Bushra's creative environmental advocacy

Year 13 student Bushra Tasneem is proving that creativity and environmental advocacy go hand in hand. After winning first place in Te Whau Pathway’s photography competition earlier this year, she’s now added another accolade—third place in their T- shirt design contest.

Bushra’s winning streak began when she joined the school’s Enviro Group, a decision sparked by her desire to branch out and get involved in causes she cares about. “I’d always admired what the Enviro Group stood for—raising awareness, fundraising, and taking action—but I never had friends who wanted to join,” she shared. “This year, a friend joined with me, and I’m so glad we did. I wouldn’t have known about these Te Whau opportunities otherwise.”

Her award-winning photo, taken just behind her house in the Whau Pathway area, captured the reality of rising sea levels—a theme central to the competition. For the T- shirt design, in honour of World Car Free Day, Bushra incorporated the koru symbol to reflect New Zealand’s cultural connection to nature, along with a catchy slogan to encourage people to think twice about fossil fuel use.

Bushra is passionate about climate change and the need for youth engagement. “Global warming is one of my biggest concerns,” she said. “It’s worrying how many people don’t seem to care about the long-term consequences of our actions. That’s why having an Enviro Group at school is so important—it helps more teens get involved.”

She’s also hopeful: “I read recently that the ozone hole is finally recovering, which is proof that awareness and collective action really does lead to change.”