Saturday 21st August

Lake Cameron Care Group are having a planting day tomorrow at 10am to plant 480 native plants gifted from Honda Tree Fund.
Waipa District Council and Environment Waikato are providing lunch and refreshments. Anyone is welcome. Contact Bev Bradley muzbev@xtra.co.nz for details.

Tuesday 24 August

'Creating and designing your newsletter' workshop series for community groups. Numbers limited.
7pm in the Environment Centre. The further 2 evenings are at Wintec.

Click here for more information

Tuesday 31 August

Tour of Shallow Lakes
Landcare Trust Event for Resource Managers looking at issues surrounding our shallow lakes in the Waikato region.

We encourage you to car pool (we can assist with this if required). Feel free to forward this invitation onto anyone else whom may wish to attend.
Please RSVP as indicated on the invitation to Melinda Dresser: melinda.dresser@landcare.org.nz or phone (07) 859 3745.

INVITE Shallow Lakes Tour 31.8.10.pdf

Wednesday 8th September

You are warmly invited to enjoy an evening of Wine and Wetlands at the National Wetland Trust’s 10th AGM.
Waipa District Council, Te Awamutu

See details in attached invitation. All welcome, please forward to your contacts who may be interested and/or print off the invitation for your office notice board.
We welcome Trustees from around the country and have video and phone in conference facilities for meetings to minimise travel costs. Nominations may be made by members to Don.Scarlet@mightyriver.co.nz by close of day Tuesday, 7 September. If you wish to join the National Wetland Trust see our website for membership form: http://www.wetlandtrust.org.nz/aboutus.html

PS Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Wetland-Trust-of-New-Zealand/108156912564305

Karen Denyer
Executive Officer
National Wetland Trust, PO Box 177, Pukekohe 2340
021 031 2716

AGM invitation 2010_rt.pdf

Saturday 11th September

Enviro Hui- Pikitu Marae

Organised by Waikato Enviornment Centre. Supported by Trust Waikato

Waste | Water | Land | Caring for our Environment

Para | Awa | Whenua | Kaitiakitanga | Te tiaki i te Taiao/manaakitia mai a Papatuanuku

This workshop is about environmental issues relevant to local iwi and hapu, specifically Pikitu Marae.
We will provide an overview of water quality and waste, hands on monitoring of Mangaorua Stream, a waste audit, making a compost, and some practical solutions on how to manage the environmental issues that are common to all of us. We will also develop a plan of action, and recommend support and potential funders.
We invite community groups in the area that are carrying out environmental projects, local iwi, and other environmental groups. This is a free event with catering provided.

For more details and to register

12th - 19th September CONSERVATION WEEK

DOC have a wonderful website set up especially for Conservation Week. Groups - enter your event -

Adding events
To add events using the online form: http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation-week-home/register-an-event
Images or documents (e.g. PDF entry forms) accompanying new events should be emailed to events@doc.govt.nz (specifying which event).

Hamilton City Council District Plan Review

Biodiversity hits the District Plan spotlight. Hamilton City Council is lifting the lid on its potential solutions to the city’s most significant issues, distributing a summary flyer to all residents and making it available online from 28 August. The flyer, entitled ‘Snapshot’, takes an easy to read look at how the city hopes to address Hamilton’s most pressing issues, and asks residents their opinion about what Council is thinking so far. Snapshot covers a range of issues, including how the city hopes to ensure future development protects Hamilton’s natural character and is in line with the City’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy. Residents are encouraged find out more and tell Council what they think by visiting www.fastforwardhamilton.co.nz or dropping into their local library for a copy of the full report and discussion document - Big Picture. The period for public comments closes on 29 October 2010. Paula Rolfe Project Manager District Plan Review.

Job Vacancy

Conservation Volunteers - Casual Team Leader Position

A position is available with Conservation Volunteers. The Casual Team Leader is responsible for the safety, welfare and supervision of volunteers on practical conservation projects. Please contact Yuki Fukuda, Catchment Care Programme Manager, Hamilton, Office: 7 859 2401, Mobile: 021 755 226

Email: yfukuda@conservationvolunteers.co.nz and see the website www.conservationvolunteers.co.nz

Funding

Biodiversity Contestable Advice and Condition Funds

The funding round is now closed. It is anticipated that the Funds will be open in September 2010 for applications and www.biodiversity.govt.nz/biofunds

Anyone proposing to submit an application, prior discussion with Fund staff is recommended. So if you have any questions or wish to discuss any aspect of your project or proposed application please feel free to call Katrina or Susie on 0800 86 2020.
How to apply You need to familiarise yourself with the Biodiversity Fund Guides and Exclusions for funding. http://www.biodiversity.govt.nz/land/nzbs/pvtland/conditionapps.html

Elections

Candidates' evenings that we know about so far:

30 August 10 am Celebrating Age Centre: Ham East Candidate and EW
6 Sept 10 am Celebrating Age Centre: Ham West Candidates and EW
8 Sept 7.30pm HCC Reception Lounge (for Better Transport - good for those with train concerns and other public transport matters)
9th September 7pm Western Community Centre Hyde Ave
14 September 7pm Knox Church Centre Albert St Hm East
15th Sept 7pm Te Runanga... Higgins Rd
16th Sept 7pm Sportsdrome, Pukete
20 th Sept 7pm Hamilton Garden Pavilian (organised by the Environment Centre, so particularly good for sustainability issues)
22nd Sept 7pm Melville Community Centre, Bader St
23 Sept 7pm GRB Hall Temple View

TRUST MANAGER

Contract Basis

Te Kauri Waikuku Trust is seeking a suitably experienced person to manage their activities and contracts.

They need to be passionate about the natural environment, and about giving kids the opportunity to experience and learn about our natural places. We need someone who can successfully manage our education and pest control contractors, and seek funding for the restoration work we are committed to undertaking in Te Kauri Reserve near Kawhia.

This person will need to be a self-employed contractor who can carry out this work on a service delivery basis, involving 8 hours per week on average, at a set hourly rate.

For more information contact Carolyn Lewis at info@tekauri.org.nz or on (0274) 434 431. Applications close 5pm, 27 August 2010.

Waste | Water | Land | Caring for our Environment

Para | Awa | Whenua | Kaitiakitanga | Te tiaki i te Taiao/manaakitia mai a Papatuanuku

This workshop is about environmental issues relevant to local iwi and hapu, specifically Pikitu Marae.

We will provide an overview of water quality and waste, hands on monitoring of Mangaorua Stream, a waste audit, making a compost, and some practical solutions on how to manage the environmental issues that are common to all of us. We will also develop a basic plan of action, and recommend support and potential funders.

We invite community groups in the area that are carrying out environmental projects, local iwi, and other environmental groups. This is a free event with catering provided.

Presenters:

Para kore, Environment Waikato, Landcare Trust, Biodiversity Forum, and the Waikato Environment Centre.

Pikitu Marae, Wiltsdown Road, Waotu, South Waikato.

Saturday 11^th September 2010. 9am gather for powhiri. 5pm close.

Please rsvp to rachael@envirocentre.org.nz | phone: 07 839 4452

Or book online: www.envirocentre.org.nz and view full programme.

Sorry!

Missed out the venue for Cafe Scientifique - it is at the Bank, cnr Victoria and Hood St, upstairs. 7.30

Wednesday 9th August

Movie - Everything's Cool

at 7pm,
Waimarie Community Centre,
53 Wellington Street, Hamilton East

For the past two decades researchers, activists, scientists, and progressive politicians have struggled to rouse the public and the federal government to take action on global warming. Concurrently, naysayers, industry funded think-tanks and lobbyists have worked tirelessly to challenge, convolute and dismiss the issue as hysterical. Everything's Cool tells the harrowing story of what it takes to talk about global warming -- the art of duking it out with collective denial, the struggle to communicate the urgency of the crisis to an indifferent public and a laggard United States government. We follow a cadre of messengers who are passionate, exasperated, driven by fear, hope and a deep appreciation for the ever shrinking window of time we have to stop global warming.

TEREX is coming 11 to 13 August

 Pukemokemoke Declares War on Privet
We have as much as three hectares of both tree and Chinese privet at Pukemokemoke. (See map for location) Having spent years hand cutting, poisoning and planting we have agreed to take the initiative and have commissioned Vegetation Control to bring in a Terex mulcher to show us how to grind it up and spit it out. This will take place on Wed to Fri 11 to 13 August, this week:

You are invited to join us to see the demonstration and more particularly to discuss with us and have input into our plans to get on top of the weed. We are doing this at this time of the year so we can catch and treat the spring regrowth.

Come anytime on these 3 days, but preferably on Thursday 12 August at 10.30-12.30 am for a cup of tea and inspection/demo, followed by BYO lunch and discussion on how best to revegetate this riparian area with native plants over the next year or so.

Bring your gumboots, high-vis jacket and ear muffs. The gate over the bridge will be open so drive right into the log hauler site and gazebo.
RSVP to Alan Leadley mualleadley@xtra.co.nz
Or Warwick Silvester silvester@hnpl.net

Monday August 16

Hamilton Organic Group Meeting 

At our meeting this coming Monday we’re delighted to be hosting organic grower and educator Peter Downard. Peter is a great speaker and has heaps of experience in the field.

Environment Centre, 7.30pm
Also don’t forget to bring along any spare seedlings, etc for the plant table.
See you on Monday!  Enquiries Alice 8566271

Tuesday 17th August 7.30pm

Cafe Scientifique

Environmental oestrogens –the ultimate biochemical feminists
Ian Shaw, University of Canterbury

In the early 1990s it became apparent that hormone-related effects explained some of the strange phenomena being observed in both wildlife (e.g. decreased length of alligators’ penises) and humans (e.g. decreased sperm count). The hormones concerned were not natural, but instead were oestrogen (female sex hormone) mimic pollutants and food components. How do these pollutants, such as the polycarbonate plastic monomer, bisphenol-A, and natural food components such as genistein from soy, switch on the oestrogen receptor and result in biochemical feminisation? What does this mean for fertility in New Zealand and elsewhere? What motivates someone to measure the length of an alligator’s penis anyway? Ian will discuss studies in humans and animals, and will wander off into the world of computer-aided modelling of the oestrogen receptor which reveals all!
For more information about future Cafés in Hamilton, contact Marcus Wilson,
Phone 838 4834, e-mail science@waikato.ac.nz
http://www.sci.waikato.ac.nz/cafescientifique

Monday September 20th

Chartwell Room, Hamilton Gardens.

Starting 7pm.

Please put this date in your diaries and let any intending candidates know the date.
The Environmental forum for candidates standing for Hamilton City Council and the four Hamilton positions on Environment Waikato will follow a similar format to previous years.

Questions from environmental groups will be put to the candidates in the weeks leading up to the elections. Their responses will be put on our website.
At the forum each candidate will be given a set amount of time to speak on a topic. Questions will then be directed to candidates from the floor.

(Nominations close on August 20th. Candidates will be announced formally 25th August)
Voting documents go out between the 17th and 22 September.

Make sure you are enrolled, and encourage everyone to exercise their democratic right to vote.

If you are a member of an environmental community group please send in a question you would like to be put to the candidates for their written response. Include your name and group name and contact details.

Expose your Group! Learn the basics of design, and how to write and edit your community group newsletter.

This workshop is for environmental non profit groups who want to share their news, information, promote their project, gain exposure, and seek members.

We will cover: Writing Styles | Editing | Layout | Photos- resolution/size | Introduction to Indesign & Illustrator| Basics of Photoshop |

Workshop over three sessions:

• Tuesday 24^th August, 7-9.30pm @ ECH: Writing styles, editing, layout, tips and traps
• Tuesday 31^st August, 7-9pm @ Wintec: Design and layout, design programmes
• Thursday 2^nd September, 7-9.30pm @ Wintec: Putting it all together, Wordjot newsletter and database

Our tutors:

Jeff Neems is a senior reporter for Waikato Times, and has been a journalist for 15 years. He covers environmental and conservation issues, including the paper's Eco Issues page, as well as politics, music and entertainment. He is a DJ, keen gardener and enthusiastic (but not particularly fit) club cricketer.

Georgie Gaddum teaches graphic design and advertising at Wintec in Hamilton. She studied at Massey University in Wellington, completing her 4 year Bachelor of Design, majoring in Visual Communication, and specialising in Graphics and Advertising. She has worked in the design field for the last 8 years. She is very enthusiastic about design and really enjoys helping people to learn how to be creative.

Carolyn Lewis is an environmental consultant, and national coordinator of Weedbusters NZ. As part of this role she designs, writes and produces newsletters, information sheets, newsletters, posters and fliers, and will be giving you tips and traps when putting these sorts of publications together for environmental groups using their ‘raw’ materials.

Cost only $20. For non profit Waikato environmental groups only.

Session 1: Environment Centre Hamilton (ECH):  25 Ward Street Hamilton.

Session 2 & 3: Wintec; Mediarts Mac Lab, R Block, Collingwood Street Hamilton.

Bookings essential. Numbers limited to 12 (one person per group).

Bring a pendrive or memory stick, and photos, and info to load.

rachael@envirocentre.org.nz | 07 839 4452 | www.envirocentre.org.nz

Generously funded by Trust Waikato.

Wednesday, 25th August

The Waikato Sculpture Trust invites you to a documentary film by Robin Kewell—please note in your diary and pass this on to friends.

Eden and the Arts

Tim Smit always wanted the Eden Project to be a place to showcase the stories of "Plants that Changed the World" - a place where science meets art. Sue Hill and Peter Hample, artistic directors of Eden, commissioned various artists to produce work that would tell some of their tales. This project in Cornwall, England has captured the imagination of people world-wide (see www.edenproject.com).

Eden and the Arts is a special feature from the archives of Robin Kewell’s documentary films showing the work of many of the sculptors and artists who worked side by side with scientists and technicians to create works that tell the stories of plants. Robin will introduce the film and answer questions.
This Waikato Sculpture Trust event raises funds for the exhibitions it holds within the Sculpture Park @ Waitakaruru Arboretum (see www.sculpturepark.co.nz). The Park is an iconic rehabilitation project where the sensory experiences of art and nature meet.

Seats are limited so hurry!
Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: Telecom Playhouse,
WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts,
University of Waikato
Entry: $15 per person
Proceeds to Waikato Sculpture Trust
Bookings email: sarah.a@clear.net.nz or info@sculpturepark.co.nz
Cash door sales and EFTPOS available

NZ Film Festival  - 12 - 29 August

Here are some of the environmental docos starting next week. For a full list of all movies look online:   Hamilton  or pick up a programme from Lido Theatres.

There Once Was an Island: Te Henua e Nnoho
Saturday 21 August 1.30pm

New Zealand 2009, 80 mins Director: Briar March ―Climate change reaches the shoreline of south-west Pacific atoll Takuu in Briar March‘s poignant eco-documentary...Despite the serious themes, it is to the credit of the filmmakers and the people of Takuu that March‘s documentary does not leave you feeling cynical and disillusioned, but rather with a strong sense of hope. Positive outcomes are still possible: both in terms of Takuu‘s situation and the broader arena of global climate change.‖ — Jacob Powell, The Lumiere Reader

Waste Land 
Sunday 22 August 3.30pm

UK/Brazil 2010, 98 mins
Director: Lucy Walker

Festivals: Sundance, Berlin 2010
Audience Award (World Cinema Documentary), Sundance Film Festival 2010
Brazilian art star Vik Muniz recycles garbage to make gigantic portraits of Rio‘s amazingly upbeat garbage recyclers in this inspiring doco.
―Vibrant, colourful, majestically shot, the Sundance-award-winning documentary deserves the accolades it has reaped — Gayle MacDonald, The Globe and Mail
In English and Portuguese, with English subtitles

Last Paradise 
Monday 23 August  6pm

New Zealand 2009, 100 mins
Director: Clive Neeson

A zealous, ingenious cinematographer from an early age, Kiwi Clive Neeson delivers a glorious compilation from a lifetime so far of filming surfing, snowboarding, skiing and adventure sports around the world.

Collapse 
Monday 23 August  8.30pm
USA 2009, 82 mins

Director: Chris Smith Festivals: Toronto 2009
Imminent man-made catastrophe is explained with alarming clarity and conviction by doom theorist Michael Ruppert, who already accurately predicted the economic meltdown. ―Shockingly persuasive.‖ — NY Times

GasLand   
Saturday, 28 August 11.30am

USA 2010, 104 mins Director: Josh Fox Festivals: Sundance 2010
Special Jury Prize (US Documentary), Sundance Film Festival 2010

Award-winning doc about the ecological poisoning caused by 'fracking‘, the mining of 'clean‘ natural gas.  "You haven‘t experienced environmental dread until you‘ve seen tap water catch fire".