On Tuesday, 9th October at 7pm, environmental advocacy campaigners Pure Advantage will launch The Human Element movie in New Zealand to raise awareness about the different environmental challenges facing communities and to catalyse discussion in a New Zealand context.

The Human Element is an engaging new documentary that shares visually rich stories about issues impacting our natural world. The documentary features renowned environmental photographer James Balog, of Chasing Ice fame (an Emmy award winning documentary), and has been produced by New Zealand-born producer Olivia Ahnemann.

This launch begins a campaign to invite New Zealander’s to share their stories, and we are excited to invite our Enviroschools participants, friends, and whānau to share the actions you are taking to create sustainable communities. You are invited to send your photos and stories to myclimatestoryNZ@pureadvantage.org, to be posted to their Instagram page #thehumanelement #pureadvantage #myclimatestoryNZ 

The movie will be able to be streamed from 9th October, and will also be screening at various locations around New Zealand (sites tbc).

Stay tuned for further announcements!

EVolocity Finals 2018

Waikato (regional finals): Saturday 29th September - Cartsport Track, Airport Road, Ohaupo, Hamilton. Click here for more info.

Auckland (regional finals): Sunday 30th September - Kart Sport Mt Wellington, 29b Tainui Rd, Mount Wellington, Auckland. Click here for more info.

Christchurch (national finals): Saturday 24th November - Wigram, Christchurch. Click here for more info. 

Entry is free to all events

The EVolocity electric vehicle programme started in Canterbury in 2014 and has grown across multiple regions of the North and South Islands. From the outset it has been supported by Toimata Foundation and Enviroschools.

The Programme addresses the need for young people, their families and communities to understand and appreciate the merits of electric vehicles, and turns more young people onto engineering and simultaneously the need for all human beings to live more sustainably. 

The annual Electric Wheels high school challenge is for high school teams to design and build an electric vehicle and go head-to-head with other schools in drag racing, street circuits, innovation challenges and more!

“On a scale of 1 to 10, it would be about 300!” Jordan, EVolocity competitor.

        Someday Stories is a series of cutting-edge films created by talented young Kiwis. Each short film examines a sustainability theme relevant to young New Zealanders including Disorder, a documentary about recovering from an eating disorder; Bloom, a drama about loss and grief, and Repugnant, a comedic take on gay conversion therapy. Foodie and Uapōifalemalu examine life in immigrant communities, and I Am Waru explores life after family violence. Over the next few weeks in September 2018 we will be showcasing the six films as they are released by Outlook for Someday.

1. I AM WARU

A single dad whose “normal” childhood was underlined by a dark underbelly of violence is determined to create a new normal for his own children – and for all children.

Rating: PG

Genre: Documentary

The film already has over 58k views on Facebook and the was the top story on Stuff as well as being hosted by The Wireless and Māori Television on Demand. "The strong positive message around male Māori parenthood is really affecting people" -Chris Widdup, Outlook for Someday.

2. DISORDER

An intimate insight into the perspectives of New Zealanders who have lived with disordered eating.

Rating: M

Genre: Documentary

The film is already doing well with currently over 26k views (and counting) on Facebook. The film-makers’ hope was that the film would act as a call to action for young people who are experiencing eating disorders to reach out to those nearest to them.

3. BLOOM

A young New Zealander and her mother live with grief in a toxic environment - can the river and their relationship be saved?

Rating: PG

Genre: Drama

4. FOODIE 

                        Flo's love for her new home is tested when her papa changes the menu at his                                traditional Chinese restaurant.

Rating: PG

Genre: Drama

Invitation for Schools to Collaborate with For the Love of Bees

For the Love of Bees invites you participate in its collaboration that is transforming NZ into the safest country in the world for bees and all pollinators. As a school, you can participate by creating a Pasture Painting with your students that will provide plenty of beautiful and safe food for pollinators year round.

A Pasture Painting is a tool that combines art, science and sustainability. It incorporates geometries, colour, duration, orientation and biology, which results in a planting that is visually striking, easy to mow around and encompassing of the needs of pollinators.

Creating one is the first step towards your school becoming a Biological Bee Sanctuary, which is a place that is not only safe for pollinators, but also a place where they can thrive. Your school grounds have the opportunity to become a mini Organic Park, which will be a key piece of the puzzle in creating safe cities for bees.

We recommend that you design your Pasture Painting with your students in February 2018, to be implemented by the end of March. This should supply flowers for the year. The flowers will go to seed over the summer break, ready for you to collect at the beginning of the new school year to begin again.

See our website for our Pasture Painting How-To Sheet, under Projects:  https://www.fortheloveofbees.co.nz/pasture-paintings/

Poster Competition

In 2018, For the Love of Bees will be holding two nationwide poster competitions with schools, that will focus on a topic that will help us learn how to make a safe country for bees. This is a chance for your students to submit their designs. The winning artists will have their design displayed around a number of cities, thanks to Phantom Billstickers. We will announce the topics in February next year and the details on how to participate. Watch this space....

The University of Waikato offers a Master in Education degree focussing in environmental and sustainability education. You can study for one paper alone, or work towards several papers and research for the full Master’s degree. The next paper offering begins in February 2018 with STER513-18C(HAM) Environmental and Sustainability Education. This paper involves two days on campus in Hamilton, February 23/24, followed by online supported learning at your place until early June 2018. This is a great introduction into academic study in this area. For more information visit https://education.waikato.ac.nz/tems/ or email Chris Eames at c.eames@waikato.ac.nz.