SONGS OF THE SEA

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JOINING THE RACE

PETER BURLING + BLAIR TUKE

In 2018, Olympic and America’s Cup sailors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke returned to Aotearoa New Zealand after nine months sailing around the world in The Ocean Race. As sailors, surfers, divers and fishers they’d seen first-hand the escalating human impacts on the ocean, including the effects of climate change.

Peter and Blair learned there is no time to be lost in the fight for a healthy ocean. That Aotearoa has a special role to play. They talked to scientists, iwi leaders and committed talent. They discovered that although we have one of the most significant ocean spaces on the planet and world-class talent, it’s chronically under supported. That many of the issues the ocean and life in it faces are out of sight.

They heard the role they can play is to trigger action. To use their love for the ocean and global sporting events to amplify and accelerate the prioritisation of a healthy ocean. To connect people with the issues and back the talent.

Competing at the highest level of international sailing provides a platform to take this message to the world stage, because they aspire for us to be much better as a country. To be world leaders. So as a country we can stand up on the world stage and say ‘we did it.’