Nate Wilbourne | |
---|---|
![]() Wilbourne in 2025 | |
Born | Nelson, New Zealand | 17 March 2008
Education | Garin College, UWC Robert Bosch College |
Occupation(s) | Environmentalist, photographer |
Known for | Environmental activism and contributions to nature |
Website | www |
Nate Wilbourne (born 17 March 2008) is a New Zealand environmentalist, youth, and climate justice activist. [1] He has worked for environmental organisations, working on both regional and national levels. Wilbourne is recognised for his contribution to his local community as a conservationist. [2] [3] [4] He was a semi-finalist for the 2025 Young New Zealander of the Year award. [5]
Wilbourne lives in Nelson, and was born on 17 March 2008. [2] He grew up in the suburb of Brightwater, where he attended the local primary school. [6]
At 12 years old, he transitioned to a plant-based diet after learning that farming was responsible for nearly half of New Zealand’s emissions each year. [4]
Wilbourne is the founder of 'Gen-Z Aotearoa' [7] a youth-led organisation who "use the power of social media to drive positive change." [8]
In 2022, Wilbourne was a speaker at TEDxNelson [9] and gave a TEDx talk titled 'The Power Of Connecting Young People To Nature'. [10] In 2024, Wilbourne was invited to speak at the Youth Environmental Education Congress (YEEC) as part of the World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC) in Abu Dhabi on, from 29 January to 2 February, on "Intergenerational Action for Biodiversity." [11]
He was selected to be Hon. Damien O’Connor’s Youth MP at the 2025 New Zealand Youth Parliament. [12]
Wilbourne attended Garin College, where he was the Enviroschools Captain. [13] During his studies at Garin College he was awarded a 'Sustainability Champion' scholarship to study a two-year International Baccalaureate (IBDP) program at UWC Robert Bosch College in Germany. [14] [15]
In 2023 and 2024, Wilbourne took part in the translocation of 198 Fluttering Shearwater chicks to the Wharariki Ecosanctuary, a predator-proof fenced sanctuary established by HealthPost Nature Trust at the northern-most point of the South Island. The translocation was part of a three-year plan to translocate a total of 250 fluttering shearwater chicks to the sanctuary. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] His conservation work also includes helping boost the number of Kororā (Little Penguins/Blue Penguins) and Tītī (Sooty Shearwaters) in the area.
At 13 years old, Wilbourne became involved with Forest & Bird Youth. To get young people involved in conservation within his region, he set up a 'Youth Hub.' There is now up to 40 youth supporting the hub. [21] [22] [23] [4]
Wilbourne has worked with School Strike 4 Climate New Zealand and is a current spokesperson. [24] He organised his local climate strike in March 2023, which mobilised local students and handed an open letter to Nelson Mayor Nick Smith. [25] [26] [27] Wilbourne was mentioned in RNZ's story: 'Climate Strikes: Thousands march around New Zealand to demand action'. [26]
In December 2022, Wilbourne was a panellist for Save the Children New Zealand's youth panel that interviewed Climate Change Minister James Shaw ahead of COP27. [28]
He is a member of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. [29]
Wilbourne is an advocate for sustainable urban development in his home city of Nelson, promoting climate resilience through initiatives that integrate Mātauranga Māori, affordable housing, and green spaces. [30] He has also supported expanding cycleway infrastructure to create more sustainable transport options in his community. [31] On constitutional issues, he has criticized the ACT Party’s proposed Treaty Principles Bill, arguing that it seeks to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and accusing ACT of exploiting "Pākehā fear and misunderstanding of Te Tiriti." [32] Additionally, he has voiced support for lowering the voting age to 16, contending that doing so would enhance youth political participation. [33]
He first gained political attention as a representative in New Zealand’s Youth Parliament, where he emerged as a vocal advocate for environmental protection and youth political engagement. He delivered a speech criticizing the government’s environmental policies, which he framed as a "war on nature," while also raising concerns about censorship after Youth MPs were instructed to avoid direct criticism of ministers in their speeches. [34] [35] Political commentators, including The Spinoff, suggested he could emerge as a future leader in progressive politics. [36]