Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Australian kayaker off around PNG

Posted at 03:36 on 01 May, 2008 UTC

An Australian teacher is today setting off on a 4,000 kilometre sea kayak expedition around Papua New Guinea to raise awareness about climate change.

Andrew Hughes, who plans to paddle for six months, wants to travel 800 kilometres down the Fly River to Port Moresby and then around the north-east coast to West Papua.

Mr Hughes says he would that students can learn more about not only climate change issues, but also get a better picture of its nearest neighbour.

In 2006, Andrew Hughes paddled nearly 5,000kms from Hobart to Thursday Island in the Torres Strait.