Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community

Transition Mt Albert Visioning Event
Tuesday 22 Sep at 7.00

This evening creates the opportunity for key local community members to come together and participate in a facilitated visioning process. The intention for the evening is to bring forward values, ideas, traditions and hopes for the future as Mt Albert moves forward into a time of more connection and sustainability.

All interested local community members welcome.

Venue: Gladstone Primary School Staffroom

Dear member of Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market,

Thanks for coming along and supporting the first two markets.

• This Sunday will be our third market for September.As many of you will be aware, our opening day was very busy, yet last weeks market was much more spacious and relaxed. You will be pleased to know that we have created a great deal more space in the market with a new layout. There is now plenty of room to move, browse and talk with stallholders about their produce.

  We have expanded the market to provide specialty hot food stalls outside on the street and this week will have Paella Pan making seafood Paella, along with Keith’s family who will be serving Portuguese and Indian food, so please bring your appetite!

  Kokako coffee are running at full speed whilst Elena’s delicious crepes and Scot’s smoothies will be swiftly served out of the kitchen in the courtyard.

  There is plenty of courtyard space to meet friends, relax, soak up the sun and for kids to play safely.

  Vacancy
  We are still looking for a voluntary secretary with computer experience who is available for 3 to 4 hours per week. The person will be supported by a dedicated management team and will need to be available on Wednesday evening from 7pm to 9pm. Please see ‘volunteer vacancies’ on our website for further information or contact Dion here.

  When you come to the market, please remember to:
  ~walk, skip or cycle: leave the car at home
  ~ bring cash as Eftpos is limited
  ~ bring a bag for produce

  We look forward to seeing you this Sunday, 20th September between 8am and noon.

  Best wishes from the team at GLFM

Unitec hosts Forum for the Future on the New Zealand Economy

Award winning business journalist and adjunct Professor at Unitec’s Department of Management and Marketing, Rod Oram will lead a series of panel discussions on the future of the New Zealand economy at Unitec during October.

The three-evening series is the inaugural programme in The Unitec Forum for the Future which has been established to help stimulate discussion about New Zealand’s opportunities and challenges in the global economy.

Rod Oram and his colleagues at Unitec’s Department of Management and Marketing have identified a range of major topics for the Forum. Each topic will be tackled in a series of three 90-minute panel-style discussions bringing together sector leaders, academics, students and the public.

The first series will run October 8, 15 and 22 from 6.30pm- 8.00pm at Unitec’s Mount Albert campus in Auckland. It will examine the National-led government’s goal of having the New Zealand economy catch up with Australia’s by 2025. It has formed a task force, led by Don Brash, the former Reserve Bank Governor and National party leader, to advise it. The Unitec Forum for the Future will stimulate thinking on how the goal can be reached.

The October 8 session will consider the 2025 challenge – how big is the task and how will we do it? The two guest speakers will be Dr Rick Boven, director of the New Zealand Institute, and David Caygill, a member of the 2025 taskforce, chairman of the Electricity Commission and a former Labour cabinet minister.

The October 15 session will consider the Dairy sector’s strategic response; and the October 22 session will explore the Tourism sector’s strategic response.

Associate Professor and Head of Unitec’s Department of Management and Marketing, Robert Davis says, “The Forum is a great opportunity for our students, guests and the live audience to engage in a broader discussion about the role of enterprise in wider New Zealand society.”

“Each programme will be filmed and edited for the web by students from Unitec’s Department of Screen and Performing Arts and made available on the Unitec website and a dedicated blog to allow for wider debate on the issues,” says Davis.

The Unitec Forum for the Future plans to run at least two such programmes a year.

For further information or interviews with Rod Oram or Robert Davis please contact: Andrea Rush on email: andrea@360 connect.co.nz, DDI 09 918-7712 or mobile 021 962 349

To celebrate Conservation Week this year – and all of those people (many of you!) who ‘get involved’, DOC and Auckland Zoo are hosting a very special guest to help tell the story of kakapo conservation in NZ and the incredible work of the Kakapo Recovery Programme (www.kakaporecovery.org.nz).

Sirocco the kakapo is one of only 124 kakapo remaining in the world. Sirocco is a very special bird, having been hand-raised as a chick due to a chest infection 12 years ago. This led to him becoming very fond of humans (more fond of them than kakapo so far!), and as such, Sirocco has become an excellent advocate for conservation in NZ.

Did you know the kakapo used to be one of NZ’s most common birds – found all over this country. Unfortunately hunting, habitat destruction and introduced predators took their toll on the kakapo -reducing their numbers to just 50 by 1995. Thanks to the commitment and dedication of the Kakapo Recovery Programme, the thousands of volunteers, scientists, rangers, vets and sponsors – kakapo are now back over 100. This year, beyond all expectations, 33 chicks survived (26 of whom were captive-raised in Invercargill!), and six years from now when these birds start to breed – it may give these amazing birds just the boost they need to thrive again one day.

Sirocco will be visiting Auckland Zoo from September 14th-23rd to help celebrate Conservation Week and tell the story of one of our greatest conservation challenges. We’d LOVE to see you there. For more info and ticket bookings, please visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/kakapo and www.conservationweek.org.nz

A encounter with a kakapo is a unique experience – especially a hard-case one like Sirocco – he even has his own Facebook page! Make a difference this Conservation Week and visit Sirocco at Auckland Zoo.

Media Release
Grey Lynn 2030: Transition Community

Immediate release
Thursday 17 September 2009 

 Community candidate challenges Vector’s sustainability path

 A corporate lawyer with experience working for regulated industries will stand as an independent candidate in this year’s election for trustees to the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust.

Pippa Coom, who has worked for Vector Ltd, which is majority owned by the Trust, is also the first member of the Transition Town movement to stand for public office. 

“I have the skills and experience to be an effective trustee. As the only independent community candidate I am committed to maintaining the Auckland electricity assets of Vector in community ownership and ensuring that Vector is in the best position to respond to the current environmental challenges ” says  Ms Coom.

 Pippa Coom launched her campaign for election at the monthly meeting of Grey Lynn 2030:Transition Community, which is part of the international Transition Towns movement.

 Suzanne Kendrick, Grey Lynn 2030 steering committee member who is supporting Pippa’s campaign says “We are very pleased to support an independent community candidate for a community trust.

 “It is in the interests of the beneficiaries of the trust – all those with a power bill in greater Auckland, – that the trustees be a good representation of us all and bring a diversity of perspectives to the decisions the Trust makes”

 “Business as usual’ in today’s world is not an option as we transition to a low carbon economy and toward more benign methods of energy production, distribution and use. Pippa, through her background with the Transition movement will bring this vital, but currently missing, perspective to the Trust as a trustee” Ms Kendrick said

 The election for the five trustees is scheduled from 15 October by postal ballot, with polling day on 30 October.  

www.pippacoom.co.nz

Fabulous frocks will be paired with safety helmets this weekend to raise awareness about climate change.

Frocks Day Out is being held in Ponsonby on Saturday 12th September, an event where women are encouraged to dress up and cycle along with “stylish supporting gents” and families to promote biking.

Frocks on Bikes co-ordinator Pippa Coom says the concept was launched last December to raise awareness about climate change and using alternative transport.

“It’s trying to encourage women to get out on bikes and feel glamorous about it. Riding a bike is going to be a big part of reducing our carbon footprint.”

Ms Coom hopes at least 350 riders will get involved in the event, which is being held in conjunction with the Ponsonby Market Day.

Those taking part are known as “frockers” and there will be free bike checks available, companies will be selling European-style bicycles and Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye will be handing out prizes for the best-dressed rider and best helmet and bike decoration.

Designer Doris de Pont is involved with Frocks on Bikes and the Vintage Road Show, which are both being held tomorrow.

She says she will be riding her bike in the parade on behalf of the Green Party.

“It’s two things after my own heart – cycling and recycling.”

Frocks Day Out will start at 10am at Western Park on Ponsonby Rd, with a parade at 1pm.

For more information go to www.frocksonbikes.org.