A dead turtle has made an appearance at the Auckland Council environment committee meeting.
The Environment and Community committee met on Tuesday to meet on plans to reduce emissions and meet a net-zero target.
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Tama Kahurangi, the dead turtle, was brought to the meeting by Para Kore Ki Tāmaki representatives Pianina Kahui-McConnell and Waiata Rameka-Tupe.
The group explained how they came to own the turtle in a post on Facebook last Monday, saying that he was a victim of plastic ingestion.
"Tama was found with over 50 plastic items in his stomach. Tama’s dead, can you guess why?...āe! Plastic pollution," the post said.
"Although you already knew that tho right? Hundreds and thousands of turtles just like Tama are dying in our oceans across the world."
The meeting was attended by a number of Extinction Rebellion protestors, who are calling on Auckland Council to declare a climate emergency.
"The council needs to tell the truth and create a citizen's panel to ensure the climate crisis is at the heart of everything we do in Auckland," spokesperson Cordelia Lockert said in a statement.
"Our only hope is to mobilise society as we did during World War II and to put in place short-term binding zero emission targets."
Councils in Canterbury, Nelson and Kapiti Coast have declared a climate emergency, as well as the Waitakere and Waitematā local boards.
Newshub.