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Be Bright Campaign

Posted 12 years, 5 months ago    0 comments

It’s important cyclists are visible on their bikes – check out the new Be Bright campaign for ideas!

Tēnā koutou
Daylight Saving has finished and the days are getting shorter –at this time of the year it is really important you make sure you are visible to other road users while you are on your bike. Bike Wise has designed a new initiative named Be Bright to promote cyclist visibility, especially during times of low light and bad weather.
Depending where you are around the country, it might be getting dark now when you ride. Wearing bright, reflective and high-visibility clothing, and using front and rear bike lights, are simple ways for you to improve your visibility as a cyclist.

 Did you know?

 • The fine for no lights on your bike is $55

• The fine for no tail light on your bike is $55

• The fine for no red reflector or tape is $55

• It usually costs around $30 to $60 for a set of bike lights.

 Be Bright activities
Whether you are a coordinator or a cyclist (or both), check out the Be Bright page on the Bike Wise website.
There are some great resources for coordinators – a ‘how to’ guide for running a Be Bright campaign and helpful tools such as a ‘Swiss cheese’ media release and sponsorship proposal.

For cyclists, there is more information about the laws regarding bike lights and how to be safe when cycling in low light conditions.
Keep up your fitness, keep saving dollars and cycle during autumn

Just make sure you are extra safe while on your bike by being aware of your visibility to other road users!

Waikato Environment Centre members - don't forget to use your Green Card and visit Velo Espresso to get your discount on your biking needs. Not a member? Contact us now to find out about membership benefits.


Balloons Breakfast at Dawn

Posted 12 years, 5 months ago    2 comments

Helpers wanted!

I need a few people to come and help at the Balloons Breakfast at Dawn this Thursday - 29th March - the breakfast starts at 6.30am - The Environment Centre supplies biodegradable plates and spoons.

If anyone would like to come and help pls phone Katherine 839 4452. It is a fun morning, children welcome. If the weather is good the balloons are lit up just before dawn and take off once it starts getting light, so quite spectacular.

We just have to hand out the plates and check that people are putting their organic waste into the correct receptacles. Very easy. And you get a free breakfast!

 


e-Cycle Open Day

Posted 12 years, 5 months ago    1 comment

e-Cycle Open Day Celebrations

Saturday (31st) March.

10am to approx. 2pm

At 8a Jolly Street, Hamilton

We invite all enthusiastic lovers of this land to celebrate another waste stream being plucked from landfill and cycled into re-use.  Xtreme Waste is proud to bring their Zero-Waste kaupapa into Hamilton.

This re-cycling site replaces the old eDay that ran for several years.  We receive computers, and business electronic waste, on a user-pays basis.

  • Our Mayor will be on site at 11am
  • HCC will be present and will have trees to give away
  • We will talk about the project, product stewardship, recycling, etc.

Are you aware, 80,000 tonnes of e-waste goes to NZ landfills each year?  Some 8,000 tonnes of that being lead plus other heavy metals such as cadmium, lithium and mercury.

Just so you know, the hours are 9am-4:30pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.





Natural Burial - Bylaw Change

Posted 12 years, 5 months ago    1 comment

Hamilton City Council is proposing to change the Cemeteries bylaw and is asking for comment.

There will be a meeting on this bylaw tomorrow, this Tuesday 27 March at 10.30am in the Council Reception Lounge.

The main change proposed is to provide for natural burial in addition to the current options of cremation and interment in the lawn cemetery.

 With natural burial there is no embalming, caskets etc. must be biodegradable and there are no permanent memorials. Subsequently the natural burial area will be fully planted and returned to vegetation, thereby reducing ongoing maintenance costs.

 If you wish to submit on the natural burial proposal in Clause 22 of the bylaw you may do so online at www.hamilton.co.nz/consultation or email submissions@hcc.govt.nz by 27 April 2012.

 


2x Garden Visits; Free public speech “How to Build a Lifeboat” (Nicole Foss); Scholarships available for Unitec Graduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management

Posted 12 years, 5 months ago    0 comments

Hamilton Organic Gardiners

2x Garden Visits on 31 March 2012

11:30am Monica, Norman and Rubymei’s garden, Hamilton East

Monica and Norm moved into their property around 5 years ago and have substantially modified what was an overgrown (but obviously once loved) garden. Gone are the roses, wisteria and vast black walnut tree; now natives, fruit, vegetable and a scattering of annuals dominate.

Bring own lunch (not shared), drink, appropriate footwear, clothing, hat, sunblock or umbrella.

1:30pm Maggie and Tony’s garden, Tamahere

Maggie writes “We have a couple of acres and are going through the organic certification process (we’ve been composters; and spray and fertiliser free for 18 years before that). We have a young orchard and firewood lot, big vegetable garden, goats, pigs and chooks. Tony makes yoghurt and cheeses and our goal is to be self-sufficient in food and bio fuels. We have not achieved this yet but are having lots of fun getting there, despite times of two steps forward and one back! Look forward to seeing you all.”

Bring cup for cuppa tea/coffee, appropriate footwear, clothing, hat.

If you are interested in visiting either or both of these gardens contact stephen.harlow@gmail.com. Visits will go ahead in rain unless torrential.

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Free public speech “How to Build a Lifeboat”

By Nicole Foss - international speaker on energy and global finance

12 noon Monday 16 April 2012

Hamilton City Council Reception Lounge, Garden Place, Hamilton

Nicole will explain reasons for vanishing wealth, rising global unemployment and social unrest amid global tensions over resources and how families and communities can navigate the choppy seas ahead.

Nicole has lectured in hundreds of locations across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and made numerous media appearances in a variety of countries.

Nicole is Senior Editor of the automaticearth.blogspot.co.nz - writing under the name Stoneleigh. She and co-author and Editor-in-Chief Raúl Ilargi Meijer have chronicled and interpreted the on-going credit crunch as the most pressing aspect of our current multi-faceted predicament.

Prior to the establishment of automaticearth, Nicole was editor of The Oil Drum Canada, where she wrote on peak oil and finance. She also ran the Agri-Energy Producers' Association of Ontario focusing on farm-based biogas projects, grid connections for renewable energy and Feed-In Tariff policy development.

While living in the UK she was a Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, where she specialized in nuclear safety in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, and conducted research into electricity policy at the EU level. She also has significant previous experience practicing as an environmental consultant.

Free, but please bring koha.

Contact: katherine@envirocentre.org.nz

More information:

  • http://theautomaticearth.org/TAE-Primers
  • http://theautomaticearth.org/Lifeboat/how-to-build-a-lifeboat.html
  • http://theautomaticearth.org/Lifeboat/40-ways-to-lose-your-future.html
  • http://theautomaticearth.org/Finance/an-unstable-tower-of-breaking-promises.html
  • http://theautomaticearth.org/Finance/a-future-discounted.html

Foss poster2-1.pdf

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Scholarships available for Unitec Graduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management

More Waikato students are being sought, and scholarships are being offered, for Unitec’s Graduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management, which can be done via classes at Community Waikato in Hamilton.

Specifically they are seeking more students for their opening ‘Values Based Management and Leadership’ course in late April.

“Develop the knowledge and skills to increase your not-for-profit organisation's effectiveness. Improve your ability to analyse your organisational challenges, mobilise resources, develop strategies for raising funds, manage staff and volunteers, and build effective governance.

The Graduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management is designed for managers and co-ordinators, team leaders, volunteers and Board members of not-for-profit (NFP) organisations. It supports NFP leaders and their organisations in achieving effective quality management and leadership. Find out how to increase your community organisation’s effectiveness and your own core management competencies. The programme will help you further your ability to mobilise resources, raise funds and manage for financial sustainability.”

More info: www.nfp.unitec.ac.nz or contact Hilary Foged hstarfoged@unitec.ac.nz.


Conscious Consumer update; Roberto's Kitchen and Green Card; DoC Brochures

Posted 12 years, 5 months ago    2 comments

Update from Conscious Consumers Waikato co-ordinator Lou Belle

 “… our first Conscious Consumer cafe in Raglan- The Shack

19 Bow Street has been a Raglan institution since 1902. The latest incarnation is a relaxed and friendly cafe where you can enjoy delicious coffee and well prepared food. The owners are passionate about supporting local producers and wherever possible they use free range, organic, environmentally responsible sustainable produce and socially responsible suppliers. Badges earned: BYO cup, Composting, Eco-packaging, Recycling and Seasonal

Hamilton's newest Conscious Consumer "cafe" - The Provincial Chip Co.

This gourmet takeaway is located on Cambridge Road, Hillcrest. They have hand-cut chips from locally grown potatoes, local, free-range and organic meat in the burgers and house made sauces and chutneys. Badges earned: Composting, Eco-friendly cleaners, Eco-packaging, Free range, Seasonal and Recycling

Help us recruit your favourite Conscious Consumer cafes

If you're in Hamilton East drop in to the awesome Grey Street Kitchen and encourage owners Jake and Michelle to join the Conscious Consumer movement. On the other side of the river, visit the fantastic Vetro cafe on Anglesea Street, where owner Simon just needs a nudge over the finish line to sign up.  Visit these great cafes and let them know you'd love to see Conscious Consumer badges in the window.

Regional Co-ordinator news

....I am very excited (and a little sad) to let you know that I have recently resigned from the regional co-ordinator role to move across the Tasman to return to my family. Thanks for all your support and continued enthusiasm for this wonderful movement! The good news is that my departure means there is an opportunity for another passionate person to fill the role. Stay tuned for that news update!

 …..comments, questions & suggestions on how we can take the Conscious Consumers café project to a new level in the Waikato Region are always welcome. So flick a return email to waikato@consciousconsumers.org.nz.

Kindest regards, Lou Belle"

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Green Card business Roberto’s Kitchen

has a stall every Sunday 8am to 12noon at Hamilton Farmers’ Market – Sonning Car Park, 204 River Road, Hamilton - where he sells his hand made authentic Italian food made fresh daily.

Roberto’s Kitchen suggests to Green Card holders the Lasagna with Spinach, Mushroom and Cheese where every ingredient is cooked separately to have the best flavour and texture.

Buon appetito!

Roberto, Roberto's Kitchen, PO Box 82, Huntly 3740

As well as visiting Roberto's website, you can catch up with him on Facebook.

Green Card holders: remember to mention your Green Card for a discount of 10% on products (Italian and vegetarian: fresh pasta, pizza, tiramisu, gnocchi, biscuits, etc.) sold by Roberto’s Kitchen at Hamilton Farmers Market. More details click here.

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DoC Brochures Now On Sale

at Waikato Environment Centre

Level One, 25 Ward Street, Hamilton

Looking for information about Waikato's great outdoors? We're now stocking the following brochures published by Department of Conservation:

  • Beginners Guide to Common Native Trees and Shrubs in the Waikato $3
  • Family Walks in the Waikato $2
  • Priongia & Raglan Tracks $2
  • Broken Hills Recreation $2
  • Coromandel Recreation $2
  • Kauaeranga Valley Recreation $2
  • Pureora Forest Park Tracks $1.50
  • Waitomo & King Country Tracks $2
  • The Waikato Wars of 1963 – 1964 $4

 


Volunteering Waikato Strategic Plan registration deadline; Waiwhakareke Potting and Weeding Morning; HOGS on Facebook; Chatham Island Forget-Me-Not Seeds available

Posted 12 years, 5 months ago    1 comment

Volunteering Waikato Strategic Plan

Last chance to register to attend the consultation workshop

10am - 12pm Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Community Waikato, 33 Victoria Street, Hamilton

The Board of Volunteering Waikato reviews its Strategic Plan later this year and are seeking input from its stakeholders to learn how they can improve their services to meet your needs, and how changes in your organisation over the next 5 years may inform how they work with you.

Coffee/tea available 9.45am, start promptly 10am. Light lunch will be supplied.

If unable to attend, a report of the meeting will be circulated for input, however your participation in the facilitated workshop offers the best opportunity to obtain your valuable input.

 RSVP by 21 March 2012 to manager@volunteeringwaikato.org.nz

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Friends of Waiwhakareke

Potting and Weeding Morning

9am-12noon Friday 23 March 2012

Tamahere Gully Nursery,  Devine Road, Tamehere (next to Tamahere Primary School Hall)

Bring morning tea and willing friends!

Queries to Catherine Smith 07 8558296 or 2smiths@wave.co.nz

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Hamilton Organic Farmers (HOGS) are now on Facebook

If you are a Facebook user, look them up. You are welcome to use their Facebook page to ask questions, share gardening tips, stories, dilemmas....    www.facebook.com/pages/Hamilton-Organic-Gardeners

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Here at Waikato Environment Centre we have a limited number of

Chatham Island Forget-Me-Not Seeds

available to anyone who'd like to try growing this gorgeous flowering native.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-plants/chatham-island-forget-me-not/

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Hamilton City Council draft Plan; free talk “Optimal Profit – Minimal Footprint Dairy Farming”

Posted 12 years, 5 months ago    0 comments

Hamilton City Council draft Plan

consultation period runs from today (19 March 2012) until 19 April 2012

Every three years all Councils must provide a detailed plan setting out their programme for the next 10 years, how much it will cost and what it will deliver to the city. Hamilton is a great place to live and work, and we are a significant city within New Zealand.

However as a city Hamilton is facing significant financial challenges. 

Hamilton’s draft Plan is about living within our means, getting debt under control, returning to surplus and providing for our growing city in a sustainable way. It is about getting the city and its finances back on track.

The draft Plan is a new direction for the city and HCC want to know if you think they’ve got it right. Please share your views - submissions close on Thursday 19 April 2012.

To read the Summary draft Plan and Full draft Plan, click here.

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Talk: Farming within the Lakes and the Waikato Catchment in Mind

“Optimal Profit – Minimal Footprint Dairy Farming”

10am-1.30pm, Friday 30 March 2012

Venue: Andrew and Jenny Hayes’ property at Lake Road, Horsham Downs

Free , however RSVP to michelle.kingi@waikatoregion.govt.nz before 26 March 2012

Andrew and Jenny farm on 90Ha at Horsham Downs on a miz of peat and clay soils. Lakes Kaituna and Komakorau wrap around the base of the farm. For many years the Hayes’ focus has been restoration of the lakes. Their farm system is designed to reduce longer term affects on the lakes and the receiving catchment. Smart practices focus on efficency in every area of the business. A profitable yet simple enterprise is part of the overall farming picture. The Hayes run a strong business: their milk solids per hectare, per cow and pasture harvest are in the top 5% of Waikato dairy farms, and by way of minimal nitrogen addition . Their farming footprint is aproximately 30% lower than the average. How is this achieved?

Speakers:

  • Andrew Hayes
  • Alison Dewes (Headlands Consultant)
  • Bob Pender (Waikato River Authority)
  • Professor David Hamilton and Bex Eivers (University of Waikato)
  • Mike O’Conner (soil scientist)

Lunch provided



Shim