let’s find out who the winners are.

The South Island winners were ‘Wireless’, from Fairfield School in Dunedin. Wireless has four members – Sam Petrie, Corey Donaldson, Jackson Free and Scott Donaldson. Congratulations to Wireless! Wireless came up with the name ‘Shatter’ for the glass crusher – nice work Wireless.

The North Island winners were ‘The Storm’, from Fitzroy School in New Plymouth. The members of The Storm are Sean Hone, Luke Abbott, Danyon Doeg and Fraser Wood. Congratulations to The Storm! The Storm’s name for the glass crusher was ‘The Grizzly Bear’, a great name.

Congratulations to the two winning teams – well done.