Poutū-te-rangi Pānui / March Newsletter 2021

Highlights

DIY Cleaning Products workshop | Flying High for kids event | Avoid a bin ban - we’re here to help! | Better Travel Now & the Future of Transport - Information night | Bring it! campaign | Closing the Loop event | Weta Watcher winner | Let’s Compost workshops | Sustainable Business Champion | Team Focus - Elvisa Van Der Leden

Flying high for kids- a free family event

April 20th, 23rd, and 29th around Taranaki, 5-7:30pm

In collaboration with Sustainable Taranaki, the Flying High Charitable Trust is bringing their hot air balloon to Taranaki this April 2021. The tour aims to promote and inspire sustainable innovation. The three events will provide an introduction and pathway for kids and their families to live more sustainably, create positive change for future generations, and foster innovation. 

Energy, transport, waste, sustainable living and sustainable communities are just some of the themes that aeronaut, Andrew Parker, will chat about to inspire children and their families to think about how they can help to create a sustainable future for generations. 

Avoid a bin ban - we’re here to help!

Our Taranaki region prides itself on its sustainable efforts, and we are here to help. Sustainable Taranaki provides education, workshops and tours at The Junction - Zero Waste Hub on Colson Road. The Recycling/Zero Waste tours are free and can be booked for your group, family, school, kindergarten, business or organisation. Watch the Seven Sharp video, and read more about the Junction Reuse Shop, workshops, and find links to zero waste resources. We’ve put everything in one place.

Better Travel Now & the Future of Transport - Information Night

Thursday, April 8th 6:30-8pm at the New Plymouth Club

Transport is 50% of our emissions from hydrocarbons and something we can act on right now. What cleaner, cheaper and healthier transport options will you adopt? Learn about the He Pou a Rangi/ Climate Change Commission Report and how to implement the alternative travel choices available in Taranaki, such as EVs, active transport, car sharing, & digital working. Join the future transport discussion and share your views in a friendly discussion. Read the article below for three proposed future transport scenarios and the event agenda.

Reduce, share transport, then electrify….

Bring it! A campaign that brings reusables to the spotlight

Bringing our own or borrowing a cup when we visit our local cafes is one of the easiest ways to be environmentally smart - it reduces unnecessary waste, saves the business some money and customers often will also get a discount for their efforts, so it’s a win-win-win! NPDC is funding cafes that want to join Again Again, a reusable cup lending system, until 31st March.

Read on for handy tips to remember your cup and find the cafes that use Again Again or are supporting reusables with discount incentives.

Closing the Loop Event - New Plymouth

Thursday, 15th April 5:30-8:30pm at The Junction - Zero Waste Hub on Colson Road

Taranaki is a region rich in history, resources and fantastic people with the skills to create a sustainable and just economy fit for the future. Join the Zero Waste Network and Sustainable Taranaki to explore and understand how you can be part of the emerging circular economy at our upcoming networking event. This event is aimed at local business, education and organisation leaders keen to learn how to enact change. Limited spaces available.

Anton’s Weta Watcher - using artificial intelligence to accelerate wildlife conservation

A lively turn out of twenty-five people attended the first Taranaki Soup event hosted by Startup Taranaki at the Do Box on 24th February. A collective $500 raised went to the winning idea - Victor Anton’s Wētā Watcher, a device that autonomously takes photos of ground-dwelling invertebrates and herpetofauna (lizards/geckos).

From left: Zara Lok, Graham Nelson, Victor Anton (winner), and Katherine Blaney

Sustainable Business Champion - Egmont Refuse and Recycling

Raymond Buckland is the passionate owner of Hawera-based Egmont Refuse and Recycling - a #climatepositive business model - finding alternatives for our common household waste such as polystyrene, bottle lids, green waste and more. Learn more about his journey and the current materials he accepts.

Raymond Buckland displaying the shredded plastic bottle lids before they’re melted down.

Let’s Compost Workshops

Saturday 27th March 1:30pm – 4:00pm at Mimi School & Saturday 10th April 10:00am - 12:30pm at Waitoriki School

Learn how to compost and the different systems you can use in your backyard.  After completing a workshop, your household will receive $40 off your choice of one of three easy-to-use compost systems. Register for Mimi. Register for Waitoriki.

Team Focus - Elvisa Van Der Leden

Elvisa has joined the Sustainable Taranaki tīma as our Zero Waste Educator and the planner behind the upcoming Flying High for kids events. Elvisa began her environmental journey while studying and volunteering with the Western Bay of Plenty Wildlife Trust. Monitoring little blue penguins / kororā on Mauao (Mt Maunganui) sparked her passion to protect the environment and its native inhabitants. She continued to volunteer with various organisations, leading to professional work as a marine conservation and penguin educator with the Ngā Motu Marine Reserve Society, which she is still involved with. Elvisa is also currently an elected member on the Taranaki Regional Council.

Elvisa Van Der Leden | Zero Waste Educator for Sustainable Taranaki

Sustainable Taranaki is looking for a Trustee

Do you love the Sustainable Taranaki kaupapa and have governance experience? We invite you to join our passionate and closely knit team. Check out the details at Work With Us — Sustainable Taranaki.

Climate Change Commission - Action for Aotearoa Survey Submission

Closes Sunday 28th March