Tauranga Girls' College student Loren McCarthy is off to represent the Bay of Plenty in Sir Peter Blake Youth EnviroLeaders' Forum next week.

Loren McCarthy is travelling to Christchurch to participate in the Sir Peter Blake EnviroLeader's Forum. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

From April 28 to May 2, the 17-year-old will attend the annual event in Christchurch where she will represent the Bay addressing topical environmental issues facing New Zealand.

This year the theme is 'urban expedition' with a focus on fresh water, resource management and the Christchurch City rebuild.

Along with her love for the environment, it was a fellow student who encouraged Loren to apply for a position in the forum.

'In my first year of economics we did a study on Christchurch and I just got really interested in the way that the environment and the economics link together.”

The event, in its 10^th year, is run in partnership with the Ministry for the Environment.

During the five-day position, Year 13 student Loren, along with 50 other students from around the world, will raft the Raikaia River, visit Lake Ellsmere and talk with iwi about the work taking place at the site.

The students also visit the Christchurch rebuild zone; and learn about a reclamation project at Port Littleton.

Having always been a fan of the environment Loren says she wants to pursue a career in environmental science but is unsure of what role she will take exactly.

'I'm not entirely sure at this point but I'm leaning towards law and science like environmental law or something like that.”

At the forum's end, students may be selected to attend a Young Blake Expedition to the Kermadec Islands.