from here

Canterbury & South Island news:

CPW: Groundwater to boost cheaper irrigation plan. Should Lake Coleridge or the Lees Valley be used for large-scale storage as identified in the recently released draft Canterbury water management strategy, that would "change the game completely" however. (21 September, Stuff/The Press).

ECan under fire over $1m water study. Farm companies wanting to irrigate the Mackenzie Basin have accused Environment Canterbury (ECan) of costing them over $1 million. (22 September, Stuff/The Press).

Mayors' letter to Minister out of left field. (23 September, ECan).
Also: Mayors want Minister to intervene at Regional Council. (23 September, Radio NZ).
Also: Alec Neill replaces Burke. (24 September, Stuff/The Press).
Also:
ECan new chair, deputy chair unchanged. (24 September, ECan).

Foreign pupils wanted from age nine. Schools desperate for more cash. But "Going into homestays is a very, very tenuous kind of situation for children of that age." (24 September, Stuff/The Press).

Australian beetle in Christchurch parks. The discovery raised fears the beetle could spread to the Canterbury Plains and devastate dairy pasture. (23 September, Stuff/The Press).

Packaging big culprit in landfill. Businesses use the most plastic packaging. (21 September, Stuff/The Press).

Ellerslie generates more than $19.7m for Christchurch economy. (23 September, CCC).
Also:
Last days for $22 Ellerslie tickets. (23 September, CCC).

Temporary chlorine added to some areas of City's water. (24 September, CCC).

Bikes on buses extend to Northern Star routes. Also a list of bus routes that take bikes now. More to come in November. It's free to take your bike on the bus. (Source: www.metroinformation.org.nz).

Bird breeding time arrives on braided riverbeds. (18 September, ECan).

Bringing alive a 35 year vision. Exhibition opens explaining the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy. (23 September, CCC).

Lyttelton Signal Box closed. Structural concerns. (21 September, CCC).

Kaikoura: Paua poaching patrols along Kaikoura coastline will be increased this summer. (21 September, Stuff/ The Marlborough Express).

Timaru: Top Canterbury science fair project: young scientist's turf roof. (23 September, ECan).

Upper Waitaki hearing: 110 resource consent applications by 35 applicants. Hearing opened 21 September. Information is being updated daily on www.ecan.govt.nz/upperwaitakihearing. (21 September, ECan).

West Coast: Mast year creates rodent explosion. 1080 planned. (21 September, DOC).

Otago: Board strongly opposes conservation mining - "adamantly opposed" to any mining in national parks and other areas with high conservation values. (21 September, Otago Daily Times).

Dunedin: Investing in re-cycling pays off. Focus to shift from recycling initiatives to resource stewardship, with the aim of achieving zero waste in the city by 2015. (21 September, Otago Daily Times).

Otago: Community focus to new Taieri plan. A new approach to managing the upper Taieri River catchment has removed confrontation and conflict between the various interest groups. (21 September, Otago Daily Times).

Dunedin: Penguin Trust uses tourism angle to push for observers. Campaigning to ensure the continuation of observer programmes on commercial fishing vessels. (22 September, Otago Daily Times).

Otago: Pupils overseas-bound with research findings. (23 September, Otago Daily Times).

Blueskin Bay, Waitati: On the way to generating its own power. (23 September, Otago Daily Times).

Southland: Water loss would 'hurt river wildlife'. The historic "Save Manapouri" campaign of the 1970s overlooked the harm it would have on the Waiau River, an Environment Southland hearing was told yesterday. (22 September, Stuff/Southland Times).

Southland: Two controversial Nevis Valley tenure review proposals notified. (22 September, The Southland Times).

Southland: Pupils clock up protest over climate change concerns. (24 September, Otago Daily Times).

North Island & national:

Helen Clark optimistic over climate change agreement. Previously had dampened down expectations. Today she was far more positive. (23 September, NBR).

US may help finance agricultural emissions research. (23 September, NZ Herald).

Jeanette Fitzsimons: Govt needs to say who pays for emissions. The US Government is investing billions in Green New Deal technologies to tackle global warming. The NZ Government is investing hundreds of millions in subsidies to carbon intensive industries, Ms Fitzsimons said. (23 September, Scoop/Green Party).

Govt waving the plastic at Kyoto. Its announcement proposing changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) did not begin to spell this out - and that it is our children who would needlessly face the bill. Simon Terry. (23 September, NZ Herald).
Also:
ETS changes a major reversal. (14 September, ECO).

ETS: Maori Party laughing all the way to the bank. free insulation packages for houses in areas where low-income Maori live. But what does that ...tell you about New Zealand today if the National-Maori party initiative is not also made available to all other Kiwis at a similar income level, regardless of ethnicity or colour on a pro rata basis. Fran O'Sullivan. (19 September, NZ Herald).

Rail beats road in spending wish-list. (22 September, NZ Herald).
Also:
Editorial: ARC's 'green' transport plan ignores reality. (23 September, NZ Herald).

Work limit put on insulation firms. (23 September, NZ Herald).

Call to halt smart-meter installations. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says they are "dumb meters", wants a moratorium. (21 September, Dominion Post/The Press/Stuff).

Move over accountants - here come the scientists to save us. (24 September, NZ Herald).

Palm kernel briefing. "Why are Greenpeace targeting palm kernel expeller (PKE) when all you have to do is walk into a supermarket and look at the ingredients list on products - surely palm oil is worse?" (15 September, Greenpeace).

Does NZ's adventure tourism industry need more regulation? (24 September, NZ Herald).

Trade clothes: swapping website. (18 September, Stuff/The North Shore Times).

Manawatu: Council admits dumping 5.1 million litres of sewage into the Manawatu River. (22 September, Stuff/The Dominion Post).

Waikato: Tui sightings a dream come true. The fruits of kowhai plantings? (23 September, Stuff/Waikato Times).

Submissions wanted: The Northern Pegasus Bay Management Plan: Waimakariri & Hurunui District Councils are releasing draft bylaws to control the use of vehicles and horses and the use of land for camping on the foreshore, beaches and adjacent areas of Northern Pegasus Bay from north of the mouth of the Waimakariri river to the Rocks area of Amberley Beach. Hurunui proposals are open for submissions until October 30 and Waimakariri submissions open from September 26 to October 27.

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• Love it or lose it: save our heritage places. No government has the right to deprive our children of our most treasured places and native species. Download the petition, send a message to PM. (The Green Party's anti-mining webpage).
  

• Cast a vote: Forest & Bird poll for Bird of the Year.
  

• Education for planet earth. Green Teacher magazine (Toronto based) publishes innovative ideas and learning activities for educators of environmental literacy and global green awareness among young people, aged 6-19. It is offering digital subscriptions to NZ educators and schools for half what Canadians and Americans pay. Also, reduced price print subscriptions.
  Read, download and/or print a recent issue for free, via a link on the main webpage at  www.greenteacher.com. 
  
  
• Bayerboost Environmental Scholarship Scheme: administered by RSNZ, in partnership with Bayer, to sponsor secondary school and tertiary students intending to study environmental sciences or related areas, in summer work/research programmes to gain experience that will support their future careers. Applications to RSNZ by 5.00pm 30 September. More info here. (www.bayerboost.co.nz).
  
  
• Entries for 2010 Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards open 1 September and close 23 October, 2009. Entry forms/more info: www.bfea.org.nz or contact: Nicola Hunt, Canterbury Regional Co-ordinator, Ballance Farm Environment Awards, (03) 353 9711, email bfea@ecan.govt.nz
  
  
• Feel the Heat Petition. Take action on Climate Change. (www.oxfam.org.nz).
  Also:
  Sign on. There's no planet B. Sign On (More than 110,000 NZers so far). (www.signon.org.nz).
  
  
• Have your say: current CCC consultations.
  
  
• Nominations for the 2009 Roger Award for the worst transnational corporation operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand close 31 October. More info/entry forms: here. (CAFCA).

& from there

• China: Vows climate change action. (But no figures). Discussions have stalled because rich nations are not pledging to cut enough carbon to take the world out of danger, while poorer countries are refusing to commit to binding caps, saying this would prevent them from developing their economies. (22 September, BBC).
  
  
• UK: Countdown to Copenhagen: This is not any old summit. Poker diplomacy has to end. The world's fate hangs on Copenhagen. From today, all of us, developing countries too, must join in a new, open dialogue. Ed Milliband, Secretary of State for energy & climate change. (21 September, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: The Yes Men's latest prank - Free New York Post! Special edition! - tells the real story on climate change. With a giant headline proclaiming "We're Screwed," the fake tabloid was devoted entirely to environmental issues. (article includes link to the fake edition online). (21 September, AlterNet).
  
  
• Australia: Climate failure could end in war. Australia must cut emissions by at least 25 per cent. Tim Flannery. (22 September, nine news).
  
  
• France: President Sarkozy and a panel of the world's top economists: Let's measure well-being not just growth. (14 september, France 24).
  
  
• UN study: Natural disasters displacing millions. Four times as many as by conflict. (22 September, Reuters).
  
  
• US: The next innovation Al Gore most wants to see happen - you may be surprised. (23 September, Treehugger).
  
  
• Reuters: Global warming could worsen Australian, Indian droughts. New type of El Nino may be forming. (23 September, Reuters).
  
  
• Australia: Stifling dust bad omen for the future. (24 September, NZ Herald). Pictures from Sydney here. (24 September, Sydney Morning Herald).
  
  
• UK: From toxic waste to toxic assets, the same people always get dumped on. Business without regulation is scarcely distinguishable from organised crime. George Monbiot. (21 September, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: Dreaming a life. Why, when there is so much new attention to climate change, so much scientific consensus and so much activism, are governments so reluctant to act? Sharon Astyk. (22 September, Casaubon's book/Energy Bulletin)
  
  
• UK: Britain's first housing co-op leads the way in sustainable living. (16 September, The Guardian).
  
  
• UK: Awesome tour of a permaculture allotment. "With decades of experience in sustainable farming across the globe - from Africa to India to the Middle East and Europe - he seems to have a sixth sense for utilizing nutrient and resource flows, and minimizing the need for inputs of human labor or fossil fuels". (includes 9min. 57 Youtube). (21 September, Treehugger).
  
  
• US: Dow Jones names Nokia the world's most sustainable tech company. (21 September, Treehugger).
  
  
• UK: Transition Town local currencies (what's that all about?). The Brixton pound and the Stroud pound. (17 September, Energy Bulletin).
  
  
• US: 5 places you can't ride your bike. (21 September, Treehugger).
  
  
• US: One man's trash... He's building low-income houses out of trash. eg roofs made of license plates, and windows of crystal platters. (includes slideshow). (2 September, New York Times).
  
  Technology:
  
• Spain: Their trains signal the future. (22 September, BBC).
  
  
• Eco Skyscrapers: Green architecture reaches for the sky. (no date, web ecoist).
  
  
• US: Google plans new mirror for cheaper solar power. (9 September, Reuters).
  
  
• New treatment could eliminate the demand for tropical hardwoods. Norwegian company has developed a process for treating woods to make them suitable for exterior uses in a more sustainable manner. (21 September, ecoGeek).
  
  Natural world:
  
• Sun shoots wind at earth - new discovery. Sunspots are not the only thing from the Sun that have a significant and varied impact on the Earth. (20 September, ecoWorldly).
  
  
• Jane Goodall on the plight of the chimpanzee. (4 min. clip, Fora.tv)
  
  
• Australia: CSIRO Study shows northern Australia also water-limited. Has little or no rain for three to six months of the year, while water loss via evaporation is very high. (20 September, Epoch Times).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Using ecoNet

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.

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How do I contribute?

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• Event: Recreation! The NZ Outdoor Adventure Expo.

  NZ's largest display of outdoors adventure products & services.
  When: 25 - 27 September.
  Where: Pioneer Leisure Centre, 75 Lyttelton St, Somerfield.
  Visit: The DOC stand, Five South Island conservancies represented - see here (& also to print out your half price entry vouchers).
  More info: 360degevents.co.nz
  
  

• Weekend Forest & Bird field trip: Korowai/Torlesse Tussockland Park. (near Porters Pass/Lake Lyndon).

  When: Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 Sept. (Sat. explore the park, Sun. work party on wilding pines).
  Cost: (accommodation): $20 per person, $15 per child.
  Contact/more info: Lesley 379 0316 or Andrew ajsimpsonz@hotmail.com.
  
  

• Work day: weedbusting (the third of four) - Boneseed removal.

  When: 9.00 - 12.00 pm Saturday, 26 Sept.
  Where: Barnett Park; meet end of Bayview Rd.
  Bring: gloves, saw, loppers. Otherwise supplied.
  Contact: Nigel 941 7573 or 027 234 1353.
  Organised by Port Hills Rangers Service, CCC.
  
  

• Community planting day: Tarndale Reserve, Hanmer Springs. 

  As part of the development of the new Tarndale Reserve, in conjunction with the Hanmer Heritage Forest Trust Spring Festival. Plants provided by the Hurunui District Council.
  When: 10.00 am – 1.00 pm Sunday, 27 September.
  Where: Tarndale Reserve, access from the end of Tarndale Place or through Brooke Dawson Park (Spring Festival location).
  Contact: Dale 03 3140059, 027 733 2109, or dale.mcentee@hurunui.govt.nz
  
  

• Vegetarian  Food And Lifestyle Expo:

  NZ's biggest vegetarian event. Food stalls, cooking demonstrations, workshops, all day films, information, displays, vegetarian community groups, businesses, artists, cafe;
  kids activities, music, NZ's biggest vegetarian sausage sizzle ...more.
  When: 10.00 - 4.30 pm Sunday, 27 Sept.
  Where: Horticultural Centre, Riccarton Ave.
  Cost: $5.00 entry, children free.  
  More info: www.vegetarianexpo.org.nz
  or Christchurch Vegetarian Centre 940 9483.
  
  

• Concert: Earthdance.
  

  Bands include The Eastern, Minisnap, The Unfaithful Ways, Steve Gainsford, The South Tonight ... & more (all donating their performances for the Trust).
  When: 12.00 - 5.00 pm Sunday, 27 September.
  Where: Manaia Native Habitat, Okuti Valley, Little River. (The old Birdland's Sanctuary).
  Cost: $5 on the gate - proceeds to Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust.
  Also to celebrate re-opening of Little River campground. (Map here).
  Contact: Marcus, Little River campground, 021 611820 or marcus@cpsa.org.nz
  More info: www.earthdance.org. & Here
  
  

• Movie: Soldiers For Peace

  The good news is peace is breaking out.
  Documentary narrated by Michael Douglas,
  showing inspiring, every day people around the globe who are proving that peace is a more viable alternative to war.
  When: 2.00 pm Sunday, 27 September.
  Where:  Regent on Worcester. Final showing.
  Tickets: $15.00 through The Yak - ph 385 9590  or 021 062 1092
  All profits to 'World March for Peace & Non-violence Aotearoa-NZ'.
  More/trailer: www.soldiersofpeacemovie.com.

   

• Community clean-up day: Arthurs Pass.

  Klondyke Corner to Arthurs Pass village.
  When: 10.00 - 4.00 pm Saturday, 26 Sept.
  Where: Meet at Arthurs Pass DOC Visitor Centre.
  More info/contact: here (www.doc.govt.nz/...).
  
  

• Event: Panel discussion followed by Q&A session: Domestic violence & family relations.

  When: 7.00 pm Monday, 28 September.
  Where: Refugee & Migrant Centre, cnr Peterbourgh, Madras Sts.
  More info: Dianne 3489579/ Bertha 3558954
  
  

• Talk & discussion: Wednesday nights at the WEA.

  This week: Poverty in the Modern world and what we can do about it. Looking  at
  current labour market and income policies in the Welfare State, and the plight of
  the poor in extreme poverty in the third and fourth worlds.
  Speaker: Doug Craig.
  When: 5.30 pm Wednesday, 30 September.(Soup, bread, tea & coffee at 5.30, talk and discussion at 6.00 pm).
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Cost: Gold coin.
  Register/contact/info: cwea@xtra.co.nz or 366 0285.
  
  

• Talk: MacMillan Brown Lecture series: Te karanga me te wero: The challenge and the opportunity.

  Maori and non-Maori seek to understand our world differently as a consequence of differences in world view, language, origins, experience and shared history. Respective interactions with both research and education in science vary as a consequence.
  Speaker: Professor Michael Walker.
  When: 6.30 - 7.30 pm Wednesday, 30 Sept.
  Where: Central Lecture Theatre C3, University of Canterbury. (Map here).
  More info/contact: www.canterbury.ac.nz.
  
  

• Walk: World March for Peace and Nonviolence.

  The Christchurch Peace March follows the Christchurch Peace Walk established by CCC & the Peace Foundation Disarmament and Security Centre as a Christchurch Peace City initiative.
  When: 1.00 pm Saturday, 3 October.
  Where: Starts at Tautahi Pa site, Barbadoes St. where Maori elders will share some of their peace heritage; then via Fire Fighters' Memorial & Elsie Locke Park to Victoria Square poupou marking the ancient site of the Puari Waitaha pa. Then alongside the Avon - speakers at Bridge of Remembrance, the Peace Pole and Friendship Corner. It will end at the World Peace Bell in the Botanic Gardens (about 3.30 pm) where the bell will be rung to connect with those travelling on from Wellington on the World Peace March.
  More info/contact: Kate Dewes, Disarmament & Security Centre.
  
  

• Work days: Quail Island Restoration Trust planting days.

  When: Sunday, 4 October.
  (Ferry leaves Lyttelton 9.20 am and returns 3.30 pm).
  Booking essential.
  Contact: Ian McLennan ph 384 5338 or id.mclennan@xtra.co.nz.
  Background info: www.quailisland.org.nz
  
  

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 9.00 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week: Rowan Taylor on 2009 as the Year of the Gorilla, & The Great Ape Project dedicated to extending legal rights to the great apes.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  NB: Listen again to Earthwise programmes on archive.
  

Coming up:

• Book Launch: "Looking for Answers: A life of Elsie Locke" by Maureen Birchfield, Canterbury University Press.

  When: 5.30 - 7.00 pm Wed, 7 October.
  Where: Great Hall, Arts Centre, Worcester Blvd.
  More here.
  
  

• Free workshop: Enhancing Banks Peninsula's biodiversity.

  When: 9.00 am - 7.00 pm, 8 October.
  Where: Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa.
  More info/contact: http://ecolinknz.blogspot.com.
  
  

• Conference: 7th bi-annual Conference for humanity: Creating the forms of the new world.

  When: 9 -12 October.
  Where: Arts Centre, Worcester Blvd.
  More info/contact: See here (www.christcollege.co.nz/conferences) or
  sevenrays@clear.net.nz, or 03 355 1395.
  
  

• Public demonstration/march: Hurunui Dam Busters.

  Your support will help convey to authorities, here and in Wellington, the importance of this issue to the people of Canterbury.
  When: 12.15 pm Friday, 16 October.
  Where: Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel St. &
  walk alongside the Avon to Victoria Square.
  
  

• Orari Gorge alder removal day.

  When: From 9.00 am Saturday, 18 October.
  All (with loppers, gumboots) welcome. BBQ lunch to follow.
  More info/contact: here (http://ecan.govt.nz).
  

Reminders:

• 350.org: Global Day of Action, 24 October.

  Choir - Join 349 other singers at Victoria Square (in front of the Plaza Hotel) 2.00 pm, for 2.30 start, 24 October, to sing a set of easy to learn songs (with an opportunity to practice before going 'live').
  Contact: Jocelyn jyc497@gmail.com so you
  can be kept informed of arrangements. Thanks to those who have already
  been in contact.
  Also:
  
• Ideas, volunteers, and donations needed for the Global day of Action on the 24th October (and plenty of action building up to it!)
  If you are concerned about Climate Change, now is the time to do something.
  Want to join in?  Already being planned - Dawn celebration, massed choir, massive bike cavalcade, & more - see: www.350.org.nz
  or contact: Torfrida 382-0580 or 021-107-3937 or torfrida@snap.net.nz.
  
  

• Free home composting workshops:

  Hot composting of kitchen scraps & garden waste, Bokashi and worm farms. All methods demonstrated.
  At several sites:
  1. Seven Oaks Education Centre, 35 Hassals Lane. 1.00 - 2.30 pm each Saturday.
  2. Okeover Community Garden - University of Canterbury, Engineering Road. (Map here). 12.00 - 1.30 pm each Wednesday.
  3. Lyttelton Community Garden, 54A Oxford Street, 10.30 – 12.00 pm each Saturday.
  More info/contact: Annmarie 021 190 4559 or 942 7190 (evenings).
  Supported by CCC.
  
  

• Gardening courses: starting a garden, seed saving, composting, pickling & preserving, etc.

  Where: Strickland Street Community Garden, 188 Strickland Street, Spreydon. 
  When: for times & dates see their website www.sscommunitygarden.net.nz.
  Further info/contact: 942 6630.
  Supported by CCC.
  
  

• Event: Oxfam Trailwalker, 10 - 11 April 2010. Four people one goal: 100 km in 36 hours.

  More info & registration: here. (Oxfam Trailwalker NZ).
  Funds raised support Oxfam NZ's humanitarian, development and advocacy work to lift some of the world's poorest people out of poverty. Oxfam Trailwalker won Best Environmentally Sustainable Event at the 2009 Event Industry Awards.