Environment Centre Feasibility Study Project

Fixed Term Contract Position

 We are looking for a highly motivated person, or persons, to undertake this exciting project on behalf of Environment Centres and the Ministry for the Environment.

 Part of the project entails organizing a conference in August, followed by research undertaken with Environment Centres around New Zealand, culminating in a high-quality report and recommendations by November 2011.

 The contractor will need to be able to work independently, and be available to travel extensively. Must also be available for an immediate start.

For more details see the Job Description attached.

 If this sounds like you, please send your CV to Katherine Hay at the Waikato Environment Centre by 22nd July.

katherine@envirocentre.org.nz

Environment Centre ProjectJD-1.doc

Free public seminar on changing climate

Please note: DO NOT RESPOND TO THE ENVIRONMENT CENTRE! RSVP to Ally Armstrong at ally.armstrong@waikatoregion.govt.nz or 0800 800 401.

The changing climate and how it can affect you will be the subject of a free public seminar hosted by Waikato Regional Council and featuring weather expert Jim Salinger, Lincoln University professor Caroline Saunders and business commentator Rod Oram.

The event will be held between noon and 1.30pm on Monday 18 July in the council chambers at 401 Grey St, Hamilton East. People are asked to arrive by 11.45am so the seminar can start promptly.

Chief executive Bob Laing said the regional council was pleased to be hosting the seminar. “The changing climate is an important issue given the potential consequences for things like the spread of pests, rising sea levels, and impacts on farming and horticulture. This seminar will be a great opportunity to find out more about these potential pressures faced by our region.”

Formerly of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Dr Salinger is an internationally well-known climate change scientist now working at Auckland University. He will speak on the latest information on climate change science and its impacts on farming and communities in the New Zealand context.

Professor Saunders will speak on what climate change means for agricultural trade, greenhouse gas emissions, evaluating carbon footprinting and business opportunities in a changing world.

Rod Oram – an award winning financial and business journalist with a strong interest in climate change - will talk on emissions trading and compare New Zealand's climate change targets with our trading partners' targets.

People wanting to attend are asked to RSVP to Ally Armstrong at ally.armstrong@waikatoregion.govt.nz or 0800 800 401.

8.30 on the Maori Channel

This is such an inspiring movie - we had it in the Reel Earth film festival a few years ago, and it is well worth watching.

Taking Root tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy—a movement for which this charismatic woman became an iconic inspiration.

For more info about it go to the website

Waikato Botanical Society warmly invite you to join us for an informative and lively evening to learn about:

Conservation and restoration of New Zealand's vascular epiphytes.

 Fiona Clarkson and Catherine Bryan

When: Monday 11th July, 5.30 pm – 7 pm

Where: Environment Centre, Level one, 25 Ward St, Hamilton (note entrance is on the one way part of Ward St, not much parking as road works here at present - try the Wintec carpark on the corner - it is ok after 5.30)

5.30pm start with a hot drink and introductions and notices, 5.45 – 7pm talk.

Following the talk those who would like to join us for more discussion we’ll have dinner at a nearby restaurant.

 Fiona Clarkson and Catherine Bryan have recently completed their MSc theses at the University of Waikato. They studied plant ecology, conservation and restoration with a special focus on vascular epiphytes. They share a passion for New Zealand’s natural environments and accordingly chose research topics that let them explore forests across the North Island.

 Fiona focussed on the population genetics and autecology of the endemic shrub epiphyte Pittosporum cornifolium which is becoming increasingly rare in the Waikato region. Catherine investigated the ecology of vascular epiphytes in the context of urban restoration and the drought tolerance of Griselinia lucida.

 They will share the findings of their MSc research and present recommendations for the future conservation and restoration of vascular epiphytes, with of course, suitably amazing photos.

 Please note in your diaries 8th August talk.

 Emeritus Professor Warwick Silvester on “The unique place of kauri, so slow, so old, what lessons can we learn?”

7pm at the Environment Centre
Anyone interested in becoming involved in or supporting projects around the city is welcome to attend. The group is an Incorporated Society, holds monthly meetings in the Environment Centre, and welcomes new members.

This month we have Rex Bushell from the Mangaiti Gully Restoration Group attending to tell us about the work of that group which is based in the Rototuna area.

Tui 2000 is a long established local group which has been instrumental in initiating and supporting a number of projects around the city, including the early awareness raising around the importance of biodiversity in gullies which led into the current HCC Gully Restoration programme.

Another major project the group is involved with at present is the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park, and as a partner Tui 2000 is responsible for major fundraising for plants each year,not an easy task. Tui also coordinates monthly working days at Waiwhakareke and the Friends of Waiwhakareke group.

Support from individuals or organisations is always welcome - come to the meeting if you would like to know more about the group and its work or you can check out the Tui 2000 webpage or  for the project the Waiwhakareke website 

Sunday 10th July

Forest and Bird Wetland trip

This Sunday -  to mark the 40th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention. Wetland specialist Keith Thompson will take us to a spot near Tahuna to overview the Kopuatai Dome,  and then to Torehape Wetland Reserve followed by a visit to the nearby peat mine.

This reserve protects the remnant of what was once a large peat dome. It is also the home of the giant rush Sporodanthus and wetland birds such as the fernbird. We could also look out for a newly discovered moth (Houdinia flexilissima), whose thread-like larvae live inside cane rush stems.

We will aim to have lunch at Ngatea (and comfort stop). We will return either via Miranda or Whangamarino - depending on the day.

Meet at 10am at River Road by Memorial Park to car pool and get map.
Take gumboots, raincoat, lunch (or buy lunch at Ngatea) Binoculars could be handy too. 

Please email Katherine: khay@pear.co.nz if you are coming or phone 839 4452 (10 - 4) or 856 1906 a/h and want to meet elsewhere.

Reminder: To hear about cancellations: phone 0900 72 346 from 8am (small payment involved)

Saturday 16 July

There will be a working bee at Pukemokemoke on Saturday 16th July, 1-4pm,our regular third Sat of the month. There is a lot of planting to be done stilll.

One or two of us are going to be at the Reserve this Saturday (9th) if it isn't pouring with rain, in case anyone wants to join us. You are very welcome. Bring your gumboots and spade or shovel!

Alan Leadley
Ph: 07-8552919
Cell Ph: 0272249622
Email: mualleadley@xtra.co.nz

Organic Information Evening

Organic farming and growing- what’s involved?

What is organic certification?

Why go organic?

Speaker and question and answer session hosted by OrganicFarm NZ Waikato

Informal evening,  call in any time after 6 pm

Tuesday July 19^th Hamilton Envirocentre Ward st Hamilton

Gold coin donation

New Zealand Association for Environmental Education

To all  environmental/sustainability educators

Thank you for all your registrations of interest so far in the 6^th Biennial NZAEE Conference to be held January 17-20, 2012 in Hamilton, New Zealand. We are excited about the conference we are planning and heartened by the many expressions of interest. There is still time to visit our website at www.nzaeeconference.co.nz to let us know that you are thinking of coming.

A reminder that the Call for Papers closes at 5pm on 1 August, 2011 so be sure to meet the deadline if you wish to share your work and ideas. It would be great to have you contribute to the conference in this way.

We are just finalizing a set of fantastic field trips for the Thursday afternoon of the conference to explore themes such as urban ecological restoration, wind farming, Enviroschools, green building, Sharing Nature with Joseph Cornell, and more.

We are planning a special programme for Youth, alongside and integrated with the main programme, to help our young people learn more about environmental education issues and opportunities, and to give them a voice that we all should hear. A Youth sponsorship plan is in place to assist them to attend, so if you know of Youth (16-24 years) who may be great to have at the conference, ask them to register their interest on the website.

Check out our sponsorship page on the website to see who is supporting the conference. The University of Waikato and Hamilton City Council are already signed up, and we have pledges of support from Auckland Council, Dunedin City Council, the Department of Conservation, Waikato Regional Council, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, and Ricoh.

Registrations will open Monday 18 July and will be accepted only through the conference website. Early bird registration fees will operate and there are categories for tertiary and government, schools and not-for-profit, and students and low waged.

 The Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust (MTSCT) are holding their annual Marine and Freshwater Wananga Conference in the Waikato in January 2012 to coincide with the NZAEE conference and for more information or to register your interest you can go to http://www.whitebaitconnection.co.nz/event.php?calendar_event_id=10, email samara@emr.org.nz or phone Samara on +0064 (09) 4338205.

 So be decisive – act to learn for a sustainable world! Be in Hamilton in January 2012!

Chris Eames, Conference Chair