Shaping the future

FRITZ SCHONE

CAN-DO KIWIS: 350 people form a kiwi to draw attention to climate change.

If you throw a festival for climate change, the climate will come to the party.

Wellington turned on the sunshine for the 350 campaign Global Day of Action on Saturday. The climate-themed events included a human sculpture in the shape of a kiwi.

About 350 people at the festival on Wellington's waterfront crammed into the shape of our national bird at 3.50pm.

350 is a campaign to reduce the amount of carbon in our atmosphere to 350 parts per million – the current level is 387ppm, increasing at 2ppm per year, campaigners say.

Co-organiser Anton Berndt said it had been a huge success.

"It was just whoever was there at the time. We had about 20 volunteers helping herd people into the form. No-one knew what the shape was going to be until they got there."

Mr Berndt, who has a background in sculpture, designed and laid out the chalk and tape markings for the kiwi.

Other 350 events in the capital included a yoga and meditation session at Frank Kitts Park and a Frocks on Bikes ride from the railway station.

Music and dance groups performed along the waterfront throughout the afternoon.