Welcome

Hi & welcome to the webpage version of NZAEE's Christchurch Branch ecoNet Newsletter.

Please pass on news of ecoNet Newsletter and our subscription address: eventdiary@environment.org.nz to others you think may find it interesting/useful.

To supplement the diary of events here's another selection of news and articles and bits and pieces of interest from around and about, and here and there, eg:

from here

Canterbury & South Island:

Coup for Plains FM's Earthwise: Presenters Martin and Lois Griffiths scored an interview with John Pilger - playing on their programme this week. (see EARTHWISE, under diary of events).

Didymo can be kept out of O Tu Wharekai wetlands (Ashburton Lakes/upper Rangitata) but only if users take care says DOC Ranger. (5 February, DOC).

Kaitorete: Plane crash threatened extraordinary coastal strip. (9 February, DOC).

ECan says keep an eye out for Phragmites. (9 February, ECan).

Warm rivers, low flows recipe for toxic algae in Canterbury. (11 February, ECan).

Rakahuri/Ashley River: Dog licked algae. Died. (11 February, ECan).

Car makers roll out electric models. (13 February, The Press).

R.I.P. Rubbish Free Year: February 1st 2008 - February 1st 2009. Well Done.

Project Hayes windfarm hearings:

• DOC kept quiet its concerns about the Project Hayes windfarm to avoid contradicting the Government, an Otago Conservation Board spokesperson said. (12 February, Southland Times/Stuff).
  
• Environment court witness, Neptune Power director: Marine generation is a better solution. Arguing about a development such as Project Hayes... a waste of time and resources.
• Mitigation measures questioned. (10 February, Otago Daily Times).
  
  
• Claim: Images commissioned by Meridian Energy make the turbines appear a third of their actual size. (13 February, Otago Daily Times).
  

Southland: Tougher rules loom for farm storage of effluent. (9 February, Southland Times/Stuff).

Environment Canterbury’s Living Streams Project: Get involved in improving the health of Canterbury waterways. Are you and your local community thinking of doing some work to improve the health of your local waterway? Can ECan help with a Living Streams Project?
Anyone can apply to become part of the programme - community, conservation and recreational groups, individuals and landholders. 
Applications need to be made on the Living Streams application form. (or ask for it from ECan’s Customer Services: 353 9007 or 0800 32 46 36 (0800 EC INFO). Applications close 31 March. More About living streams (ECan).

North Island & national:

Tim Groser says don't expect December's Copenhagen conference to come up with anything like the Kyoto Protocol. (12 February, NZ Herald).

RMA: Increase in appeal cost a barrier to justice - Greens. (12 February, NBR).

Male secondary teacher enrolments double. (5 February, NZ Herald).

New Zealand's first commercially available electric vehicle. (11 February, NZ Herald).

CRI's GE brassica trial closure endorsed. (10 February, Organic NZ).

Auckland: Investment to go ahead for electric trains and integrated ticketing . (5 February, ARC).

Islands of Survival: key to saving seas. Wade Doak. (11 February, NZ Herald).

When there's not enough water to go around. Elizabeth Chambers. (9 February, NZ Herald).

Anti-aviation protesters barking up the wrong tree. Gwynne Dyer. (10 February, NZ Herald).

Govt resists Green attempt to classify green-collar jobs. (11 February, Scoop).

Seeds of a good idea: "In the past year food seed sales in New Zealand, Ireland, the UK and the States, for the first time ever, have out-sold flower seeds" (5 February, NZ Herald).

Zoo releases 14 tuatara into the wild. (12 February, NZ Herald).

Warkworth: rare ducks for release into sanctuary. (12 February, NZ Herald).

The rising toll of deliberately mutilated Hector's Dolphins. (Forest and Bird).

2009 Green Ribbon Awards nominations. Know a green champion? Send in your nomination - before 5.00 pm Moday, 23 March. Open to all individuals and organisations in New Zealand making a difference for our environment. Categories and nomination information here. (Ministry for the Environment).

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• City Council's administration of its social housing portfolio - it's not allowed to fund it out of rates. Information sessions, consultations, submissions procedures etc (ongoing series of public meetings at various localities from Saturday 14 Feb - Feb 26). (CCC).
  
  
• Applications wanted for 2009 Youth Environment Forum. Environment Canterbury is looking for three young people aged 15 – 18 to represent the region at this year's Sir Peter Blake Youth Environment Forum (YEF). The YEF is an annual event that gives young people an opportunity to discuss and plan action on New Zealand's regional and national environmental issues. More info: www.mfe.govt.nz &/or at Sir Peter Blake Trust. Applications close Tuesday, 24 February.
  
  
• School teachers: LEARNZ trips for the first term 2009. (LEARNZ Virtual field trips are FREE for all NZ registered teachers and their classes).
  Marine Reserves: Take your class to Cape Rodney - Okakari Point Marine Reserve to kick off your Sea Week studies. (Feb 25 - 27 2009).
  Renewable Energy: Take your class to a biodiesel factory and wood pellet fuel making plant. (4 - 6 March).
  The Main Divide: Take your class to climb the Franz Josef Glacier and learn about the temperate rainforest on the West Coast. (25 - 27 March).
  Wind Farming: Take your class to a wind farm. Climb up a turbine and learn about using wind for electricity generation. (1 - 3 April).

• Christchurch draft water supply strategy. Have your say by 5 pm Friday 6 March.
  
  
• Comment wanted: Estuary shoreline walkway proposal. Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust. Comments by 31 March, 2009.
  Contact: www.estuary.org.nz or info@estuary.org.nz or c/- Mt Pleasant Community Centre, 3 McCormacks Bay Road, Mt Pleasant, Christchurch 8081.
  
  
• Free, research-based advice on sustainably renovating your home. HomeSmart delivers warmer, healthier homes that are more affordable to run and kinder to the environment. Further details: www.beaconpathway.co.nz. (Homesmart Renovations).
  
  
• Primary school teachers: a suggestion for Seaweek (1 - 8 March, 2009): How To: Teach the Sea from the Land. Lessons that mix science, writing, and art to bring the ocean to the classroom. (www.edutopia.org).
  

& from there

• Interview with James Lovelock: One last chance. Charcoal. (23 January, New Scientist).
  
  
• Climate scientists' emergency summit: to warn world's politicians they are being too timid about global warming policies. (10 February, The Age).
  
  
• Iceland: Rebecca Solnit: A new era of people power in the streets? (8 February, Tomdispatch).
  
  
• Naomi Klein: que se vayan todos - that's the global backlash talking. It's not just governing elites that the world is rising up against - it's the entire model of deregulated capitalism. (6 February, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: Fast train(crash) revisited - what's a doomer chick to do? (4 February, Casaubon's Book, SharonAstyk.com).
  
  
• US: Poverty of imagination. Another great blog on the state of the States from James Kunstler. (2 February, Clusterfuck Nation).
  
  
• Building the sustainable economy. ( 8 February, Energy Bulletin/Permaculture Research Institute).
  
  
• Thailand: When it comes to cash village says "Baht, Humbug!" (7 January, Wall Stree Journal).
  
  
• Kenya: Farmers abandon fields as hunger bites. (6 February, Reuters AlertNet).
  
  
• US: Trash the fridge for a greener planet. (4 February, New York Times).
  
  
• China puts 60 billion pounds into energy. (5 February, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: New Technology:
  California to get world's largest solar project. (11 February, ecoGeek).
  
  America's first mass-produced electric car has just been cleared by the Department of Transportation and will be taking to the roads shortly. (10 February, ecoGeek).
  
  Power generating shock absorber (11 February, ecoGeek).
  
  Tiny fuel cell (3mm x 3mm x 1mm). (11 February, ecoGeek).
  
  
• Spain: high speed trains a hit with fed-up flyers - stealing hundreds of thousands of airline passengers. (15 January, ecoWorldly).
  
  
• France: Massive theft, vandalism plaguing Parisian bike sharing program. (11 February, Treehugger).
  
  
• Silly or safe? New niche product: Bike condoms. (30 January, Treehugger).
  
  
• NASA Images of the day: Exceptional Australian heatwave. Map showing anomalous landsurface temperatures. (11 February, NASA modis website).
  
  
• Cropland diversity reduces Nitrogen pollution. (11 February, Eurekalert).
  
  
• Self-styled Tarzan teaches cheetahs in Namibia how to hunt. (10 February, Telegraph.co.uk).
  
  
• Extinct Ibex resurrected by cloning (seven minutes) then goes extinct again. (1 February, ecoWorldly).
  
  
• UK: Scientists find earliest evidence of animal life. (4 February, Reuters).
  
  
  
  
  

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Is easy. Just send in to the editor information about an event, activity or submission you want to share and it will go in ecoNet....as long as it's appropriate of course.

ecoNet is put out (Fridays) by Christchurch Branch of NZAEE (NZ Association for Environmental Education), a non-profit, national organisation of people working to promote and support environmental education, lifelong learning and sustainable behaviour throughout New Zealand/Aotearoa.

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• Otamahua/Quail Island Ecological Restoration Trust:

  In the last ten years, the Trust, through contributions from hundreds of volunteers from all over, has planted over 60,000 trees and shrubs.
  Their labour days are 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month in late spring, summer and autumn. The current work is mainly grubbing thistles and removing exotic weed species (gorse, broom, boneseed and others) that have germinated around planting areas. Volunteer programme for 2009. e.g. This Sunday, 15 February. All welcome.
  
  

• Weedbusting day (Boneseed):

  When: 9.00 - 12.00 pm Saturday, 14 Feb. (& following 2 Saturdays also)
  Where: Barnett Park, Redcliffs.
  Bring: gloves, saw and/or loppers if you have them - otherwise supplied.
  Contact: Nigel 941 7573 or 027 234 1353.
  
  

• Botany field trip: February's Meurky walk.

  Leader: Colin Meurk, Botanist, Landcare Research?????.
  When: 9.00 am Saturday, 14 Feb. (Till early afternoon).
  Start: top of Harmans Rd Lyttelton. Thence up Stan Helms track to Bridle Path, Mt Cavendish return, & down Bridle Path to gondola carpark, Heathcote.
  Bring:  sturdy footwear, all-weather jacket, sunhat, sunscreen, lunch, drink, cultural & natural history nouse, money (c $5) for shuttle bus return.
  More info & RSVP: reesey@xtra.co.nz.
  Re-cancellation due to steady rain only: Colin 332 3142, 7.45 - 8.30 am, Sat.
  
  

• Chinese Lantern Festival.

  Lanterns, performers, crafts, food stalls.
  When: 5.00 - 10.30 pm Sat & Sun, 14 & 15 February.
  Where: Victoria Square.
  More info: www.asianz.org.nz
  
  

• Sustainable Living: Christchurch evening courses, 2009.

  When: 7.00 pm  Mondays from 16 Feb. (8 sessions).
  Where: Cashmere High School.
  For info/to enrol contact the school's community education office.
  Also:
  a series at Woolston; and daytime sessions in Darfield & Ashburton during Term One, 2009. 
  More info: Rhys 960 2656
  or: www.sustainableliving.org.nz
  
  
  

• Talk: Education and the meaning of life:

  a philosophical approach to pedagogical questions.
  Speaker: Prof Peter Roberts, University of Canterbury.
  When: 7.30 - 9.00 pm Tuesday, 17 February.
  Where: Lecture theatre 1, Otakaro Building, Dovedale Ave campus.
  Free.
  
  

• Information evening: RAMSAR status for Avon-Heathcote estuary:

  Proposed change of status - to wetland of international importance.
  When: 7.30 pm Tuesday, 17 February.
  Where: Mt Pleasant Community Centre, McCormacks Bay Road.
  
  

• Vegetarian cooking course:

  Organic principles, family cooking on a budget, preserving etc.
  When: 6.00 - 7.30 pm Tuesdays, starting 17 February. (10 classes).
  Where: Lincoln Primary School.
  Contact: Cello 325 2156.
  
  

• National Go By Bike Day 2009.

  Ditch that car and go by bike instead.
  When: 18 February.
  More info: www.bikewise.co.nz.
  Local events (Christchurch and Canterbury) here.
  
  

• Talk: WEA's Issues of the Day series:
  Problems with recycling.

  Speaker: Rex Verity, CPIT's sustainabilty advocate.
  When: 1.30 - 2.30 pm Wednesday, 18 February.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Cost: $4
  more info: WEA 366 0285.
  Website: cwea.org.nz
  
  

• Event: Kaupapa kereru: the 2009 Banks Peninsula Keruru community count.

  (i.e. help wanted to count kereru - esp Banks Peninsula community. Takes about 30 minutes).
  When: Friday 20 – Sunday 22 February.
  For instructions and info, including survey forms and maps, see: www.kaupapakereru.co.nz & click on community count day.
  Further info & contact: Heidi 03 322 4714, or: stevensh@lincoln.ac.nz.
  

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 9.00 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week's interview: John Pilger.
  Topic: the scandalous treatment of the people of Diego Garcia, in the Chagos Archipelego; & the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  NB: Listen again to Earthwise programmes on archive: (http://plainsfm.org.nz/programme/ earthwise).
  
  

• TV Programme - Lost In translation; The Untold Story Of The Treaty Of Waitangi.

  Mike King retraces the journey taken by the Treaty of Waitangi, back in 1840, to find the real story of what happened at the founding of our nation.
  Where: Maori Television
  When: 8.30 pm Sundays (started Feb 8). (10 episodes).

Coming up:

• Travis Wetland Trust: regular work day of weeding and planting.

  When: 9.00 am, 21 February. (third Saturday every month).
  Meet: Beach Rd Education Centre.
  Bring: gumboots, water, warm clothes.
  Contact: Joe Greenaway 383 2073.
  All welcome.
  
  

• Art exhibition: The colours of culture.

  When: 21 February – 7 March.
  Where: Eastside Gallery, Cnr Worcester St & Stanmore Rd.
  Linwood Community Art Centres' 2009 Multi-Cultural Festival.
  
  

• Seaweek 2009: 1 - 8 March. One ocean - it starts with me/Kotahi moana - ka timata mai i ahau.

  A national event to celebrate and raise awareness of our unique coastal and marine environment.
  Christchurch events here.
  Visit the national site (www.seaweek.org.nz) for more info, competitions and national events.
  A cool site for children - ask any marine question you like: www.anyquestions.co.nz
  
  

  South Canterbury Seaweek events:

  1. Waihao Box Community day:
  beachcombing, environmental art, historic and cultural perspectives, electric fishing demonstration, freshwater invertebrate study and more. followed by a free BBQ lunch.
  When: 9.30 - 1.00 pm Sunday, 1 March.
  Venue: Waihao Box car park, Morven, South Canterbury
  Bookings essential
  Contact: Debbie Eddington, ECan, 687 7813 or debbie.eddington@ecan.govt.nz
  
  2. South Canterbury Museum.
  Sea life display from the local area all week.
  Field trips to local beaches, rocky shore by arrangement.
  Contact Jean Hesselin, Museum Educator, ph 0508 MUSEUM.
  
  

• DOCNZ 2009 Documentary film festival.

  When: Christchurch schedule: March 26 - April 5.
  Some environmental docos here.
  More info and full programme here: www.docnz.org.nz.
  
  

• NZ Oxfam's biggest coffee break 2009.

  Help struggling coffee growers work their way out of poverty by organising a Coffee Break for your friends or workmates during Fairtrade Fortnight (May 2-17). Oxfam ’ll provide everything you need to make your event a great success – including Atomic Fairtrade coffee or hot chocolate. Registration is open now! 
  More info here.

Reminders:

• Science Alive! - Botanica

  A botanical exhibition including interactive learning about pollination and seed dispersal for ages 3 to 103.
  When: Friday 6 February to Sunday 10 May
  Where: Science Alive! 329 Moorhouse Ave, Christchurch.
  More info: Science Alive!
  Contact: 365 5199.
  
  

• University of Canterbury community education courses:

The environment: for better or worse. Health Studies with tutors Barrie Tait, Dr Tony Raizis & Prof Don Beaven.
7 sessions, 7.00 - 8.30 pm starting Tuesday 24 February.
Enrolments close Tuesday 17 February.

Banks' Florilegium: four lectures based on the art history, history, botanical accuracy and curating of Banks' Florilegium. (In association with upcoming Festival of Flowers).
When: 7.00 - 8.30 pm Thursdays, 19 February - 12 March.
Enrolments close Monday 16 February.

Historical Maori sites in Otautahi.
(1 day field trip).
9.00 am - 3.00 pm Saturday, 28 February.
Enrolments close 23 February.

The Power of community gardens (7 sessions)
When: 7.00 - 9.00 pm Thursdays, starting 19 February.
Enrolments close 11 February.

• CWEA short courses for early 2009.