Sustainable Living in Northland, June 2019

JUNE 2019

IN NORTHLAND

THE COLD IS HERE We can keep you and your family warm Call us now | 24hrs... 7 days a week Chris Williams, Managing Director 26 Herekino Street, Whangarei PO Box 1861, Whangarei 0140

Ph: 09 438 1718 Mobile: 0274 724 387

admin@climatechnz.co.nz www.climatechnz.co.nz

S U S TA I N A B L E L I V I N G I N N O RT H L A N D

2

E

transform dramatica are at risk world ext each year destr

planet do order to s drastic ch It’ scale corp agricultur policies.

society’ way of life district, sa dif contribut in Northl

Future Living

centr local food emissions ensur in Northl climate an You can use Sustainable Living materials and our W to support a learning group on future living testament skills, which could be home-based with and ever neighbours, or at a community venue, fantastic r environment centre or in your workplace. with a foc packaging bring thei thanks to support w Trade Dis

Lifestyles are changing, in a warmer, more resource-hungry world.

Are you ready? Find out more at sustainableliving.org.nz.

T

he Sustainable Living programme is a practical, fun way to learn and use actions that reduce your environmental impact. It offers you future living skills for a healthier lowerwaste lifestyle. It’s a new approach to making smart, affordable and lower-carbon consumer choices in New Zealand.

14 District and City Councils are members of the Sustainable Living Education Trust, and in autumn 2019 they’ve been joined by

the Ministry for the Environment, so that you can now download our learning guides, free anywhere in Aotearoa NZ. You simply need to register your email and home address.

From the eight learning guides, see how to make a healthier, drier and warmer home and how you can easily reduce your waste to landfill. Other topics ready to explore are: home organic food growing, water use efficiency, avoiding toxic chemicals, smart healthy food shopping and preserving tips,

and how to reduce your power bill. The learning guides include eco-building design and house renovation ideas, lower-carbon transport options, and community resilience in emergencies. All have a practical focus and are independent of commercial bias.

Our charitable trust has designed the education programme for a net-savvy public, so we no longer rely on tutor-taught evening courses, although they are still recommended where available in member Districts.

Eutopia The latest in Pest Control….

enviroMate 100TM

The game changer that will re- define the future of our forests.

All it requires now is your help to make this change happen.

enviroMate 100TM

is now available from Eco-Land.

www.ecoland.co.nz

Cafe

Kaiwaka’s Eutopia Café is open A must see whimsical art extravaganza, Our tasty and colourful dishes compliment the surroundings and our organic local Rush coffees and lattes are fast becoming legendary.

It is not only art and food, we are working hard to implement ecological principles and minimise waste. Most produce comes from local organic gardens, we only use free range eggs and our water is heated by the sun.

Open Tuesday - Sunday 7.30-4 1955 SH 1 Kaiwaka Ph 09 431 2222 www.facebook.com/eutopiacafe

S U S TA I N A B L E L I V I N G I N N O RT H L A N D

Sustainability movement gains momentum right here in NIAMH MCCARTHY

E

arlier this month the United Nations released a shocking new report into the state of our planet, apparently us humans are transforming earth’s natural landscapes so dramatically that over one million species are at risk of extinction. All around the world extreme weather events are increasing each year with drought, flooding and fires destroying communities, homes and habitats.

We are all, at the very least, aware that our planet doesn’t have endless resources and in order to safeguard it for the next generation drastic changes must be made on all levels.

It’s easy of course to point the finger at large scale corporates, intensive manufacturing and agricultural industries or greedy government policies.

However, for change to happen and to shift society’s focus on a more local and sustainable way of life we need to look to our own district, salute those who are trying to make a difference and see how we as individuals can contribute towards this movement right here in Northland.

Some of the key principles of sustainability centre around eating locally and encouraging local food supply, reducing waste and carbon emissions and future proofing our homes to ensure water and power conservation. Here in Northland we’re blessed with the perfect climate and soil to grow a variety of produce and our Whangarei Growers Market is testament to this.

It’s been going for over twenty years and every Saturday rain or shine there is a fantastic range of locally sourced produce with a focus on ecologically friendly packaging and encouraging customers to bring their own containers. In Whangarei thanks to a huge local campaign and support we became New Zealand’s first Fair Trade District and Council, proving that in

Northland there is a momentum to encourage sustainability at home and in our workplaces.

Our Fair Trade District status has been awarded due to a large and growing number of local community organisations, workplaces and faith groups showing their support by either using or selling Fair Trade products.

Whangarei District Council got on board and now ,as one of four Fair Trade Councils, puts a focus on responsible procurement and encouraging support of Fair Trade products.

Climate change policy is also a priority for the current government and the recent methane gas emission reduction by 10% has been welcomed by many of those concerned about the impact of intensive dairy here in NZ. In Northland we’re seeing a shift towards forestry and horticulture as the new primary industry stars. Many farmers are diversifying into avocado or fruit production, with strong financial yields and the added advantage of zero air miles to feed our region, a growing horticulture industry could be a key factor to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly primary industry in the district.

Fortunately, those in government have recognised the benefits of a thriving horticulture industry in Northland and a number of Provisional Growth Fund allocations have been made to further a more environmentally sustainable region here in the north. A recent PGF announcement has earmarked $18 million to investigate water storage to unlock land use potential in the Mid North.

Improved access to water can give landowners greater options to utilise their land, develop new markets and maintain and grow a skilled workforce as well as giving our district greater self-sufficiency and less dependency on costly fruits and vegetables sourced elsewhere.

Local organisations have also got on

board and are making attempts to think and act in more environmentally positive ways. Whangarei District Council, as well as being a Fair-Trade Council is also a member of the Sustainable Business Network, an organisation devoted to empowering business people to make things better for people and our planet. The Council is busy working on many initiatives around it’s Sustainability Strategy, they’ve recently conducted an internal waste audit focused on reducing waste and are working through their procurement policies in order to source more sustainable products.

They’re also making contributions toward Whangarei’s status as NZ’s most electric car friendly city with four electric cars in the Council fleet and have begun work on building a super-fast charging station to add to the thirteen standard charging stations located all around Northland. The Northland Regional Council should also be congratulated for its commitment to sustainability with 13 EVs in operation out of its fleet of 30 NRC vehicles.

Last year Kerikeri Retirement Village became the county’s first retirement community to purchase a fleet of four EVs for residents and staff to share, an impressive example of how even older generations recognise the importance of making greener choices and reduce our environmental footprint.

There are also some very positive initiatives around education and ensuring the next generation looks after Northland’s precious resources and preserves our district for future generations.

Local Whangarei business EcoSolutions runs environmental education programs in schools and offers public seminars

on various ecologically positive topics such as composting and waste reduction.

EcoSolutions is part of the CBEC network (Community Business and Environment Centre) which is a community enterprise operating a range of businesses and environmental programmes as part of an overall effort to build sustainable local economies in the communities we live in.

Northland’s commitment to move towards a more sustainable way of living was highlighted this year by the huge volume of entrants in Northland Regional Council’s inaugural Environmental Awards.

Over 90 entries were received in the eight categories which is testament to the volumes of amazing Northland individuals, communities, businesses and schools who feel empowered to stand up and make changes towards a more sustainable way of living and working together.

It’s very fitting that the overall winner was local early childhood centre Comrie Park Kindergarten, responsible for setting young children on the correct path towards caring for our environment. Head teacher Anna Alexander explains that as part of the Enviroschool program their mission isn’t just to educate young minds on recycling and waste but to foster an overall sustainability in our communities, families and whanau. “It’s about kindness for ourselves and the entire living environment, and we really believe in the importance of sharing our knowledge with these little people and empower them to use these principles through life.”

With the increased spotlight on our fragile planet and momentum growing for living more sustainably, perhaps leading by example and education can preserve our beautiful region and its resources.

Building Kiwi homes for the Kiwis round here At A1homes we’re here to make things easy and it couldn’t be easier when using all the good stuff from home. So whether it’s your first home, second home, or home away from home, call A1homes or visit our website and discover the easiest way to get the home you want.

Showhomes: Cnr of Sandford Road & State Highway 1, Ruakaka Mon-Fri: 8.30am - 4.00pm, Sat: 10.00am - 2.00pm Contact Steve Hart T: 09 433 0200 E: a1northland@a1homes.co.nz

13 Podgora Avenue (off Station Road) Huapai, Auckland Mon-Fri: 9.00am - 3.00pm Sat & Sun: 11.00am - 3.00pm Contact Dan Bennett T: 09 946 3121 E: dan.bennett@a1homes.co.nz

4

S U S TA I N A B L E L I V I N G I N N O RT H L A N D

Northpower, EVs and Northland’s Northland has an amazing opportunity to capitalise on the electric vehicle journey and reduce energy costs and our carbon footprint at the same time.

AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF CHARGING STATIONS When Northpower helped to kick-start New Zealand’s electric vehicle journey back in 2014, few people could have foreseen where that would lead.

The first ever fast charger in NZ was installed in 2014 at Northpower’s Alexander St substation in Whangarei’s CBD, capable of charging a car within 20 minutes.

In the years following, Northpower added a further three slow charging units to the substation, along with 15 at various locations around Kaipara and Whangarei. Then came ChargeNet with their fast charger deployment which Northpower helped install in the North. Kaiwaka was their first location, followed by another 13 around Northland – providing a robust network of chargers to overcome issues of ‘range anxiety’.

Fast forward five years and the EV landscape in New Zealand has evolved dramatically. In Northland alone there are now 14 fast chargers, more than 25 publically available slow chargers and over 420 EVs registered in the region – six of them in Northpower’s Northland fleet as we look to play our part in reducing our carbon footprint.

FINDING A CHARGING STATION IS NOW MUCH EASIER! New Zealand has over 250 public charging stations listed on PlugShare – a widely used app for locating charging stations.

ChargeNet alone accounts for 149 EV fast chargers in operation nationwide and has a further 57 installations underway. More and more charging stations are being added to PlugShare every day.

According to EECA, with over 200 fast chargers for nearly 14,000 EVs, New Zealand’s ratio of chargers per EV is far better ratio than the EV early adopters Norway, which has 1200 fast chargers servicing over 330,000 EVs.

REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND SAVING MONEY For Northland, every EV registered in the region is another step in the right direction towards reducing CO2 emissions and creating a more environmentally sustainable future.

With New Zealand’s energy coming from predominantly renewable sources, powering

■ Oscar Boyd,10 thinks EV’s are good for the environment and the future of cars. He’s with Rachel Wansbone Customer Excellence Manager at Northpower at the EV gathering at Whang rei’s Growers Market.

According to EECA, with over 200 fast chargers for nearly 14,000 EVs, New Zealand’s ratio of chargers per EV is far better ratio than the EV early adopters Norway, which has 1200 fast chargers servicing over 330,000 EVs. vehicles from electricity rather than fossil fuels delivers significant reductions in carbon emissions.

According to EECA, transport is responsible for about 18% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions each year (and 45% of energy-related emissions). Therefore, one of the most effective ways to reduce our total emissions is by transitioning our fossil-fuelled transport fleet to run on clean, renewable electricity.

Not only do EVs make environmental sense, but talk to any EV owner and they love how much money they are saving by driving an EV rather than a petrol or diesel powered vehicle. Using a residential off-peak electricity rate means you can charge your EV for the equivalent of 30c a litre, compared to petrol and diesel, says EECA and a number of EV owners.

Northland EV owners using their vehicles

daily are enthused about the fact you don’t have to warm the car up to get the engine running smoothly, the heaters work straight away and you don’t ever have to go to the petrol station and worry about kids nagging to buy lollies! Charging your EV at home at night or at work during the day makes life easy.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? The amount of charging infrastructure now in Northland, combined with our renowned tourist attractions, means that we are one of the most desired regions for EV owners to visit because there is a charger nearby wherever you are in Northland.

However, there is talk that at least 40 more EV chargers will be needed in the next few years throughout Whangarei and Kaipara Districts to support the on-going growth in EV numbers.

Northland Regional Council’s Joe Camuso

says a Tesla Super Charging Station in central Whangarei is planned later this year and more of these opportunities will attract EV owners to travel to Northland.

Although Northland led the charge and initially had the highest EV uptake in the country, we now rank sixth against all other regions in the country for EV ownership per 1000 people, with 2.5 EVs per 1000 people.

However, EVs are quickly becoming more affordable, so uptake in Northland and New Zealand will increase steadily.

And let’s face it – the energy used to power EVs is New Zealand made and is clearly our most sustainable transport fuel so why wouldn’t we do what we can to embrace it sooner rather than later.

INTERESTED IN AN EV OR KNOWING MORE? There are some great resources available for those who are thinking of buying an EV or who would like to know more. For example, Drive Electric (driveelectric.org.nz) and EECA (eeca.govt.nz) both have extensive information, fact sheets and resources for those curious about the benefits of EVs.

NORTHLAND

EV CHARGING STATIONS Waitiki Landing Houhora Coopers Beach Kaitaia Waipapa Kerikeri Opononi Kaikohe Kawakawa Dargaville

For more detail on EV charging in Northland go to: plugshare.com chargenet.co.nz

Northpower charging stations

Coming soon

Matakohe Tutukaka Tikipunga Raumanga Town Basin Northpower Alexander St Ruakaka Marsden Cove Mangawhai Kaiwaka

S U S TA I N A B L E L I V I N G I N N O RT H L A N D

6

Want to join the

S

ounds like a big question that can make your head spin just thinking about it. Trying to change our behaviour that negatively impacts on our environment all at once is impossible.

What if there was one simple action that we could all take each day that would begin the process for us?

All forms of metal start their life when someone digs up a piece of our planet. Gold, aluminium, copper, steel, all started as particles of our precious planet. We have been digging away for centuries making new metals for new products.

The great thing is that

each time we produce a new metal product made from those precious particles of our planet it begins it life of FOREVER RECYCLING.

BUT ONLY IF EACH AND EVERYONE OF US MAKES THE EFFORT TO KEEP THEM IN THE RECYCLING CHAIN. Products made of metals can easily find their way into landfill if not taken care of at end of life.

Once they are in landfill, they are lost to the circular economy forever.

It’s not difficult to start saving our planet one drink can, one old washing machine, or rusty bike at a time.

economy?

So have a go!!

Don’t drop that baked bean can in the bin under the bench - put it in your recycling bin.

Don’t leave that old bike or old car batteries in the back of the shed bring it in for recycling.

AND ESPECIALLY Don’t throw that drink can out the window of your car...

Your local Metals Recycling Facility (scrap metal dealer), welcomes all forms of diverted metals. For some of the products you will even be rewarded with payment. Others are costly to prepare for the recycling process so there is no payment at the point of drop off.

PAYMENT OR NO PAYMENT YOU WILL STILL BE DOING A GREAT JOB IN SAVING OUR PLANET We are a Northland owned Scrap metal company, Our Scrap metal yard is located at 482 Marsden point road, Ruakaka.

Our friendly team travel the wider Northland region to collect scrap metal. Call us if you need to know more.

Sports Clubs and community Groups can organise a collection of their unwanted recyclable metals for us to pick up. This way they can raise money for their clubs or organisations at the same time as saving the planet. Done!

Now you are part of our circular economy and you are helping to save the planet.

Welcome aboard.

MARSDEN METALS GROUP

WASTE BINS | DEMOLITION | SCRAP METAL phone: 09 433 0390 • freephone: 0800336673 email: info@marsdenmetalsgroup.co.nz 482 Marsden Point Road, Ruakaka

S U S TA I N A B L E L I V I N G I N N O RT H L A N D

Sustainable living

– sustainableliving.org.nz/actions –

Saving electricity Margaret uses a thermostat and a timer on her oil-filled radiator to control exactly when it turns on and off, so that this room is warm before she arrives, without wasting electricity.

Sometimes getting the right technology is a better investment for comfort and efficiency, than relying on remembering to turn heaters on and off.

SAVE ON POWER BILLS Other easy actions to trim electricity bills include: • Checking that your current retailer is best value in your area. Try SwitchMe website or Glimp. Note that there may be cost penalties if you switch provider more than once a year!

• Keep lids on cooking pans and pots; don’t over-fill the electric jug - it takes lots of power to make steam, and then more for a fan to vent it from the room!

• If rooms are overheating in summer, shade the West-facing windows instead of running an invertor heat pump as cooling.

• Dry clothes outside on lines instead of in a dryer. The UV light helps kill bugs too but may also fade some colours.

• Close curtains at dusk in winter to keep warmth in, and have them wide open on north-facing windows by day.

• Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens to outside, to remove steam - dry air is easier and cheaper to warm than wet air, and you reduce mould too. Modern extract fans are power-efficient and bathroom fans can be run on delayed auto-switch off.

For many more possible actions, and details of how to select small investments in equipment or materials that will pay for themselves (such as where to spend first on home insulation) go to www.sustainableliving.org.nz/actions for a link to our Energy learning guide.

Eco-building is designing Organics to grow veges and fruit at home for sustainability

Your place might be a unit in a row, an old villa, a modern city apartment or a small rural eco-house (like this MasterBuilders award-winning Canterbury example) but whatever your type of home, the best opportunity to consider sustainability comes when it is renovated, repaired or designed from new.

Not all architects and builders understand sustainability principles, although many are learning, encouraged by HomeStar, the Green Building Council and the Master Builders/Resene Sustainable Home Award. As their client you have to know what to start asking for, such as: • Orientating rooms and roof to benefit from winter sun’s warmth, but protected from summer sum overheating • Including enough sun-lit solid stuff (thermal mass) to store heat overnight in floor or walls • Insulating to keep winter heat in - at a better level than the disappointing minimum of NZ Building Code • Designing-in the ventilation, to get rid of steam yet retain heat • Using clean heating and you’d know if you prefer radiant warmth (radiator, woodstove) or convected (air heater, heat pump) for personal comfort • Design that minimises waste and toxins during construction, decoration and in later use.

• If water can be solar heated and what you will use to ‘top up’ the water heaing in winter Our learning guide on eco-building and renovation takes you through some key steps and builds your confidence and know-how, ready for when you meet the trades people and builder. We help you to think about the whole system of the house, not just add expensive gadgets that a sales rep has promoted, regardless of your needs.

Here’s a January day’s harvest, from a Sustainable Living tutor’s garden: potatoes, courgettes, peas, cauli, Mesclun salads, beetroot and carrots. All were compost-grown organically without chemical sprays or fertilisers.

Simply wash off the soil and enjoy great flavours; plus the significant enjoyment and some exercise, that came from growing them at home. Your home produce quantity and variety could be increased by: • Converting sunny lawn areas into cropping spaces. Veges can be decorative and fashionable too: think French style Potager!

• Adding some glazed, polythene or cloth shelter to extend the spring and autumn growing seasons and beat frosts • Growing only veges and fruit that you like and perhaps varieties that the shops don’t often stock making raised beds on areas where existing soil is damp or unsuitable surface such as concrete.

• Making more compost volume by feeding the compost boxes with pea straw, newspaper, manures, neighbour’s kitchen scraps • Saving rain water for irrigation, and/or using timers on hoses from the tap • Learning how to grow crops from seed and sharing seed packet costs with friends each spring • Learning about how to deter, divert or control pests without poison sprays • Bartering your surplus, or preserving it, in exchange for what neighbours grow.

SHOWHOME OPEN 60 STACE HOPPER DRIVE MARSDEN COVE

THURSDAY-SUNDAY 11AM-3PM OR BY APPOINTMENT

0800 860 000

Vynka Short 021 120 1163 Michele Ahern 027 513 6517 Master Builders 10 Year Guarantee

Whangarei@stonewood.co.nz

S U S TA I N A B L E L I V I N G I N N O RT H L A N D

8

50,000 trees for T

he Matariki Tu Rakau Programme (led by Te Uru Rakau Forestry New Zealand) will see communities across the country plant up to 350,000 native trees during Matariki.

Matariki is a traditional time of harvest, thanksgiving and remembrance around Maori New Year, and occurs in the middle of the tree planting season.

Whether large or small, these stands of trees will create living memorials for our fallen and returned soldiers; and mark the 100-year anniversary of the end of the First World War. The programme is a part of the government’s One Billion Trees initiative.

Forward Whangarei have partnered with Matariki Te Rakau to plant 50,000 trees across Northland, over the next two years.

Forward is a plastic-free wholefoods store opening this winter in Whangarei. “Our

kaupapa is to help enable and empower our community to create a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable Earth - and so we think that planting trees is a great way to do this” says Laura Welsby, the owner of Forward.

Forward have therefore created the Tree Team project, in which they have collaborated with a range of organisations and planting groups to create a jam-packed calendar of planting events this season. “We want to bring our community together, through tree planting, to get hands on and enjoy looking after our environment” says Laura. “It’s also a really special opportunity to create a lasting legacy that future generations can enjoy and benefit from. In years to come the Tree Team volunteers will be able to visit the trees that they planted and show their tamariki and moko what they helped to create.”

To get involved take a look at the Tree

Team website (www.treeteam. co.nz) and find your nearest event or contact Laura at contact@forwardwhangarei.co.nz / 0204 080 6650. Delicious kai will be served at the completion of the plantings and a commemorative plaque positioned to mark the significance of the area.

Join the Tree Team and help plant 50,000 native trees across Northland.