Sustainability
Keeping NZ beautiful: Auckland city gets recycle-friendly
Next time you’re sitting eating your sandwiches in Auckland CBD’s Aotea Square, take a closer look at the nearest rubbish bin.
Chances are it will have two containers – a black one for rubbish, and a green one for recyclables.
The bins are part of the non-profit Glass Packaging Forum’s LoveNZ programme being rolled out across New [...]
Garden shed chemical may play a part in declining bee populations
Garden supply stores are selling a pesticide known to kill bees – but it’s being marketed as a safe product because it is not harmful to humans.
Imidacloprid is one of a group of pesticides widely used in the horticultural industry for their effectiveness and relative safety for humans.
Made by Bayer CropScience, and marketed in New [...]
Fair Trade coffee gives millions back to Ethiopian communities
One man’s vision and determination has led to hundreds of Ethiopian farmers at last receiving the profits they deserve for the coffee they produce.
Since its creation in 1999 Oromia Coffee Farmers’ Co-operative Union in Ethiopia has “given US$10 million back” to coffee growers and their communities.
One hundred and seventeen new projects have been completed with [...]
How about a bicycle-powered smoothie maker?
An environmental organisation is giving students tips on how to stay warm and be energy efficient at a University of Auckland event this week.
Ecofest, organised by the university’s students’ association, includes a talk on May 19 about environmentally friendly tips for flatters.
EcoMatters sustainable homes programme co-manager Rebecca Hayden says the talk will focus on students [...]
Network of cycleways proposed for Auckland Plan
As Aucklanders battle traffic congestion, a former architect is hoping to transform Auckland’s transport system with a network of cycleways across the city.
Stephen Smythe, 65 and now semi-retired, has been working on the Greenways Project for the past four months.
His plan incorporates a route around the Auckland isthmus, with paths for cyclists and pedestrians that [...]
Mayor has a vision for solar power
One of Auckland Mayor Len Brown’s so-called 100 projects in 100 days will look at how Auckland can make better use of its high sunshine hours as an energy source.
Auckland Council is carrying out a pilot scheme over the next 12 months which will see around 250 homes and businesses fitted with solar water heating [...]
Sustainability key for kindergarten
Children at St James Kindergarten in Grey Lynn are no strangers to mucking in.
A recent winner in the “Beyond Recycling” category at the Auckland Regional Council Sustainable Environment Awards, the kindy integrates sustainable activities into its daily curriculum.
“The children didn’t see why we would get an award for something we do everyday,” said head teacher [...]
AUT dismisses priority parking for carpoolers
AUT will not be introducing a ride-share and free priority parking services for its students, even though this service is hugely popular at Otago and Canterbury universities.
AUT is not willing to offer an organised ride-share programme with free priority parking for students because this is “not ‘sustainable”, says Kevin Hodges, general services administration manager.
The sustainability teams at [...]
UN World Habitat Day – 2009
The University of Auckland took part in a United Nations initiative on World Habitat Day to promote awareness of the homeless in urban cities.
The university organised a collection of clothes and food for disadvantaged students and the homeless on October 5.
Designs of disaster relief architecture and sustainable housing were displayed by members of Architecture for [...]
New hoki limit unsustainable, says Greenpeace
Greenpeace is calling the Ministry of Fisheries’ decision to increase hoki catch limits unsustainable and “hasty”.
The commercial catch limit for hoki was previously 90,000 tonnes per year, but will increase to 110,000 tonnes as of October 1, Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley announced this week.
“The latest scientific research and monitoring shows a substantial increase in hoki [...]
