Voice

The School for Social Entrepreneurs opens in March 2012 in Otahuhu, Auckland. At it’s core, the vision of the school is:
“For all New Zealand communities, particularly those experiencing significant disadvantage, to have the capacity to find and grow solutions to their own social and economic challenges.”

The school aims to support early-stage social entrepreneurs to build sustainable new social enterprises, social businesses and non-profit ventures. The School is seeking to identify 15 social entrepreneurs to become the first cohort of the 10 month Action Learning Programme (ALP), from March to November 2012, which is designed to accelerate and enhance their respective impact on their communities.

Most students will see the majority of their costs supported by scholarship, however the total cost of the course without scholarship support is $15,000.

For more information and application forms follow this link: http://www.nzcsi.org/Initiatives/2011-03-06/nzcsi-social-entrepreneurs-school.aspx

What are the views of young New Zealanders on the outlook for our environment?

TVNZ 7 Presents THE OUTLOOK FOR SOMEDAY Sustainability Film Challenge for Young People

This year over 600 young people aged from 6 to 24 years old took part in making a record 153 entries for The Outlook For Someday Sustainability Film Challenge 2011, now into it’s fifth year.

The 20 Winning Films from The Outlook for Someday will be broadcast over 5 programmes presented by actor Jared Turner on TVNZ 7. The films tackle subjects ranging from pollution and deforestation to the meaning of Kaitiaki and how to be a conscious shopper.

TVNZ 7 Presents The Outlook for Someday 2011 will be screened at 6.30pm each night from Monday 12 to Friday 16 December. Each programme will then be repeated the following day at 12.30pm.

TVNZ 7 is on both Freeview/TiVo (channel 7) and SKY/Telstra (channel 077).

The vote runs until 5pm on 18 December at The Outlook for Someday website: www.theoutlookforsomeday.net

Earlier this year The Outlook for Someday was endorsed by UNESCO as a project of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

On 1 December the 20 Winning Films were honoured at The Someday Awards red-carpet ceremony, which was held for the first time at the Aotea Centre in Auckland’s THE EDGE performing arts and entertainment hub. Special Guests were actor Robyn Malcolm and Nikki Kaye, MP for Auckland Central.

A call for entries to the 2012 challenge will be made early in the New Year.

Entries come from individuals and teams from primary, intermediate and secondary schools and tertiary institutions. They are assessed by a Judging Team of media, education, government and business people.

A very fond farewell

I’m signing off on this newsletter knowing that it’s my last as Executive Director.

I don’t want to be overdramatic, but at the same time, I can’t say thank you enough to all the people I’ve gotten to work with over the last 3 years. You’ve shared more than a little bit of your inspiration and energy with me, and I get to say farewell to the Director’s chair with a genuine sense that what we’ve done together, really has made a difference.

My next adventure, is going to be a bit more of a physical challenge, as I aim to use NZ’s extraordinary outdoors as a backdrop for helping groups and businesses facilitate new projects and ideas. I promise not to spend all my time in the bush though. I will still be keeping in touch with the Hikurangi family and throwing in my two cents now and then.

In the meantime, I know Hikurangi will be in more than capable hands with our incoming Executive Director, Alex Hannant.

Until we meet again,

Liana

Say hello to the new kid on the block

Alex Hannant officially takes the reins of Hikurangi on 28 November.

Though UK-born and coming to us straight from London, Alex has spent plenty of time in NZ, having worked here for 7+ years and completed his Masters at Victoria University in 2005.

He will bring to Hikurangi impressive experience and perspective from his recent UK-based roles as Director at LEAD International and Head of Partnerships for the global Climate and Development Knowledge Network.

“I feel excited and privileged to be coming back to New Zealand to take up the role of Executive Director at the Hikurangi Foundation.” says Alex.

“These are interesting times; if you look around the world pretty much everywhere is experiencing rapid, unexpected and systemic change. Looking ahead I can see organisations like Hikurangi – who are both strategic and practical, entrepreneurial and socially-minded – playing an increasingly important role in making sure we stay ahead of the curve. New Zealand has an impressive track record in innovation, Hikurangi is here to build and support that culture, and accelerate the development of the ideas and talent that will benefit us all.”

Alex will be based in Wellington and looks forward to meeting the Hikurangi network in December and in the new year.

Insert your name here cycles Cape Reinga to Wellington

Or maybe Bluff to Picton is more your thing?

Mark your calendars, 14-21 April 2012 the inaugural Tour of New Zealand cycle race hits the road.

We’re more than a little excited, and not just because we’re looking forward to an epic adventure, and the bragging rights when we’ve finished. As race partners, if you sign up to ride, you can also raise funds to help Hikurangi in our work supporting cycling projects across NZ.

You need not be Lance Armstrong to enter (though if he calls we’re not turning him down). Your team gets to choose to cycle either the North or South island, and then you can tackle the 7 day course as a relay or ride every fabulous km; the only requirement is that teams have from 3-5 riders on the road at any one time.

And it’s not just all about soaking up the scenery while feeling the wind in your hair. Putting your ride to work for the greater good is easy. Tick the Hikurangi box on the sign up form and you’ll get your own fundraising web page so you can get people to sponsor your ride, plus we’ll send you a few suggestions on other simple fundraisers as well.

We’re aiming to have as many teams enter to support Hikurangi as possible, and we’re kicking it off with a couple of our own…

Rod Oram is on the hunt for 21 keen folk to each take on one day with him as he tackles the South Island. Plus, our own homegrown office lasses need another 21 cyclists, adventure lovers, NZ lovers, and people who want to get a little bit sweaty and then lounge around a bach for the night with a sense of self-satisfaction, to take on the North with them.

Interested, or want to come out and support us as we roll through your hometown? Email info@hikurangi.org.nz, or head to for race details and to sign up!

And don’t forget to keep an eye on our Facebook page as we’ll be posting updates and some top secret training photos.

Climate hubs turn heads

We started up the climate hubs project two years ago with five community groups that we saw as having big potential to be hubs in their communities and make a little bit of funding go a long way on climate change. They didn’t dissapoint.

Our congrats go out to 350 Aotearoa, winners of the 2011 Sustainable Business Awards for Social Innovation, which were held on 8 November in Auckland!

350 Aotearoa was just one year old when it became a climate hub. Now with 3+ years under it’s belt it has established itself as a key part of the community climate change and NGO sectors. With a small core team, it amplifies its effects by working strategically to inspire and build the skills of potential community leaders to create and lead their own 350 projects in towns across NZ.

If you haven’t heard of 350 yet, you should. Check out www.350.org.nz or find them on Facebook.

Meanwhile, issue #20 of Good magazine profiled Blueskin Bay Power and project manager Scott Willis as an Everday Hero. We couldn’t agree more.

Hikurangi has helped support Scott’s position as project manager for the past two years, allowing the Blueskin Bay community outside Dunedin to succesfully pursue building NZ’s first community owned cluster of 3-4 wind turbines. The turbines are on track for installation in early 2014 and will be able to supply the approx one thousand households in the community with all of their electricity (expected generation is 4.5million kW a year).

Not only is the project set to put Blueskin Bay in control of it’s own renewable energy, it has built a model for other communities to follow and has already worked to bring key people nationwide together to discuss spin-off projects on promoting renewables.

 
Liana Stupples

In recognition of our dedication to helping New Zealand communities create and sustain a network of rural and urban cycleways, The Hikurangi Foundation has been chosen as one of three recipient charities of the Tour of New Zealand fundraising cycle event, launched on a crisp evening on 18th May, at Parliament.

This is the biggest cycle team event ever hosted in New Zealand, and we’re excited about this amazing opportunity to work alongside partners and projects with the aim of realising the true potential of a national cycle network.

The Hikurangi Foundation will also assist event organisers with ensuring excellence in the event’s environmental sustainability, caring for New Zealand’s spectacular environment while we’re out there enjoying it!

You can read all about Hikurangi’s vision for cycleways and track record in this area here (450kb)

Read more about our Creating Cycleways Action Programme.

A recent report confirms why Little Greenie is New Zealand’s most energy efficient house and how easy it is for future renovations and new builds to follow its principles.  This is the idea of one kiwi who has now outclassed all the experts and built a home that costs as little as $69 a year to heat.

Little Greenie – Get the Facts, is now available here (800kb).  If you’re thinking of building your own home or renovating, or if you’re in the building industry, or involved in rebuilding Christchurch, you need to read this report.

Get the Facts was independently prepared for Hikurangi, EECA and Little Greenie Design & Build by Verney Ryan.

To keep in touch with how Little Greenie could change New Zealand’s building industry please join our mailing list.

If Kiwis are planning to build or do major alterations to their house they should read this report.  It tells us that we could be far better off spending money on a model like Little Greenie than other designs”. ~ Liana Stupples

Download the full report here (800kb)
Download the summary report here (184kb)
Download the media release here here (127kb)

Hikurangi Executive Director to Step Down

On 8 April 2011, the Hikurangi Foundation, an independent charity creating positive action towards climate change, announced the stepping down of its Executive Director, Liana Stupples.

Ms Stupples helped pioneer many New Zealand firsts with the Foundation and its project partners, including low-carbon tourism pilots and New Zealand’s first community owned wind turbine that has the potential to earn money for locals.

Tom Lambie, chair of the Foundation, paid tribute to Ms Stupples’ achievements since the Foundation was established in 2008 to catalyse action on sustainability and climate change in New Zealand.  “Liana has been a highly-effective leader, and I regret that changes in her personal circumstances mean she wants to hand over the role.  We are delighted, however, that she has agreed to continue to support Hikurangi’s work in a consulting role.”

Ms Stupples said the Hikurangi Foundation is now well-established, with a strong record of supporting entrepreneurs and communities taking positive action for a low-carbon future.  “I have been inspired by the drive and determination of so many extraordinary kiwis who just want to get on and get things done.  I would especially like to thank all the staff of The Tindall Foundation and The Todd Foundation who have been incredibly generous with their time, advice and support during the establishment phase.”

Since Ms Stupples term as Executive Director of the Foundation she has sparked, piloted, or boosted action on a 9/10 energy star house called Little Greenie that does not cost the earth to build, and needs less than $70 heating per year; an independent tailored home energy advice service that allows people to make the best choices for them; and house performance and sustainability training for real estate agents.

Recruitment for this unique role to lead the Foundation into its next phase is underway.

For more details and a copy of the job description, interested candidates should contact Louise Parkin at ExecucareNZ Ltd: louise.parkin@execucare.com
phone: 0800 393 282 or mobile: 021 832 251.
Deadline: 26 April 2011.

For further information you can also contact Tom Lambie: tcl@xtra.co.nz
phone: 027 230 2414 or 03 614 7019.

Craving some inspiration? This short film is the perfect fix. Directed by Guy Ryan and Nick Holmes, Carving the Future follows the journey of four young New Zealanders as they lead community-action projects to tackle climate change and environmental degradation. This incredible short film won the Platinum Best Film Award at the 2010 Colorado International Film Festival and was runner-up for best New Zealand film in the Reel Earth 2010 film awards.

Produced while Ryan and Holmes were students at Otago University, this film is a reminder that one person can change the future, and aims to inspire tomorrow’s leaders to act today on the challenges posed by climate change and short sighted management: challenges that are already damaging tomorrow’s environment.
Enjoy!

Splashroom Media
Inspiring Stories Project

No two ways about it, 2010 was a great year for innovative action on climate change.

All over New Zealand, Kiwis have applied their ingenuity to real practical challenges they and their communities face – and come up with positive answers, and Hikurangi had the privilege to “just get on with it” alongside the best of them.

As our annual report out today shows, in the year 2009-2010 we added 10 more projects to our portfolio – with a sum of 25 projects under our belt. All of this has been done in collaboration with 45 key partners and many more collaborators and participants from business, community and government.

We are proud to work with just-get-on-with-it partners like:

• John Schollum of Rau Marama Community Trust in Kaikohe in the far north who is working towards a remarkable new coast to coast cycleway that boosts lower carbon active travel and sustains jobs for his community.  Hikurangi has backed John by securing access to expertise and resources.

“The coast to coast cycle trail has the potential to spawn a number of local business initiatives around cultural tourism and provide a welcome economic boast to small rural communities located on the proposed route.” www.kaikohe.co.nz

Wellington HEAC Advisor Sarah Free helping new migrant Abeba make thermal linings for her curtains

• Sally Blackwell who helps co-ordinate The Home Energy Advice Centres (HEACs) – the winners of the 2010 EECA community award.

 HEACs exist to provide impartial, unbiased and accurate information for householders about what they can do about their energy-wasting houses. But the HEACs themselves face challenges in how to sustainably improve and resource the service. Hikurangi helped the HEACs conduct a client survey, to explore business models to sustain and grow the service. The service is very effective: 67% of respondents reported they took action as a direct consequence of the advice they received, and that 74% of respondents felt more confident about making changes to their homes as a consequence of HEAC’s advice.

“
Hikurangi has been invaluable at helping me make new connections. … a breath of fresh air in terms of the potential collaboration that is possible through mutual objectives and good will.”
~ Sally Blackwell, HEACs
 www.eecn.org.nz

2010 What a Year

Sparking Smart Solutions for New Zealand
Hikurangi has sparked, piloted, or boosted real, on-the-ground action from

• “Low carbon day out” tourism products that build business and avoid the car; to
• Practical climate change adaptation advice for local marae

Standing by the Tall Poppies
Hikurangi has supported social innovators and leaders to get great ideas going:

• 44 leaders mentored and supported in creating a new possibility
• 10 community organisations helped to build their capacity to deliver for their communities

Reaching Beyond Green

• Hikurangi and partners have engaged Kiwis who weren’t acting on climate change before
• Reaching farmers, Youth, Maori, schools, local businesses, state sector employees, grant-makers, artists, tourism industry operators, real estate agents, builders
• 648 public events
• 2,500 people attending special events like Hui or Dialogues with Tomorrow at Downstage
• 6,900 people joining a network in support of climate action
• 20,000 took an action to reduce their own footprint
• 48 business and state sector organisations took action
• 8 technical reports with new insights and facts

Doubling the impact of our donors
So far Hikurangi can say for the 23 projects we have data for, that $1 to Hikurangi can get you at least $2 worth of action; you can double the impact of your money.

 We could have done none of this without our friends. The vision and generosity of the Todd Foundation and the Tindall Foundation has allowed our work to flourish and we are tremendously grateful for this. To all of our Trustees, staff, contractors, partners, and those who have been can-do on climate change over the year we say thanks.

Have a happy summer
Liana & Freda

We’re proud to share our 2010 Annual Report, which paints the picture of the year just been.  We’ve learned a lot, working alongside innovative and inspirational partners who are finding smart solutions to some of the current challenges being faced by New Zealanders, and turning these great ideas into reality.

Click on the link below to download the pdf (958kb).

Hikurangi Annual Report 2010

We hope you enjoy reading it and would love to hear your feedback!

Thanks to the new home sustainability skills of Bayleys Nelson agent Bruce Farquhar, Lynn Marshall and Bryan Turner's energy efficient house can be better marketed

A new breed of estate agents who understand how eco-improvements can add value to homes and increase property ‘saleability’, is coming thanks to a decision, announced today, to make ground-breaking eco-savvy estate agent training officially available for the first time in New Zealand. With homes in New Zealand generally being cold, damp, and energy-inefficient, this training on home sustainability performance could help transform the market to value warmer more comfortable homes.

The Home Sustainability Training Programme was developed by The Hikurangi Foundation, an independent charity who partnered in the project with Sustainable Design, the REINZ Industry Training Organisation (ITO), Open Polytechnic, Bayleys Real Estate, and the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development. A pilot in July 2010 saw eight Bayleys Nelson agents learn about home performance in areas like heating, water use, materials and insulation.

Bruce Farquhar from Bayleys Nelson, was one of the first eight agents to complete the training. “It was a smart thing to do – it was a business decision“, says Bruce. “There’s a very genuine groundswell of demand for us to upskill in this area.” An industry-needs analysis completed as part of the project found that 95% of salespeople view more knowledge of sustainability issues as something that will make it easier to market a home.

The training, eventually for both existing and new real estate agents, has been accepted by REINZ ITO who have integrated it as a CPD module into their ‘Introduction to Property’ training for delivery in high schools across the country. This will be available in 2011.

The Open Polytechnic is the first educational institution in New Zealand to integrate the upcoming module into their national certificate in real estate training. The national certificate is a unit standards-based qualification.

Open Polytechnic tutor Keith Harris says it is important for the polytechnic to show concern for the environment and current trends. “Especially in Christchurch at the moment – there’s a huge opportunity for Christchurch to ensure that the rebuilding of houses takes into account sustainability aspects“, Mr Harris said. “People are saying ‘I hope they don’t build quick-fix, ugly buildings’.”

Hikurangi Foundation Executive Director Liana Stupples hopes that soon valuing the sustainability of a home – whether selling or buying one – will become a ‘no-brainer’. “This is not just about selling a few more super eco-houses. It’s about making many more bog-standard NZ homes perform better and sell better. And it’ll help create smarter estate agents, not just greener estate agents” says Ms Stupples.

Want to access this new training?

Please contact w: www.realito.co.nz | e: info@realito.co.nz | p: 09 353 2257

Want to know more about sustainable housing?

If you would like to speak to an independent advisor about how to ensure your new home or rental is energy efficient, you can contact the Home Energy Advice Centre on p: 0800 388 588 or visit energyadvice.org.nz.