Kia ora tatou,
Over the last two and a half years our partnership with Trust Waikato has meant that we have been able to help 172 people, from 70 Waikato community groups, through the running of workshops, environmental expos, networking events, and by providing assistance with funding applications, structure and resources.
Our funding specifically for capacity building of groups ends this August, but we are hoping that we will continue to be able to provide support to groups, through new funding from Trust Waikato.
Workshop coming up-
Money Basics- Financial Management for Enviro Community Groups with Lynne Wilkins from Bizworx. Lynne has delivered several workshops at the enviro expos, and received top feedback from groups implementing the information gathered. There will be a small charge of $15 per person, over 2 evenings. Date to be confirmed.
Resource-
Our Financial Management CD has been so popular we only have 4 left! We are hoping for a reprint in August. The resource is free to members of ECH, $5 to other environmental groups, or $10 for community groups. To order email: envirocentre@paradise.net.nz
Interactive Group Web Map-
This map is being developed just for environmental groups in the Waikato.
How does it work? The map is accessed from our website. The user clicks on an icon, indicating what work the group is involved in, for example ‘Restoration Pest control’. The icon will open to a map showing the locations of groups involved in that work, and clicking on an individual icon will show a box which includes the group’s contacts, and ‘needs’. Links can also connect to your group’s website and feature news & events as well as link back to the ECH site, where groups will have their information displayed. If you would like a page and to be linked up, let us know.
Benefits:
It’s free!
1. Includes: your groups name, contact, logo, your group needs
2. Links with other groups doing similar work
3. Links to ECH where further information can be available
4. Businesses who wish to support environmental groups with volunteer time, or sponsorship, can access the site to gain an understanding of what groups do and what their needs are.
Amazing Work
Te Whangai is a Charitable Trust that combines environmental with social, by training and helping the unemployed. Te Whangai Trust assists with life and work skills in a nurturing self help work place, while they in turn nurture the environment. Together they have created a native plant nursery with 250,000 native plants for sale to tax payer and environmental groups. The Trust offers multi agency advocacy and assists with vocational employment opportunities, utilising a Kaupapa Maori approach to build mana.
Te Whangai practice the philosophy of hand up not hand out. They currently have 8 at-risk youth, a probationary prisoner on home detention, 6 older unemployed who are victims of the recession who act as youth mentors, 2 supervisors, and an environmental advisor. Community volunteers offer their professional expertise and work within the group.
Trust trainees revel in the quality of the trees they grow, and the challenge of creating a resource to contribute to New Zealand’s natural heritage, and a legacy for their children.
- Te Whangai have helped 62 people into work to date.
- 12 currently undertaking NZQA courses
- 12 Youth back into community education
- 300 participants undertaking community service
See www.tewhangai.com or to hear about what the trust do:
Te Whangai On National Radio – (duration: 26′56″) from 11 June 2010
Improving Catchment & Water Quality Field Day- 29th June, 10-2pm
Te Pahu Landcare, in conjunction with the Farm Discussion Group, NIWA, EW, Hamilton Envirocentre, Dairy NZ, and Kessels & Associates are holding a discussion and assessment of farming land, soil and water.
The day includes assessing soil structure, electro fishing (weather dependent), aquatic invertebrates, hydrology and water quality.
Contact Nardene nardene.berry@landcare.org.nz or phone 859 3725 by the 23rd June please.
Did you know?
- We have 1000 landfills in NZ
- We throw away 22 million plastic bags a week in NZ
- It takes 4.5 trees to make the pulp used in "disposable" nappies for one baby over 2 1/2 years (1.3 million trees for NZ babies)
- More than 70% of N.Z's environmental weeds were plants that escaped from gardens
- Weta have their ears on their front knees
www.envirocentre.org.nz | 07 839 4452
| rachael@envirocentre.org.nz | envirocentre@paradise.net.nz |
