Mahuru Pānui | September Newsletter 2021

Kia ora koutou,

We are excited to embark on our busiest season, and we look forward to meeting new faces and welcoming you into our growing Sustainable Taranaki community. Mark your calendar with an event or two, join the bubbling conversations on our Sustainable Taranaki Community Facebook Group, follow us on Instagram and TikTok, read a community story, attend a community garden working bee, or listen to a recent podcast. We hope you will be buzzing with new ways to take action and create a more sustainable future in our region.

Ngā mihi,

The Sustainable Taranaki Tīma (team)

Taranaki Kai Resilience - Weekly Webinars Live on Facebook

The next Live Webinar is on Thursday 30th October 1 pm - 2 pm with Glen Skipper. Follow us on Facebook and listen to weekly conversations from people from across the Taranaki region who are passionate about kai resilience. Listen to the latest webinars - Carl Freeman from Freeman Organic Farms and Pounamu Skelton, Permaculture Maori Educator.

Work with us - We are hiring a Communications Manager

We are looking for a super organised Communications Manager to provide communications support to the team, reporting to the General Manager, but working with all team members. Find the role description on our website. Please submit Expressions of Interest as soon as possible but latest by Monday 18 October 2021, by emailing steve.francis@sustainabletaranaki.org.nz.

Reusable Container Campaign

You should know that Elixer Cafe, Antsnacks the Lunch Bar, and Elixer West & Catering are part of our reusable cups and containers project and are helping us out with messaging around reusable containers. Support their sustainability efforts, and remember to buy quality reusable products. Make an investment and it will last you much longer, saving you money over the lifetime of the item. Learn more about the campaign and how to support the cafes you love.

Join us for a Sustainable Backyards Trail Event!

Growers Gathering Saturday 6th November 3 PM - 5 PM at Greenbridge, 321 Hurford Road, Ōmata Join us for an informal chat to learn more about food resilience in our region. We will have local community members sharing their thoughts about the role of gardening in developing community resilience and will engage in a dynamic conversation about what it all means for us and how we can grow together. A ticket for $15 pp includes beverages and light nibbles. Speakers are Bena Denton-Woolley, Pounamu Skelton, & Franziska von Hunerbein.

Frocks on Bikes Sunday 7th November 3 PM - 5 PM at the Wind Wand, New Plymouth Gather your friends, throw on a frock, and glam up your bike. Join us for a fun, relaxed evening of nature, nibbles, wine, and music on bicycles. Sustainable Taranaki, Taranaki Garden Festival and Let's Go are teaming up to bring you a fun-filled, active, and glamorous event this spring.

Sustainable Backyards Trail Showcase Property 7. The Land

Transforming a blank canvas in just one year

A bare paddock sheltered by mature bush just one year ago, The Land, debuting on the Sustainable Backyards Trail this year, is now in the early stages of a food forest with avocados, figs, plums, apples, a feijoa, and guava food hedge, and more. You’ll find a tunnel house & veggie beds along with chickens, ducks, and bees. The Land has stunning mountain views and mature bush with flowering perennials and bulbs being planted. This incredible work-in-progress offers inspiration for other permaculture-inspired, productive gardens.

Patronising Public Transport

Guest writer, Suraya Sidhu Singh, is a local public transport enthusiast that decided to make a personal exploration into the advantages of making greater use of public transport options. Read on to hear her reflections on her trial.

When you see a bus, you might not think it’s a chance to save the planet. Public transport is little promoted as an environmental win, but just 7 people taking the bus instead of driving reduces congestion and carbon emissions. So why aren’t we all over public transport? I decided to take a Taranaki bus each week, and what I found surprised me…

Talking Taiao Podcast - #onebusaweek

Listen to Suraya Sidhu Singh tell us her public transport journey at Access Radio Taranaki (ART ) 104.4FM and why getting more people on board, quite literally, is so important to a sustainable future in Taranaki.

Sustainable Business Champion - Natural Technologies Ltd

Dan Le Breton, the founder of Natural Technologies Ltd, takes pride in his trade and uses his experience and knowledge of the industry to demystify the many renewable energy alternatives for homeowners. On top of providing local and quality solar panels, wind, and hydro energy installations, Dan and his wife, Sarah, are also raising five beautiful children.

Learn more about the exciting journey of Dan and Sarah, their experiences around the world, and what inspired them to establish Natural Technologies Ltd in Taranaki.

Are you a homeowner with solar panels? Or are you considering an installation?

The benefits of solar power are manifold, with the industry growing significantly worldwide each year. As little as one hour of sunlight around the world is equivalent to one year’s worth of energy for our planet! Our WITT Communications Intern, Marsha Khoo is undertaking a survey as part of her training. Help her identify the barriers preventing people in Taranaki from installing solar panels by taking her survey below.

Team Focus - Marsha Khoo, WITT Communications Intern

Marsha is an intern at Sustainable Taranaki, currently pursuing her Bachelor of Applied Management degree. Having found her passion and interest for renewable energy and sustainability at a young age, Marsha is currently leading a solar project to identify the barriers preventing people in Taranaki from investing in solar panels. Taking part in her survey would be of great help to her student project!

Events Calendar

October is a jam-packed month and traditionally our busiest time of year. We hope you will join us on one of our upcoming workshops, take a tour, volunteer at a community garden, listen to a podcast or webinar, or even take the #onebusaweek challenge. The opportunities to get involved are stacking up so we hope to see you soon! Click the calendar for our events listings.