Category: Far North
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It’s not my rubbish but it’s my community!
“We are the protectors,” Max reminds others as he sets off up the wharf with bucket in hand. Once a month a ‘flashmob’ of locals, liveaboard boaties, and visitors find the 90 minutes ‘Earthcare Opua’ gathering is not only rewarding but surprisingly enjoyable! Earthcare Opua remains deliberately unstructured. With no-one in charge, newcomers and…
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Resource Recovery : A Far North Vision
What follows is the vision of our ‘Far North Citizens Waste Minimisation Group’ and our request for support – that I gave via FNDC Annual Plan hearing video link on 6 May 2020 – to our Far North District Mayor and Councillors. I know that 4 pilot resource recovery projects will add hugely to this year’s Annual Plan.…
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‘How Did We Get So Lucky Grandma’? Far North Holdings 2040
“How did we get so lucky here in Tai Tokerau, Grandma?” a child in 2040 asks one of the community elders. “It all started,’ she explains, “when five local groups came together after the Covid19 crisis….. The Local Government Amendment Act 2019 gives Councils responsibility to ‘Promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of…
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WHY WE NEED SINGLE TRANSFERABLE VOTES!
By September this year, the Far North District council must decide between 2 alternative processes for the next local government elections in 2022. Do they vote to keep the status quo, the current First-Past-the-Post electoral ‘race’ or follow the lead of 11 progressive councils last year, and adopt the ‘Single-Transferable-Vote system? ‘STV’ stands for ‘Simple…
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SHOWING UP AS A ZERO WASTE GRANNY IN 2020
“Zero Waste is such a special doorway”, I explained to anyone who engaged me in conversation about my lifestyle last year. In mid-2016 when I chose to quit single-use plastic, motivated by the destruction I knew was happening in the oceans, I felt very scared. I worried that I’d miss out, make a fool of…
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NO BUTTS ABOUT IT
Cigarettes were part of my family’s history. My great-grandfather began a small cigarette company in England. My parents smoked. My husband smoked. I smoked. I remember the awkwardness of cigarette butts. What to do with them? Back then I didn’t know there was plastic in them, and that if dropped, birds and other marine life…
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A FAR NORTH FLOURISHING?
Its 2019 and time for new vision! Last year, though it felt odd being at university at the age of 60, I chose to become a Masters research student. I wanted to find out why mainstream waste minimisation strategies were not working and whether the national Māori zero waste organisation, Para Kore, had a more…
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BOTTLE DEPOSITS – WILL OUR LOCAL MP TAKE UP THE CAUSE?
I love the way that here in NZ we have true local area representation in parliament. Hence I am approaching our local MP who last year signed his name to petitioning the government for refundable bottle deposits. Now it seems hard to contact him…. Latest email sent 10 February 2018 (correspondence as from 1st January…
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NO MAYORAL RESOLUTION, NOT EVEN A RESPONSE!
February 14th 2018 “Dear John I have a need to know that I am looking after the wellbeing of my brothers and sisters of all species. I also have a need for respect. It is hard for me to meet these needs from your continued lack of response to the letter and gifts that I…
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ZERO WASTE ALONG THE TWIN COAST CYCLE TRAIL?
Email Monday 20th March to Hon John Carter QSO, Mayor Far North District Council Dear John The Cycle Way is awesome! I loved riding it on Saturday, as did the friend I roped in who hadn’t been on a bike for years! I’m now looking forward to my daughters, son-in-law and visitors from overseas riding…
Zero Waste Granny 