Sustainability Forum - Te Tau Ihu - Discussion Page

Proposed Southern Link - Councillor Interference?

15/12/2015

At our forum meeting last week, John Moore discussed the situation surrounding Nelson's proposed Southern Link. In particular the emails between Councillor Eric Davy and and the NZTA. On Saturday the Nelson Mail published an article on the situation and the vote to remove Councillor Davy from his position as chair of the Regional Transport Committee. To read the article click here. The emails referred to in the article in the Mail make for interesting reading and we have attached them to this blog so you can decide if interference has been prevalent ....

eric_davy_emails.pdf
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Notes of the December 9 meeting of the forum

13/12/2015

sustainability_forum_meeting_notes_9_december_2015.pdf
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District Health Board - Health Impacts of the proposed southern link state highway

11/12/2015

public_health_report_on_sl_.pdf
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nmdhb_letter_stage_4_22_2_f2.pdf
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Agenda forTe Tau Ihu Sustainability Forum meeting 9 December 2:00 pm at NMIT

4/12/2015

Notes for the Te Tau Ihu Sustainability Forum Meeting, 22nd of July Atom Cafe Rutherford Hotel

1/8/2015

te_tau_ihu_sustainability_forum_meeting_notes_july_22.pdf
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Notes of Te Tau Ihu Sustainability Forum meeting 3rd of June, Atom Cafe Trafalgar Street

11/6/2015

te_tau_ihu_sustainability_forum_meeting_notes_june_3.pdf
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Meeting urges climate change action

22/5/2015

Submitted by Lindsay Wood

Some 100 people packed Rutherford Hotel's Waimea Room at short notice for a key meeting on climate change.

Nelson architect Lindsay Wood said those attending the meeting left the Ministry for the Environment in no doubt that slashing greenhouse gas emissions was an absolute priority.

In leading the MFE team of five, Guy Beatson, Deputy Secretary Natural Resources, apologised for the short notice, but emphasised the importance placed on the consultation process.

He noted the seriousness of the climate situation, and directed the discussion to the ministry's consultation document, and to setting "intended targets" for New Zealand to take to an international meeting in Paris later this year.

A short contextual video and explanation outlined the issues, including a notional range of emissions reductions by 2030 of from 5 per cent to 40 per cent below 1990 levels.

"This was the cue for the public, whose robust views ranged widely around a single focal point: addressing climate change is of utmost priority, and targets must maximise emission reductions.

"Recurring themes included basing strategies on good science; the moral imperative to curtail fossil fuel use; and shortcomings in the consultation documents and modelling. Speakers also challenged dependence on a growth economy, and asked why climate-change business opportunities were being neglected in New Zealand," Wood said.

The Ministry team endorsed the "good science" approach, and highlighted the complexity of some issues, such as weighing reduced emission in New Zealand against paying similar sums to other countries to reduce theirs even more.

"Vigorous discussion continued to the point that the proposed round-table workshops did not occur."

Earlier in the day a hui was held on the same topic but was very lightly attended, reportedly because invitations to local Iwi were overlooked.

New e-book: 'The Winning of the Carbon War' (Jeremy Leggett)

28/3/2015

Humanity is in a race, a kind of civil war. Believers in a safe future fuelled by endless sunlight and related forms of clean energy combat defenders of finite carbon fuels careless of the impact they have on the world by clinging to coal, oil, and gas. Jeremy Leggett fought for the light side for a quarter of a century as it lost battle after battle to the dark side. Then, in 2013, the tide began to turn. By 2015, it was clear the light side could win the war. Leggett’s diary from the front lines tells one person’s story of those turnaround years, and what they can mean for the world.

This first chapter of this book covers the period May 2013 to March 2014. It was published online on 1st March 2015. The remainder will be published as a live written serial, on 1st of every month for the next ten months, through to the final night of the Paris Climate Summit in December 2015, where governments have pledged once and for all, after a quarter century of trying, to put humankind on course to survive climate change. Each episode will republish an edited full version, incorporating suggested changes and corrections (hopefully minimal) of the previous version. From May, the narrative will be up to date. The final version will then be published as a print book in 2016.

http://www.jeremyleggett.net

Notes of Te Tau Ihu Sustainability Forum meeting 4th March 2015 BNZ Business Centre

25/3/2015

te_tau_ihu_sustainability_forum_meeting_notes_march_4.pdf
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Notes of Te Tau Ihu Sustainability Forum meeting 2nd December 2014 Kowhai Lounge of NMIT

The format for this meeting differed to others, each participants providing update on their activities. This was followed by a discussion on Nelson City Council CEO’s email to the forum and a presentation on NextGen Energy, after which some participants left to continue the discussions in the pub.

Richard Oswald (GreenXchange): GreenXchange has provided sponsorship to build the forum’s website and for forum administration. This generosity was applauded by all. Should others also wish to sponsor the forum’s work this would be gratefully received.
Ian Shapcott (resource management consultant): Has been working with Te Atiawa Trust, attempting to coordinate resource management activities across Te Tau Ihu. He also discussed the forum’s terms of reference and the need to include kaitiakitanga within them.
Ed Kiddle (Public Health with the NMDHB): talked about the South Island DHB’s and the goals they have for sustainability. Sustainability is increasingly seen as DHB activity as it ties to health issues, pollution/insulation etc. He also indicated his support for the new networking model of the forum and mentioned the Sustainability Society, engineers concerned with sustainability who run interesting events – click here to visit their website.
Steve Henry (Centre for Sustainable Practise, Otago Polytechnic): discussed the centre's work, including helping develop Queenstown Lakes District Council’s “Shaping our Future”. This is similar to Nelson 2060 but its implementation is led by a charitable trust. He also talked about the centre’s programmes and his interest in being involved with the forum. Steve is currently a resident of the Riverside Community in Lower Moutere.
Dean Walker (private sustainability consultant): Has been working on Tokelau for the UN assisting to develop land use plans for the islands. An interesting aspect of the consultancy was to have separate meetings for men and women, young and elderly. The island’s residents have found this more productive or very little is achieved.
John Moore (retired and former DHB board member): Involved in “community for an aging population” and trying to get Nelson City Council involved in this project. Also he has re-joined Greypower to try to change the organisation from me, me, me to think more about the future and the generations to come.
Mike Ward (NCC Councillor): Talked about Nelson 2060. He is keen on the forum acting as a mechanism to engage and rollout Nelson 2060 to help make Nelson an inspirational community to others across New Zealand.
Carolyn Hughes (Nelson Environment Centre): Has been involved in establishing a Land Trust in Tasman District. Her work at the environment centre to includes working with schools to drive behaviour change. So far they have worked with 52 schools.
Matt Lawrey (NCC Councillor): Has finished his first year as a councillor and just feels he is beginning to learn the ropes and enjoying himself

If you want to find out anything further about these activities look out for the presenter at the next meeting.

Nelson City Council
After October’s forum meeting, with a presentation from Mayor Reece, the CEO was invited to try and gain a management perspective on Nelson 2060’s implementation. She declined the invite but agreed to answer written questions. The following questions were put to her via email, with her response below each:

1. Te tau Ihu Sustainability Forum wishes to assist the NCC to progress Nelson 2060. To do this it would be useful to know the initiatives NCC is engaged in that work towards Nelson 2060. Please outline Council’s current (or planned) initiatives under the relevant goals of the plan shown on page 62 and 63 of Nelson 2060?

Clare Hadley’s response “Council's commitment to 2060 can be seen in the references to it in officer reports to Council, and in the choices we make (e.g. vehicles).”

2. Can you please advise if it is your desire that NCC remains actively involved in the Forum’s program of trans-regional sustainability planning?

Clare Hadley’s response “we wish to be involved in any practical actions that will lead to better outcomes for ratepayers.”

3. Notwithstanding the attendance of four councillors, the presence of a Nelson City Council staff member, in an official capacity, would demonstrate NCC’s desire to remain an active participant. Can you advise on the possibility of a council staff member attending forum meetings in an official capacity?

Clare Hadley’s response “given that there are four elected members appointed to the Forum, I do not support staff attending in an official capacity. I do not support staff and elected members participating as equals on any working groups, committees or forums - either within the Council or on external organisations.”

The participants discussed Clare’s email and agreed to note it but to continue to progress its work. This will include monitoring the progress of NCC in implementing Nelson 2060 (this work undertaken by a subcommittee of interested forum members). The forum no longer sees Nelson City Council and Nelson 2060 as the sole focus of the forum, it is Te Tau Ihu and should behave as such.

NextGen Energy
Ulrich von Werder gave a short presentation on NextGen Energy, a community power company that is set to launch in early 2015. For more information on NextGen Energy, Talk to Ulrich, a new forum member, at a future meeting.

Nelson 2060

22/11/2014

Volunteers required to coordinate sub committee to review progress on implementation of NCC policy.