'Tis the season for sustainability - MEET NZ'S LITTLEST ECO-WARRIOR

Saving the planet is child’s play for Auckland environmentalist Oli

- HAYLEY MCLARIN

At the tender age of six, Oli Peckham has just moved his Kiwisaver to a scheme that allows him to choose what he invests in. The Auckland boy, who is in his first year of primary school, doesn’t want to invest in fossil fuels, instead preferring to support more renewable energy sources. And for the past nine months, the mini eco-crusader has been a regular volunteer with Honour the Maunga, a sit-in protest group aiming to prevent the destruction of 345 trees on Mount Albert.

His mature thinking doesn’t end there. Oli has attended two School Strike 4 Climate protest marches and regularly donates one-third of his pocket money to charity – most recently the World Wildlife Fund’s work with MaÌ„ui dolphins and albatross.

“He’s quite influenced by us and we’re both very passionate about sustainability,” confesses his mother Tanya Knighton. “We’re committed to trying to protect the environment, both flora and fauna, for the health and wellbeing of us all.”

A sustainability champion at her workplace, occupational therapist Tanya and her partner Ben are proud that they live with virtually zero waste, and are teaching Oli the importance of protecting the environment for future generations.