Envirocentre Hamilton

Sustainable Waikato - New local lobby group

30th July 2010 1:09PM

Sustainable Waikato (SW); an organisation of like-minded people, from all walks of life, who are aiming to get good councillors into local councils at the upcoming election.
Visit http://www.sustainablewaikato.org.nz to get introduced to the group.

We need councillors who can assess a range of issues nationally and make decisions based on sound evidence, enhancing our region's sustainability in the near and intergenerational future. The issue of what to do is now urgent as local elections approach and it is our local representatives that have the most impact on our regional environment - some say perhaps even more than our government...

Sustainable Waikato is a self-organising group of concerned citizens who got together to advocate and support the candidates that we deserve. See our vision statement on the site. We are not affiliated with any political party - we are simply loyal to our regional economy and environment and insist on clean air, water and healthy soil for ourselves and the generations to come.
In the weeks leading up to the elections we will carry out a series of activities, including reviewing governance of our local representatives in the Hamilton City Council and Environment Waikato.

More information will be posted on this website as we progress.

What can you do? Any number of things below!

1. Raise awareness
How far can you reach? We each know from 50 to 100 people in our immediate circle. Take responsibility to spread the word amongst your circle. As a first action point, people must register in time for voting!

1.a Forward this email to your friends, contacts, colleagues etc... to raise awareness about the issue. The voting rate is typically just above 30% and very often voters are unsure not only what the candidates stand for, but also what their past performance really is. Sustainable Waikato is working to assemble a list of candidates we will support, based on their actions, knowledge and intentions to serve our region, towns and cities, when they serve as councillors. Sustainable Waikato will inform the public specifically about their actions or lack thereof, in relation to our vision. We can make a difference!

1.b Talk about it in group discussions. Some supporters have offered to bring up this issue at upcoming club meetings, public meetings etc. You can advocate for this directly in your circles.

2. Make a personal statement
List yourself as a supporter of Sustainable Waikato. See the Supporters tab on the website where we are starting to assemble a list of people who are prepared to state out loud their commitment to sustainability issues. Email your name to clb17@waikato.ac.nz to be listed too.

3. Help Sustainable Waikato spread the word further

3.a Pledge money to print election leaflets. We are all volunteers and have pledged money for this campaign as we have no external funding. The money we need to raise is funding to print leaflets to drop in mailboxes. We will make every effort to raise public awareness in other ways, but we know that leaflets play an important role in informing voters.

3.b Print leaflets! If you have printing facilities to lend, please let us know; we'll email you the leaflet and you could print part of the total amount needed - avoiding intermediary costs.

3.c Contribute your time and expertise. We welcome more hands and thinking caps to act now and raise awareness amongst friends & colleagues. Please contact one of us, or reply to this email to discuss what you could contribute to this effort. We have each carried out actions as per our professional expertise and available time - as a self organising group this has worked wonders.

4. VOTE and make sure your group votes too!!
As the election approaches, encourage your circle of connections to vote and remind all the people you had rallied to vote too.
We are looking forward to your support and in so doing shaping together the sustainability of our region.

http://envirocentre.wordjot.co.nz/posts/local-body-elections/

Yes Men Movie and Kowhai sale

27th July 2010 12:19PM

Wednesday 28th July.

7pm Waimarie

"The Yes Men Fix The World" is the second documentary from the Yes Men, a culture jamming duo who raise awareness of social and environmental issues, often by impersonating corporate executives and practicing 'identity correction' to more accurately reflect the truth.

See you there,

At Waimarie Community Center

53 Wellington Street, Hamilton East

Saturday 7th August

Plant a Kowhai
10am in Garden Place

Kowhai sale to raise funds for the Hydrotherapy pool.

Eco-sourced plants, $10 each. Encourage the bellbirds and tui to visit your garden.

Get more info about tui and bellbirds in the city or report any sightings of tui or bellbirds in the city at www.ew.govt.nz/Projects/Hamilton-Halo

http://envirocentre.wordjot.co.nz/posts/movie-and-kowhai-sale/

Biofuels talk Tuesday 27th

23rd July 2010 10:32AM

Tuesday 27 July 2010

Engineers for Social Responsibility Waikato BOP Branch Public Meeting

Energy from Biofuels – The Facts Not Fiction

A rare Hamilton opportunity to hear the current real facts and the associated debate from New Zealand’s leading professional engineer in the field.
Speaker: Stephan Heubeck –

Stephan’s first career was as a German agricultural engineer and during his training he designed, developed and worked on farm power plants using cow muck as the fuel. Many of the properties around his family farm are still profiting from his innovations. For a long time the farmers were making more money from the sale of excess electricity generation than from the milk they were producing – so why not here in the Waikato?

Since settling in New Zealand Stephan has extended his interests into the full range of biofuels. together with research work for NIWA he is now in international demand and we are lucky to catch him following work in Australia, Germany and Sweden.

He is an ideal person to clarify the media spin of national government and interest groups, and provide measurable facts related to the pressing questions on energy, the needs for carbon neutrality and especially the current status of biofuels and where they fit in the national and global energy mix.

• Time: 5.30 pm meet and greet. 6.00pm Stephan’s presentation 7.00pm go home or join a group of us for dinner in town for more chat.

• Venue: Waikato University School of Business Conference Room MSB 1.01, Gate 7, Hillcrest Road, Hamilton.
(Conference Rooms entrance at the bottom of the steps on the left hand side of the building)

• Contact: Norm Stannard Secretary ESRNZ Waikato Branch tel: 07-8556579
Frank Scrimgeour Chairman ESRNZ Waikato Branch tel: 07-8562889

http://envirocentre.wordjot.co.nz/posts/fdasfdsa/

Bats in Hamilton

9th July 2010 11:23AM

See 'Bats in Hamilton City' on "Campbell Live" tonight 7pm!

Yes we have native long tailed bats in the city.

http://envirocentre.wordjot.co.nz/posts/bats-in-hamilton/

EECA awards

8th July 2010 5:02PM

EECA is now inviting entries for the 2010 EECA Awards.

Now in their 11th year, the EECA Awards are well established and widely recognised. They celebrate organisations and individuals who have demonstrated excellence and innovation in energy efficiency or renewable energy projects.

Backed by EECA’s expertise and knowledge, the EECA Awards provide credible recognition of your organisation’s achievements, acknowledgement of your staff, and the opportunity to learn from and network with other successful organisations.

This year we offer nine different categories:

Energy Management
Individuals, project teams or organisations developing and implementing an energy management programme
Large Business
Businesses with an energy spend of over $500K who have completed a successful energy efficiency or renewable energy initiative
SME Business
Businesses with an energy spend of under $500K who have completed a successful energy efficiency or renewable energy initiative
Transport
Transport technologies or behaviour change initiatives that deliver ongoing energy and emissions savings
Innovation
A new and innovative energy efficient or renewable energy product, technology or management process
Renewable Energy
An innovative and effective renewable energy project or technology
Public Sector
Central/local government and Crown-funded organisations which have completed a successful energy efficiency or renewable energy programme
Community
A project or initiative that has helped to improve energy efficiency and/or renewable energy use within a community
Outstanding Contribution to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
An individual who has shown leadership and influenced the development of sustainable energy practices which have benefited New Zealand

Visit the EECA Awards website for full details and to download an entry form.

Entries close at 5pm, Friday 30 July 2010.

The winners will be announced at the EECA Awards ceremony in Auckland on 25 November 2010.

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in entering the EECA Awards or would like further information on becoming a sponsor.

Kind regards,

Rebecca Rix
Marketing and Communications Advisor
Ph: 04 470 2216

Email: rebecca.rix@eeca.govt.nz

http://envirocentre.wordjot.co.nz/posts/eeca-awards/

Recognyz Youth Award - enviro award

5th July 2010 2:58PM

Nominations Are Now Open!

For the first time the Hamilton the Recognyz Youth Awards will have an Enviro Award in 2010 to recognise someone who has made an outstanding contribution to our environment.

The 2010 Recognyz Youth Awards are designed to showcase the amazing contributions young people make to Hamilton. This year's seven categories invite entries from performers, environmentalists, achievers through adversity, inventors, those with leadership qualities and volunteers. Great prizes are on offer with $2,000 dream dollars going to one lucky Supreme Award winner to further their dream!

Individuals or groups who live, work or go to school in Hamilton, aged 12-24 and fit one of the seven categories are eligible to enter. You can nominate someone you know, or you can nominate yourself. You can also enter more than one category, but if you do, one entry form per category is required. Two referees over 18 years of age must also accompany all entries.

Enviro Award is sponsored by Enviroschools Foundation

This is a new award for the Recognyz Youth Awards.
We are looking for young people or groups of young people who are passionate about caring for their environment. Not only this, they inspire others around them to do the same. This award is to recognise the ongoing commitment that young people have to their environment and the projects that they are involved in to make a difference.

For more information or to nominate check out www.hamilton.co.nz/recognyz

Nomination close Friday 13 August.

Aaron Fleming
Environmental Policy Advisor
City Strategy Team
Hamilton City Council
Private Bag 3010 Hamilton 3240
DDI: (07) 838 6483
Fax: (07) 838 6464
E: aaron.fleming@hcc.govt.nz
www.hamilton.co.nz

http://envirocentre.wordjot.co.nz/posts/youth-award/

Organic Training Day July 24th

2nd July 2010 10:53AM

OFNZ Training day on July 24th 9.30am

Venue: Greenspace at 60 Te Aroha St Hamilton

Keen to certify all or some of your produce? Got some organic challenges to overcome, or successful techniques to share?
Want to know more about organic growing, certification? Think it’s too expensive? Too Complicated? Unnecessary?
Then come and learn more and/or let us give you a helping
hand with the certification process.
Free for potential new members, existing members and
consumers of organic produce. Limited registrations

Training will be covering the requirements of certification, overview, history and explaining how the standards work and the pod structure.
TRAINING DAY: will be one day followed by a number of field trips.
Peter Downard to be the main presenter.
VENUE: Greenspace 60 Te Aroha St
9.30 Introductions
10.00 History of Organic Certification in NZ
10.30 Cuppa
10.45 How the OFNZ Standard Works
11.30 The certification process
12.30 Lunch Break
1.00 Practical exercise, preparing a property management plan
3.00 Pods and membership options
3.30 Facilitated Q&A
4.30 Finish
To register please email tim@greenfootprint.co.nz
Include name(s), address, phone numbers, and reason for wishing
to attend; are you a grower/producer interested in becoming certified, a retailer, a consumer of organic food etc.

More info see attached pdf.

24julyTraining day.pdf

http://envirocentre.wordjot.co.nz/posts/organic-certification-workshop/

HEAT

1st July 2010 12:08PM

1 - 3 July
THEATRE GOES GREEN FOR EXTREME ANTARCTIC TALE
Ice Floe Productions in association with STAMP at THE EDGE presents

HEAT

By Lynda Chanwai-Earle
Directed by David O’Donnell
Sound designer and composer Gareth Farr

Echoing the restrictions of life in the Antarctic, award winning theatre show Heat brings its own alternative energy source to power up an original love story between a woman, a man and a penguin.
“exciting and intriguing … a gripping and moving tale of magical realism.” Laurie Atkinson, Dominion Post
It’s 1999 and a husband and wife scientific team hunker down inside a tiny, tightly packed survival capsule on the Ross Ice Shelf, wintering over in the vast frozen Antarctic, accompanied by only web-cam, sporadic radio contact, the amazing Aurora Australis, and a colony of male penguins. Struggling to maintain a failing relationship, Stella (Kate Prior) observes breeding patterns among Emperor penguins, while John (Simon Vincent) monitors climate change – until the untimely introduction of a third character (Byron Coll) blows their fragile world apart.
Unlike other conventional theatre shows Heat uses self-sustainable energy means - powered off-grid with lights, sound and electronics from low drain and/or renewable energy. This unique Spacewise energy installation on site at the theatre is a world first. The production will look, as the Antarctic stations are increasingly doing, to partnerships with companies developing sustainable, renewable power sources.
With a powerful script written by the acclaimed Lynda Chanwai Earle (Ka Shue, Alchemy, BoxRoleDream), music by CNZ Antarctic Fellow Gareth Farr, lighting by Marcus McShane and design features by Brian King and Afterburner’s Marty Roberts, Heat opens a rare glimpse into the extraordinary isolated experience of being an Antarctic scientist, being a human pushed to the extremes, and of the sheer beauty of a winter in the Antarctic.
Heat was nominated in its premiere Wellington season for two Chapman Tripp Awards in 2008, winning the coveted Actor of the Year Award for the role of the penguin.

The 2010 national tour of Heat includes seasons in Hamilton (1-3 July), Auckland (12-17 July), Christchurch (6-9 October), Dunedin (13-16 October), Nelson (20-23 October) and a return Wellington season (28 October – 20 November).

HEAT contains adult content and full male nudity.
Recommended for mature audiences.

HEAT plays Hamilton
1-3 July, 8.00pm
The Meteor Theatre, 1 Victoria S
Tickets: $32/22
Bookings: 0800 BUY TICKETS or www.buytickets.co.nz

http://envirocentre.wordjot.co.nz/posts/show/

July events

1st July 2010 12:07PM

Sunday July 4th

Tamahere Community Nursery

Learn about propogating ecosourced plants.

The next workshop session at the Tamahere Community Nursery in Devine Road will be held this coming Sunday, 4 July, starting at 1.30 pm. We will continue with the potting of seedlings for next year's planting.

There is a selection of plants ready for planting now so if anyone is interested in acquiring ecosourced native plants for gully restoration come along to the nursery on Sunday afternoon.

Hope to see you there.
Jan Simmons
on behalf of Tamahere Gully Care/Ecosourced Waikato.
Ph 856 8995

Monday 19th July Hamilton

Organic Group - seed swap and film

Hi everyone - bring along your hoarded seeds to swap with other gardeners at our July meeting, and get a head start with your spring garden plans! We’ll be trialling an “alternative currency” for the seed/ plant table, but if you don’t have anything to swap don’t worry, you can still bring along a few coins to get started. And we’re also planning to watch a short-ish film with a gardening theme.

Meeting will be 7.30pm at the Environment Centre.

July 10th - 13th

Permaculture courses at Solscape

Last opportunity to enrol - only a few places left - contact Nelson Lebo nfl2@waikato.ac.nz to enrol.
$50 per day plus accommodation

Saturday 12:30 - 6:30 pm
Advanced permaculture design: Maximizing beneficial relationships

Sunday 10 -12 & 2 - 6
The essentials of green home design

Monday 10 - 12 & 2 - 6
|Human-scale swales, rain gardens and plumbing basics
Retaining water on the landscape in times of excess is like money in the bank for times of drought.

Tuesday 9 -12 & 1 - 3
Maximizing vegetable production while minimizing inputs

http://envirocentre.wordjot.co.nz/posts/events/

Sustainable Urban Design workshops reminder

25th June 2010 11:52AM

Tuesday July 6

Overview workshop
- a bit of each of the green homes topics including Energy, Materials and Toxicity, Water, Site Considerations, and Passive Solar Design.
9:30-4pm

Hamilton - Hukanui School eco classroom, The Living Room
Presented by Ian Mayes, Eco Design Advisor Hamilton City Council
$20

Tuesday July 27

Passive Solar Design
9:30-4pm
Hamilton - Hukanui School eco classroom, The Living Room

Presented by Ian Mayes, Eco Design Advisor Hamilton City Council
$20

For further information and registrations contact Megan Edmeades 021 414 529 or megan@greenme.org.nz

http://envirocentre.wordjot.co.nz/posts/sustainable-urban-design-workshops-reminder/