Kaitiakitanga

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3.2.3e Maori Youth Hikoi (Learning Journey) to Bioneers Conference 2008

Description:

This conference is a world leading one and certainly cements the necessary connection between mankind and the earth - a natural part of Maori heritage and responsibilities.  The Kaitiakitanga Network had people at a similar conference in 2004 as you will see from the report . The information and international networks gained there have been widely shared and have provided some awesome outcomes, opening new opportunities for upskilling and growth around New Zealand.

Following on from an impressive contribution by Kiwi Youth at Digital Earth 2007 in San Francisco where a relationship with Bioneers was established, their conference team has welcomed a group of 4 Young Maori people generously offering them scholarships and accommodation to attend - thanks. We used local networks including Intersect, Enviroschools, SPIES, Kaitiakitanga, Universities, TPK, Landcare research etc to help locate suitable delegates who could contribute to a significant Maori presence at the conference, establish international links and are working in areas where they can share widely what they learn on their return.

The Bioneers program is an amazing one http://www.bioneers.org/program with around 10,000 delegates and many stream options that will be of high value to bring home to share with all new Zealander. Thanks to We were Privileged to be able to send a

The conference has a strong focus on Living Systems Thinking (eg Fritjof Capra and others), Natural Processes (eg Paul Stamets - Mycorestoration, Janine Benyus - Biomimicry) Lessons from Indigenous Cultures and much more.

Outcomes expected:

- Shared Maori values and practices that enhance the wider international sustainability movement
- Continually growing both as individuals and as a traveling group to enhance ongoing effectiveness
- Making strong professional and indigenous peoples international connections that open minds
- Bringing home and sharing of best practices and wisdom learnt via a diverse network of connections
- Doors opened for many future such opportunities to make a better world for future generations
- Aotearoa NZ demonstrated as a good world citizen committed to a responsible and sustainable future
- People again remembering what it takes to be native on our planet
- Consolidated learning by visits to other active organisations and communities while in the US.

REPORTS BY PARTICIPANTS:

(a) Simon Ngawhika

Report from the 19th annual Bioneers Conference, 17-19th October 2008, San Francisco and trip to visit the Lopez Island Community Land Trust, 21-23rd October 2008, Washington State.

He mihi

Ka tu nga uri katoa a Tane
Tane te tokorangi,
Tane i tuwhera,
Tane te wananga,
Tane whakapiripiri i a tatou ona tamariki
Tane mahuta, Tanenuiarangi e!

Introduction

This report provides feedback and information from my visit to the 19th annual Bioneers conference held Oct 16-19 2008 in San Francisco, visit to UC Berkeley, California and the Lopez Island Community Land Trust, Washington State. It also includes a table of contacts made, a description of their organisation and their websites for further information and contact details.

Background

Founded in 1990, Bioneers promotes practical environmental solutions and innovative social strategies for restoring Earth’s imperiled ecosystems and healing our human communities. Bioneers ran its 19th Conference in 2008 and involved keynote speakers on the cutting edge of such work as biodiversity conservation, biomimicry, indigenous empowerment for land, ocean and other resource management, greening the economy, environmental justice, localised economies and more. It also facilitated the networking of many people and organisations in two halls which housed over a hundred exhibits from sponsor and member organisations.

Outcomes Achieved

My attendance at Bioneers 2008, which was made possible by your financial assistance, ensured that I was able to:

• establish networks with indigenous and other social and environmental activists, advocates, researchers and policy-makers
• engage with social and environmental issues at an international level
• represent Maori youth internationally

Details

Establish networks with indigenous and other social and environmental activists, advocates, researchers and policy-makers
Bioneers represents more than an event, it is a convergence of many threads of activity occurring around the world. Appendix One provides a table of the people and organisations I met at Bioneers. Names that are emboldened in the text of this report can be found in the appendix.
Engage with social and environmental issues at an international level

Biodiverisity Conservation
The need to conserve our planet’s biodiversity and manage it in more effective and equitable ways was voiced loudly from two usally dissimilar corners- Western science and indigenous peoples. However, the two seemed to reinforce, rather than contradict one another. We heard Paul Stamets, one the world’s leading mycotechnologists (aka ‘the Mushroom Guy’) and founder of Fungi Perfecti, state that the preservation of old growth forest is 'a matter of national security'. Then we heard Alberto Mellado Morena, a young indigenous aquaculture engineer of the Comcaac Nation in Mexico, speak to the cultural significance of the sea turtle to his people and its role as an indicator of both cultural and ecosystem health (Native Oceans workshop audio cd).
Jenine Benyus, founder of the Biomimicry Guild and co-founder of the Biomimicry Institute , runs an Innovation for Conservation campaign, which encourages Biomimcry firms to divert 10 % of their profits to biodiversity conservation. Member firms see the value of biodiversity because Nature is providing the inspiration for their innovative product designs.

Biomimicry
This concept broadens the scope of environmentally friendly product development to the development of products whose very conception and application incorporate answers to the question ‘How would nature do it?’ or employs ‘natures algorithm’ . This has been applied to such areas as:

• energy generation: ‘how does a whale’s fin reduce drag so that it swims more efficiently?’
• adhesives: ‘how does a gecko stick to the wall or ceiling?’
• ventilation: ‘how do termite mounds stay cool?’

There were many biomimicry firms represented at Bioneers. The two most influential speakers were Jenine Benyus, founder of the Biomimicry Guild and Ray Anderson of Interface Inc., the most successful green business leader in America . Jenine is an advocate for the wisdom nature can teach us, stating that ‘life creates in a way that is conducive to life’ and implying that at times, human industry does not. She had recently spent time in Aotearoa and spoke of how dedicated conservationists are to the task of maintaining our unique biodiversity.
Ray Anderson is a carpet manufacturer who revolutionised that industry by implementing green product design and processing. For example, he pioneered modular carpet tile design to eliminate wasted offcuts and designed non-toxic adhesives inspired by animals that possess sticky feet/legs/bodies. His concept is that:

Waste reduction=savings; Waste-to-input conversion=savings; Biomimicry=savings

The level of innovation involved in Biomimicry represents a whole other order of magnitude from the traditional industrial products which are based on plates, cones and cylinders- all unnatural shapes. Making them commercially viable requires sound legal protection through intellectual property and a scale of production appropriate to meet the massive costs of such innovation. For example, Stephen Dewar of Whale Power (See Appendix) already has orders backlogged for his whale-inspired wind turbine design because of a shortage in capacity to scale-up production. Also, each new R&D project represents a new business arrangement that needs to be managed. This social aspect is sometimes overlooked by the technical R&D teams.

Indigenous empowerment
The process of colonisation not only brought about physical destruction but also made indigenous people ‘invisible’ in their own lands. Religious beliefs, education and other media have shaped the predominant ‘truth’. Empowering indigenous peoples starts with allowing the path towards reconciliation to be constructed by indigenous peoples . Oren Lyons, Chief of the Iroquois Turtle Clan, expressed the need for reconciliation to begin with Self, then one another, then the Earth and the planet at large. Also that reconciliation begins at home and then extends out into your community, region, nation and international relationships.
One example of this empowerment is the Onondaga land claim in upstate New York. Neighbours of the Onondaga Nation (NOON) is an organisation of Central New Yorkers offering support to the Onondoga people in their land claim by raising the awareness of fellow New York residents of the kind of redress the Onondaga nation seeks in its negotiations with government.
Dune Lankard, a fisherman-come-political and environmental activist indigenous to the Eyak people of Alaska, has started REDOIL- Resisting Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands, the Fund for Indigenous Rights and the Environment (FIRE Fund), and the Native Conservancy Land Trust. These programmes help to ensure more recognition for the right of indigenous peoples to have a say in the conservation vs. development discussion.

Greening the economy
Co-founder of Bioneers Kenny Ausubel reminded us that no empire has managed to survive the decline in its main source of energy. However, the inevitable decline of oil supplies was not deemed as urgent as the need to deal with the effects of our oil-based economy; on our health and on the environment. A call was made to ‘Reboot Uncle Sam’ , reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and the impacts of it on global climate systems and biological diversity.
The move towards a Green Collar workforce- creating jobs which provide environmental benefits while also alleviating poverty and social injustice- is being spearheaded in California by Van Jones of the Ella Baker Centre for Human Rights and Green for All. In 2007 he broke ground in getting the Green Collar Jobs Act passed by the State of California legislature and secured a state tax credit to complement a 30 % Federal tax credit for solar installation.
Localising food, energy, banking and finance is a viable alternative to the oil, energy, climate and financial crises that has resulted in heavy emphasis on the “global”. The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) and Complementary Currencies Forum, among others, have applied the principles of the Slow Food movement- a way of eating which is more social, more nutritious and less harmful on the environment- to economies. Dubbed Slow Money, it includes direct, transparent and personal institutions and transactions, based on long-term outcomes. It could be thought of as biomimicry on a macro level. However, institutional and legal barriers to such a movement exist. Incentives encourage the very things which perpetuate the ‘old economy’ over newer, more local approaches.

Personal reflection In the afternoon of the first day of the Bioneers conference, I was fortunate enough to meet and speak with Van Jones, an incredibly switched-on, articulate, vibrant and visionary person who has pioneered the Green Collar Economy in America (see below for details or refer to his book The Green Collar Economy: how one solution can solve our two biggest problems, 2008). I first got exposed to Mr Jones at the Pachamama Alliance symposium held in Wellington in June. His message struck a chord with me because he talked about the price of citizenship minorities have paid- something Māori can definitely relate to- but from an environmental perspective. I found his attitude that there’s no reason why minorities themselves can’t be the ones leading the way for others and his belief that the inherent connection between social justice and environmental sustainability is only made clear when you look at them through a lens of personal spiritual fulfilment very agreeable from my own perspective. However, his real gift lies in his ability to lay these three components of the same whole out for all to see and articulate them in a way that his vision is understood by all; he is a fantastic orator. I spoke to him about the Māori creation story and how that informs our environmental ethic, and related to him the significance of the hongi – the making of Hineahuone and the other beings we share this planet with and the breath of life given to her and how that is replicated in the hongi. As I told the story I noticed that while I was talking about the making of Hineahuone we were still walking, but then as soon as I spoke of the tihei mauriora- that divine spiritual energy imbued into Hineahuone and that resides in all living things, he stopped, faced me and was fully present to what I was saying. Then I gave him (and his colleague standing beside him) a hongi, and he was noticeably touched. A connection had been made.

Represent Māori youth internationally
I gratefully participated in the Bioneers youth programme, aimed at supporting youth to engage in ‘education for action, connection for power, inspiration for change’ . This programme was supported by Just Us for Food Justice (JU4FJ) and Youth Unity Coalition for Action Now (YU-CAN). It was great to meet Alberto and some of the other indigenous/minority youth there and to know that they face issues which are extremely similar to the ones we face here in Aotearoa. As a member of the youth council I met with other youth for an hour each day of the conference, where we discussed the issues that had been discussed in that day’s plenary sessions and shared personal experiences. This provided me the opportunity to hear a wide range of perspectives, as well as share some of my own experiences and Māori cultural beliefs.

Side events

Visit to University of California Berkeley
On Monday 20th October I visited the offices of Global Exchange, an organisation dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world, whose staff I had met at Bioneers. I then took the Rapit Transit under the harbour to Berkeley, where the UC Berkeley campus is located. This institution enjoys a reputation as one of the most highly-achieving non-Ivy League College in America, houses the third largest library in that country and the Centre for Sustainable Resource Development. I met with the Centre’s Academic director, Robin Marsh, a food economist, as well as Carl Wilmsen, a community forestry researcher. We discussed the use of market instruments to encourage more environmentally sustainable industrial processes, using examples such as forestry, agriculture and water quality management. I also learned of a Summer course they run called the Beahr’s Environmental Leadership Program, where environmentalists and researchers from around the world converge to collectively tackle locally situated, globally related environmental issues. I expressed my interest in attending this and asked what sort of criteria are in place. I was advised that this particular course is focused more on applied problem-solving projects than academic theory, so this course would suit someone with 5 year’s experience in the field to draw from better than someone with a Master’s Degree and no experience.

Lopez Island Community Land Trust (LCLT)
Lopez Island is the third largest of the San Juan Island archipelago, in the Puget Sound of the coast of Washington State and British Columbia, Canada. The Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT) was established in 1989 to support local island residents with housing affordability and its sense of community. Its purpose is to:

• Acquire and hold land in trust in order to provide for permanently affordable housing.
• Provide permanently affordable access to land for such purposes as quality housing, sustainable agriculture and forestry, cottage industries and co-operatives by forever removing the land from the speculative market.
• Develop and exercise responsible and ecological practices, which preserve, protect and enhance the land's natural attributes.
• Serve as a model in land stewardship and community development by providing information, resources and expertise.

The LCLT has achieved some amazing outcomes particularly around water and energy conservation through such clever applications as using different kinds of window glass on different sides of the house, super-insulation from recycled materials, passive solar heating and grey-water reticulation to irrigate shared garden spaces.

Personal Reflection I really appreciated how one of the criteria to be allowed to buy a house with the Trust is that you have to contribute time to the construction of the houses in the development project. It means that from the outset a sense of community- a collective sense of achievement and capacity to ride out tough times- is being cultivated. It was also a pleasure to visit the local school and interact with Year 7 and 8 children for a couple hours. Finally, the organic, locally produced food we were fed was amazing. The LCLT’s Sustainable Agriculture Rural Development initiative is a wonderful achievement of health, environmental, community and education objectives.

Acknowledgement
Though the hua of this trip may not come to bear for years to come, the seeds have been planted. I have made a solid commitment to cultivating the relationships that were brokered at Bioneers for the benefit of whanau, hapu, iwi and all New Zealanders.

No reira, rau rangatira ma, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa.

Appendix One: Organisations engaged with at Bioneers 2008

Biomimicry	Fungi Perfecti	www.fungi.com	'Fungal wisdom'; fungal bioremediation of toxic spills, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BelfLIJErek&feature=related
	Biomimicry Guild	www.biomimicryguild.com	Consultancy for bio-inspired design.
	Biomimicry Institute	www.biomimicryinstitute.org	Innovation for Conservation campaign
	Interface Inc	www.interfaceinc.com	Interface, Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of modular carpet and is committed to sustainability and to doing business in ways that minimize the impact on the environment.
	Whale Power	www.whalepower.com	Invented subsonic wind turbine blades inspried by the shape of a whale’s fin.
Indigenous Groups	Iroquois	www.sixnations.org	The Iroquois are a confederacy of nations which form the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee, in the Northeastern part of the United States. Oren Lyons is Chief of their Turtle Clan or Council of Chiefs.
	Onondaga	www.onondaganation.org	One of the Six Nations currently seeking redress for land confiscations in New York State
	Comcaac Nation	http://seri-eco.org/turtleconser.html	Indigenous people of the desert and sea in Northwest Mexico.
	Eyak	http://www.redzone.org/	Indigenous people of Alaska’s Copper River delta and coastal area of Prince William Sound
	Indigenous Environmental Network	www.ienearth.org	IEN was formed by grassroots Indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues (EJ). Executive director Tom Goldtooth, activist, leader and filmmaker spoke at both plenary and workshop sessions.
	REDOIL	See http://www.worldwildlife.org/... who/media/press/2008/WWFPresitem5921.html	Resisting Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands
	FIRE Fund	See http://www.redzone.org/.. NewPages/FireFund/index.htm	Fund for Indigenous Rights and the Environment
	Native Conservancy Land Trust	www.ashoka.org/node/3928	‘turning conservation into an economic and political opportunity for the indigenous people of Alaska’ (Dune Lankard)
	NOON	http://www.peacecouncil.net/NOON/index.html	Neighbours of the Onondaga Nation. Central New Yorkers supporting to the Onondaga people in their upstate New York land claim
Green, just Economies	Ella Baker Centre for Human Rights	http://ellabakercenter.org/page.php?pageid=1	Established by Van Jones in 1996 and is based in Oakland, California. A strategy and action centre working for justice, opportunity and peace in urban America through four campaigns: Books not bars Green collar jobs Bay Area police watch Silence the violence
	Green for All	http://www.greenforall.org	Founded by Van Jones, Green For All is a national organisation dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty
	BALLE	http://www.livingeconomies.org/	Business Alliance for Local Living Economies is a network of entrepreneurs dedicated to sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, zero-waste manufacturing and other initiatives
	Complementary Currencies Forum	http://www.complementarycurrency.org/	Provides an online resource centre for the establishment of local currencies
	Slow Food	http://www.slowfood.com	A movement which started in the 1980s to protect the heritage of food, defend biodiversity, educate consumers and link co-producers with one another.
	Slow Money	http://transitionculture.org/2008/01/14/the-slow-money-revolution/	A movement which applies many of the lessons and wisdom from the Slow Food movement. The ‘Small Mart Revolution’ (Michael Schuman of www.smallmart.org)
Youth	YU-CAN: Youth Unity Coalition for Action Now	an initiative brought by: www.earthisland.org www.globalexchange.org www.stewardshipcouncil.org www.uas.coop	Earth Island Institute Global Exchanage The Stewardship Council The Urban Alliance for Sustainability
	Just Us For Food Justice	http://www.bioneers.org/youth/JU4FJ	One of the goals of Bioneers is to amplify and deepen the education and networking value of the Bioneers Conference. Just Us For Food Justice (JU4FJ), the youth food and farming program is made up of youth who are working on food and farming projects in their communities.
UC Berkeley	Beahr’s Environmental Leadership Programme	http://beahrselp.berkeley.edu/	“a unique learning opportunity for mid-career environmental professionals and decision-makers to gain expertise, enhance skills and broaden perspectives on environmental and natural resource management and leadership.” Contacts: Elna Brunkhorst, Programme Representative; Robin Marsh, Associate Director
	Centre for Sustainable Resource Development (CSRD)	http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/csrd/	Part of UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources, the CSRD undertakes research in the areas of agriculture, community, global climate, pest management, population, technology and water.
Lopez Island	Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT)	http://www.lopezclt.org/	The LCLT focuses its efforts on housing affordability, sustainable agriculture and energy in the pursuit of community outcomes that benefit Lopez Islanders lives in terms of environment, health, education and local economic development.
General	Bioneers	www.bioneers.org	Bringing about 'Virtuous engagement' with the earth and its systems and a 'Moral Economy'
	Kaitiakitanga Programme and Network	www.kaitiakitanga.net	‘to pass this [environment] on to all in a state better than we found it’

http://www.bioneers.org/about/mission                                                                 

Funding proposal to attend Bioneers 2008

Paul Stamets, Plenary speech, 17th October 2008

Native Oceans workshop audio cd.

See Appendix One for more information

Jenine Benyus, Keynote speech 18th October and ‘Biomimicry’s Climate Change Solutions’ seminar 19th October, 2008

Bioneers 2008 Biographies

Oren Lyons, ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ seminar October 18, 2008

Kenny Ausubel, Keynote Speech Oct 17, 2008

Liz Cunningham, Bioneers 2008 Youth Programme Manager

 

(b) Nathan Foote - Report on Bioneers Conference October 08

Firstly I would like to thank the Kaitiakitanga Network, for all the good mahi over many years that helped to make this hikoi possible. I would also like to thank The Ministers Discretionary fund for providing the funding to make this hikoi a reality. Last but by no means least, Liz Cunnigham, for connecting us into the Bioneers conference.

It is hard to express in words the journey that was Bioneers 08. The people that we met, the landscapes that we saw, the flora & fauna that is part of the United States of America, and New Zealand. America is an amazing country, such beauty and richness even in the depleted state that it is in.
It is in the journey that we can solidify ones direction, beliefs, and personal commitment to the cause. The cause is the continued facilitation of our human whanau to be awakened from the disharmony, the discontent & the disease that our lifestyle creates on a daily basis. This hikoi has confirmed for me the urgency and necessity to continue on the path of education.

Somehow we must awaken the sleepy, the ‘zombies’, that our society has created. War has come to represent who we are and how we relate. Fear is now the driving ethic behind our daily movements. Life has become a drudgery of unrelenting consumption.
Bioneers 08 showed me that there is a better way. We can live in harmony with each other and with our Earth Mother. People from all ethnic backgrounds were sharing ideas, sharing kai, sharing smiles, love & laughter. It was the dream made reality in a country that was under siege (this was pre-election of President Obama).

Every single person I had the privilege to interact with was warm with love and vitality. Every single person was committed to making this place, this home, this earth, a better place. This may all sound “airy fairy” to some of you, but the truth is that in Bioneers I saw how we should be living. I saw the humanity that was a humanity of peace, of brilliance, and of love. Everyone I met I embraced with open arms & this was returned with a smile and warmth, like rays from the sun. I saw the reflection of that spark which is universal, like the power in flames, the universal truths of love and compassion burnt holes in the greyness of consumerism. When we meet the dream and we are present with this, the power and triumph of this moment is awe-inspiring. Hope is ever present, life is good, & people are the only catalyst for change we have.

Our ropu on this hikoi were cohesive and responsive acting as a whole unit. Each of us had something to contribute. In discussions with others I knew that if I did not have the answer some one in our ropu would.  I would like to thank these people, Bernadette Papa, Simon Ngawhika, and my ‘cuzzy’ Shona Sam, for their commitment and presence on this hikoi. I was humbled to be in your company.
This was one of the highlights of this hikoi, the power created by our ropu. This mana, ihi, wehi was unmistakably Maori. We expressed ourselves to the world as Maori. We talked of those issues affecting our people that are shared throughout the world by all indigenous peoples. We were able to communicate heart to heart with all peoples, and share directly with them who we are & what Aotearoa is.

This was another empowering reality for me, how rich our heritage and culture is. That we are not alone, that as indigenous peoples we can help each other to reignite the home fires, to re-spark ‘ahi kaa - the home fires’.
The networking by our ropu was extensive. We covered a lot of ground and put in some long hours to make this hikoi worthwhile. We met with some of the great minds of our time, some of the most motivating  & inspirational people of our time.

As an added bonus to my Bioneers experience I was able to spend 4 nights at Ecology Action in Willits, California. Ecology Action is the Headquarters of the ‘Grow bio-intensive’ garden method. (www.growbiointensive.org) This is a world leading sustainable garden method that has over 35 years experience and data collected. I am thankful to John Jeavons and Carol Cox for giving me this opportunity.

I also secured some time on Vancouver Island, Canada, in Nanaimo and Victoria to speak at various conferences on the issue of Aboriginal food sovereignty. The first conference was the Inter Tribal Health Authority at their annual Chiefs Health Symposium. At Victoria University at the Aboriginal Research and Ethics conference I again spoke about the issue of aboriginal food sovereignty.

All these experiences were added value to the Bioneers event and enabled me to extend my knowledge base, networks, and share some of what is happening here in New Zealand with other peoples.

How to conclude or sum up this hikoi is yet to be resolved. Personally my paradigm of local changed to global. That we are all connected is of paramount importance in our present crisis. Firstly, we are not alone secondly it will be through global solutions that change must come. Bioneers shows us the way.

I cannot begin to express the many edges of change that I can now offer here in Aotearoa because of Bioneers. Presently I have shared with my Gardening course a small understanding of this hikoi. I am about to embark on the purchase of whenua in Gisborne to lay the foundations of CORA – Centre of Responsible Action. CORA is a place of education through experiential learning. Learning through doing, constructive and positive solution solving for the present world situation. Before Bioneers CORA was going to be local, & possibly national. Now it will be international with exchanges between all peoples from around the globe.

I am discussing with First Nations people, and Amerindian people the possibility of exchanges that will solidify our connections and ignite our home fires. Strength through sharing & understanding of our natural world will be the basis of these exchanges. Creating a mutual reciprocity towards healing of all peoples. This is one outcome facilitated through the Bioneers experience. I am thankful and humbled to have had this opportunity. My words are only the beginning of my actions.

We should judge all Nations and therefore the world on the health of the people. I will inspire to be a healthy citizen of this beautiful world upon which we live & breathe in order to become the change I which to see.

Tihei Mauri ora!
Nathan Foote
Director
Strong Earth Ltd
Waimata Valley
Gisborne

 

(c) Shona Sam - Bioneers Conference and Lopez Island Community Land trust Oct 15-19 2008

Bioneers Conference

Thought-provoking and inspirational would be the two words to describe this conference.  Never have I been to a conference that had such a broad scale of people who are passionate and committed to kaitiakitanga or looking after the environment and therefore its people.  This conference was a strong cohesion of social, cultural and scientific knowledge surrounding the environmental problems and the solutions that the whole world faces today.  From a scientific perspective there were many people who stood out for me and have invoked several hypotheses and  the change of thought processes which I will endeavour to engage myself in here in New Zealand and internationally in the future. 

One was Janine Benyus who enlightened us on the fact that nature has the answers to our environmental issues and we can observe natural organisms to give us those answers.  She gave some outstanding examples, some of those which Simon has mentioned in his report.  Another was Paul Stamets who is so passionate about fungi that it was borderline obsession!  However the amazing opportunities for environmental sustainability stemming from the humble fungi, (See our network's mycorestoration project at Hokianga) gives you pause for thought about what other small organisms are able to help us in such huge ways. 

Rebecca Moore was another noted speaker for me at the conference.  She is a computer scientist/software professional who manages a program called Google Outreach which supports non-profit organisations, communities and indigenous peoples around the world in applying mapping tools towards the fight against environmental and cultural injustices.  She showed us a video of a remote village in Brazil, which belonged to the Surui tribe that had never had outside human contact until illegal loggers infested their area. I say infested because upon the Surui tribe meeting the loggers, because of their isolation the Surui people were quickly succumbed by disease and went from a tribe of 5000 people to a tribe of 280 people.  Rebecca and her team showed the Surui how to use a computer and use Google outreach program.  This modern technology is helping the Surui tribe gain global awareness of their struggle and the most amazing thing was seeing the Surui chief in his full tribal regalia working hard at a computer!  It was 21st century technology actually helping instead of hindering these tribal people in their struggle to maintain their forest and hence their way of living.  These are only some of the amazing examples of the commitment, passion and drive to move the world forward in sustainability.  As an aside, our Kaitiakitanga group managed a personal session with Rebecca, and, as a consequence will now be launching the Google Outreach program here in New Zealand early to mid next year.

The conference was an amazing opportunity to become inspired, to gain knowledge and to pass on knowledge.  From this conference I have lined up several presentations here in Christchurch with Lincoln Envirotown, Enviroschools, Christchurch Polytechnic and Lincoln University, to share the information I have gained from this conference and to invoke in as many people as possible some of the drive and passion for sustainability and all that is meant by kaitiaki that was ever present at the conference.

Lopez Island Community Trust

Lopez Island is a beautiful island making up part of the San Juan Islands, just off the Washington State coastline (about a 20min ferry ride).  Because of its desirable location and beauty, the island has high real estate value.  This means that for the lower income bracket families, there is no means to be able to buy a home on the island and many have had to move to the mainland to provide for their families.  The Lopez Island Community Land Trust gives these lower income families the opportunity to buy their own home with the added bonus of having an energy-efficient and sustainable home.  Notable features of these homes were the straw bale walls and on the cool autumn day that we had while we were there, the houses were warm and felt very comfortable.  There were some modern technologies that I believe have not reached New Zealand yet, but need to.  One was the specially designed windows engineered in Canada.  These windows  were a SHGC (solar heat gain co-efficient) glass; on the sunny side of the house a high solar heat gain window is used and on the shady side a low solar heat gain glass is used – all to maximise the energy efficiency inside the house.  Another technology of note was the solar panels that were used; these were evacuated tubes, it contained only copper wire (no water is needed to circulate) and at the top was a tube of glycol (anti-freeze) whereby the copper heated the glycol which in turn heated the water in a water cylinder inside the house.  One important point that was spoken many times by Sandy and Rhea was that you must know your climate to succeed in an energy efficient home and the use high quality and technical designs.

The Lopez Island Community Land Trust system is able to work because the land and materials are bought in a lump sum and the payment for the new owners is set.  Money is found for the land and materials from a small loan, private donors and public sources like government funding.  The amazing work of both Sandy, Rhea and their dedicated team has allowed the opportunity for low income families to stay and work in Lopez Island in cost effective homes. (They have helped inspire and support the affordable housing trust at Raglan). This is something which I believe is a true testament to the passion for the environment and people who live in it that I experienced at both the Bioneers conference and at Lopez Island.

 

(d) Bernadette Papa - Reflections - Bioneers Conference & Lopez Community Land Trust Oct 15-19 2008

The opportunity to travel to USA for the Bioneers 2008 conference was a unique experience that I had two weeks to prepare for, after my colleague Ngarimu was unable to attend. I consider this to be my first overseas experience (visiting whanau in Australia doesn’t really count in comparison) and I am enormously grateful to have received such a fantastic opportunity. Attending Bioneers was an inspiring & enlightening experience. In my descriptions to whanau about the conference I was attending in San Rafael, I would summarise it as an ‘eco-warriors’ gathering. This term seemed to make more sense to all those who know me, rather than my lengthy attempts to explain the meaning and purpose of Bioneers. I’m sure the team would agree that the event certainly lived up to this description.

I had met only one member of our group before our introductions prior to departure at the airport; Simon and I are both SGGES (geography) graduates from the University of Auckland.  We arrived in San Fran after the (grueling) 12 hour flight (I now feel sick at the scent of airplane hand wash). I was grateful for the Embassy Suites Hotel as it was conveniently next door to the conference venue at the Marin Centre.  This gave us the opportunity to orient ourselves exploring the conference venue next door and take in some of our surroundings and the local biodiversity although we didn’t have much luck getting to see raccoons or squirrels there. The struggle some people had with our accent when asking about them though was entertaining.

Surprisingly, for this kairaranga (weaver), was the harakeke and other NZ natives (ie. akeake, tarata, kohuhu) featuring in the gardens at the centre. A species of Typha (raupo) fringes a corner of the landscaped lagoon and as a coastal site, species resembling remuremu (Selliera radicans) carpeted sand-based islands in the carpark. One local told me the ‘flaxes’ were favoured as they are ‘drought resistant’, an interesting concept that many NZ landscape designers could learn from as they tend to relegate the species purely to wetlands! Although we were not attending the conference to make presentations ourselves, I did arouse the interest of at least one aspiring (Nor’ Cali) indigenous weaver - Brie (Tolowa) who showed me some special ‘iris’ fibres she is learning to process and work with. Needless to say, I was in my element.

On the first day in Marin, Shona and I attended the Creating & Implementing National Green Plans: How countries are succeeding pre-conference intensive which kept us at the Hotel venue.  With Nederland, Mexico City examples presented, Tom Fookes discussed our RMA within this theme. He was also the only presenter who offered a response to (Alex) recurring question about ‘how measures to address climate change were also going to address poverty’? Professor Fookes suggested that our central govt directive to retrofit and insulate all low-income (state) housing as our solution, thereby addressing energy consumption and costs to the environment as well as low income earners. However, the NZ experience may not necessarily compare to the American one, unlike the larger scale programmes articulated in Van Jones ‘Green Collar Economy’. In my view, mass production of renewable energy devices like solar panels in a country such as USA will also help us by making these options more readily available, bring the costs down and facilitate technological research, innovation and development in renewable energies.

Simon (the only attendee who truly fulfilled the ‘youth’ criteria), reciprocated the generosity we received from the Bioneers organizers, offering his assistance with packing and set up after hours. I felt this was a good example of tikanga Maori in practice, regardless of where you are in the world.  It was also a buzz to watch Simon’s expressions as he recounted the workshops and sites he attended, the wildlife he got to see (which was not to be the case for Shona and I) and events like his extraordinary meeting with Van Jones (an articulate & handsome Eco-Warrior).

The Bioneers Conference
It was common for the introductions to be as enthralling as the plenary presentations themselves. I/we were brought to tears by the social justice aspect of presentations everyday and I couldn’t always stay put in the auditorium as a result. Eighteen year old Erica Fernandez blew us away with her story and the outcomes they achieved and Paul Stamets amazed us with his superior knowledge of the role fungi play in our ecosystems. Tom Goldtooth sang a song in his introduction to Alaskan Eyak Eco-Warrior - Dune Lankard. We were all asked to stand as the song was about ‘sacred places’ to his Lakota people and he hoped the ‘sacredness would be returned’ to us. Naturally, the lamenting tones of this waiata made the tears flow again as I listened with head bowed (see this presentation at this link: http://www.redzone.org/index.html).

Tule (pronounced too-ley) huts created an irresistible entry to the Indigenous Tent for me. Located at the centre ‘heart’ of the conference village, the gabled shelters are constructed by bundling the tall, thick tule (Schoenoplectus acutus) using the whatu aho patahi (single pair twining) technique in the same way we do with raupo for waka & whare construction. It was at this early stage of the conference I was grateful to meet Paula ‘Pimm’ Allen (Kanuk-Yurok) who told me about their efforts to awaken their moko kauwae customs and that they engaged the services of Hawaiian artists for the purpose (United Indian Health Service: http://www.crihb.org/united.htm).

I had interesting discussions at the conference communal lunch & dinner tables, sitting with various local and international attendees. As I also have a moko kauwae, it was a great opportunity to answer questions and engage with people about how, where and why we came to be there, our issues, work, family and, of course, culture. Two indigenous Indian women at the conference - L.Frank Manriquez (right) & Sage LaPena (left) , stand out for me as, surprisingly, they too are custodians of their moko kauwae. Prior to this conference I had no idea about American Indian customs in ta moko. I attended Sage LaPena’s ‘herb walk’ session and her knowledge and passion for their plants, practices and values was instructive and has helped improve my appreciation of them.

People were genuinely surprised by our gifts and I was similarly surprised when gifts were exchanged like the copy of the Southern Paiute Nation ‘Salt Song Trails’ given by Matthew Leivas Snr.  I wept again as I watched the twenty minute documentary when I got home. Valuable resources, such as this film, to capture and access their history, language & customs (from their own perspective), supports the discussions had with Pimm about the merits of establishing American Indian TV.                            

I also had the great privilege to sit and chat with Ojibwe elder Tobasonakwut (Peter) Kinew (see http://silverbuffalo.org/NSA-People.html), who told me about his their home-fires based around one of the great lakes, and that his elders also regarded the Pacific Ocean as a ‘great lake’ where the home-fires were known. For me, I felt a strong sense of connection with the American peoples (when we have been told by western ‘science’ there is none) and that connection is tangibly and undeniably through Te Moana Nui a Kiwa (the great {Pacific} ocean of Kiwa). It’s not surprising then that there are many references to the Pacific in California and the Pacific Coast Highway meanders from Vancouver (Canada) down through the coastal states of North America.

More information about some of the people that we met, or attended sessions at the conference and the work they do can be found at these links:
Mati Waiya (Wishtoyo Foundation)
http://www.wishtoyo.org/welcome.html
Melissa Nelson (Cultural Conservancy)
http://www.nativeland.org/
Lucas Benitez (Coalition of Immokalee Workers)
http://www.ciw-online.org/news.html
Pachamama Alliance
http://www.pachamama.org/
Rebecca Moore (Google Earth Outreach)
http://www.imagingnotes.com/go/article_free.php?mp_id=97&cat_id=18&Udo
http://video.google.com/videosearch?sourceid=navclient&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-40,GGLJ:en-GB&q=rebecca+moore+google+earth&um=1&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title#

Lopez Island

Having parted ways with Nathan at San Francisco airport, a couple of hours or so later we arrived at Vancouver (Canada) airport which features prominent Haida artworks (and artists) throughout, it also has indoor and outdoor recycling bins. Our host Rhea met us at there and it was nice to finally put faces to names after only corresponding by email across the Pacific Ocean. I was glad we were picked up at the airport as it took a couple of hours to drive back across the US border to catch the ferry at Anacortes, WA.

When we arrived on Lopez Island we were given a tour of Sandy and Rhea’s eco-friendly home and grounds featuring an organic (but not completely ‘bunny’ proof) vege garden and two wetland ponds. Sandy & Rhea live and breathe sustainable living in their mud-straw home that uses tank water, solar-heating (water & floor) and indoor/outdoor composting toilets. The two level house also has straw bale insulation, and an open air sleepout that Shona hastily claimed in the hope of engaging with the wildlife at night. Rhea and Sandy treated us to amazing dinners made with fresh vegetables from their garden, and I had the first cups of tea and coffee I could enjoy there.

Our amazing hosts, Rhea & Sandy’s home on Lopez Island

We joined the talking circle for introductions at the Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT) sustainable community homes development the following day. After introductions, our tour guide (and timekeeper) Rhea gave us an in-depth tour of the 15 unit development and all its features. Residents, staff and interns were all cheerful, friendly and welcoming to our group. The Trust office, two rental apartments (where interns may be able to board) and 12 dwellings make up this eco-village. Passive energy & efficiency is utilized through house design, straw insulation and solar water heating. The village water tank has more than 3x the capacity required so there should be no water shortages for residents and a wetland is in place to treat runoff.

Keeping housing affordable is considered vital to the resident community of Lopez Island. As coastal development and investment increases land values, affordability for long-term residents gets further from reach and there is concern that the island will only turn into a part-time playground for the wealthy. Home owners undergo home ownership training a year prior to committing to home ownership and must put in at least 20 hours of their own labour per week. I think this is an important consideration for low income home owners so that they learn how to DIY to reduce house repairs and maintenance costs. Residents should be reassured about the wider value of the skills and expertise they have developed from being part of this unique development. The Trust fosters internships where anyone with professional or personal interests in this type of development can apply to work (and board) on the project:  
http://www.lopezclt.org/affordable_housing/sustainable%20community%20homes.htm

Our first day on the island included a visit to the local school where we were introduced to a class of (I think) 8th graders. There was time beforehand to take a tour of the schools organic vege gardens and orchard. The stillness and silence of the class as Simon unlaced and removed his shoes before mihimihi was noted in our reflections, and the warm-up game he facilitated with the class helped everyone relax, and added much value to our exchange. There were looks of surprise and confusion when I mentioned seeing armed police as a difference, for these (intermediate age) kids it is common to go to the ‘gravel pit’ for target practice as a past-time. Shona also noted that the majority of the kids did not see themselves living in Lopez as adults even though they felt it is a safe place to raise a family. Following that, Simon went back to the LCLT to put in some labour with some of the school kids and Shona and I got to visit an organic horticultural farm where the oxen are highly regarded. Then we went to the Lopez Island vineyard which grows a grape variety (that I like the sound of) called Seigerebbe (pronounced – ziga-reeba). 

Having missed out on at least two tours to Earthsong Eco-housing development in Waitakere City (http://www.earthsong.org.nz/about/index.html), it seems odd to travel to the other side of the globe for a similar experience. However, it has been an invaluable opportunity to visit the LCLT as it is still a work in progress.

 

On our final day on the island, one of the homeowners - Donna was willing to let me do something creative with an interior wall of her house. Getting my hands into the different mud-straw mixtures was interesting and fun. Donna’s familiarity with the medium however, was obvious as her patiki kowhaiwhai design formed quickly and seamlessly.

Maori art for Donna’s whare                         

That afternoon, it was great to get out and see stroll through a couple of nature reserves on the island, with the (ever diminishing) hope of seeing a Bald Eagle, raccoons or squirrels. Deer, on the other hand, roam freely on Lopez Island which Rhea works hard to keep out of their gardens.  Sadly for Shona and I, it was the season that Bald Eagles hunt salmon returning to upstream spawning sites in the mainland river systems and our time had run out as we were on the next waka home…

Kitted up for construction, then then design conditions for this housing just two months after we left

Public space recycling at Vancouver Airport

Acknowledgements:
Kaitiakitanga network, Lotteries Minister’s Discretionary Fund, Bioneers Organisation & Resource Renewal Institute, Lopez Community Land Trust, Ngati Whatua o Orakei Corporate Ltd, Kia Kaha, Ngarimu Blair & Mere Roberts.

 

INFORMATION PREPARED TO JUSTIFY THIS TRIP AND OBTAIN FUNDING:

How this learning and sharing journey was organised:

This trip is being coordinated by the Kaitiakitanga network which links into a many other groups both locally and internationally for knowledge sharing and sustainable action. (Its kaupapa is based on the Tipu Ake Organic Leadership Model which is all about growing people and connections). It is strongly orientated around youth, growth and the future - a key value is "We have no room around here for matapiko (stingy) gatekeepers who keep all the information (and power) for themselves".

Via this network attendees are chosen (some young, others young at heart) who stand out, span the country and have a diverse spread of interests. They display strong leadership skills, are proactive and have robust links within education and their communities; as the references for the individual people will show.

The travelers:

1. Simon Ngawhika  (24)  - Policy Analyst,  Maori and related areas  

Tena koutou katoa

Ae me mihia atu ki a koutou ko wai au. Anei:

I am of Te Arawa and Mataatua descent; hailing from a great little place called Pukehina in the Bay of Plenty, with Ngati Whakahemo, Ngati Uenukukopako and Ngati Whakaue heritage.

On Friday the 12th of September I was approached by about the opportunity to attend Bioneers 2008 as a Māori youth.

My great passion is effecting positive change for my whānau and my people. My commitment to this is evident in my work with:
*           The Tuakana Arts Programme (mentor 2003-6)
*           The MATES Programme (mentor 2003)
*           The Māori Students' Association Ngā Tauira Māori (co-president 2006)
*           Department of Conservation's Kahui Kura Taiao team (2007-8)
*           Department of Conservation's youth reference group (pending)
*           Te Aho Tu Roa/Raumati '08, Whaingaroa
*           Te Puni Kokiri's Mātauranga Māori policy team (2008)
*           The Te Arawa Rangatakapu Emerging Leaders Programme (2008)

I'd like to establish networks with other indigenous social and environmental activists, advocates, researchers and policy-makers and then share the knowledge I gain widely upon my return to Aotearoa.

I believe it is very important that Maori approaches to socio-economic issues and human-environment relations are given more regard and recognition. I want to use the skills I've acquired to help ensure that; for the physical, cultural and economic wellbeing of Maori and NZ as a whole. I feel I am well equipped to serve the needs of society and nature.

I am a policy researcher and analyst in the area of traditional knowledge and the environment.

The 2008 Bioneers Conference is an excellent avenue where we as Maori can make a difference for ourselves, our mokopuna and our taiao, and I would be honoured to be a part of it.

Ka mihia ano mo to mahi whai tikanga kei a koutou.

Naku noa,
Simon Ngawhika
Wellington

 Letters of Support: Department of Conservation, Te Awawa Lakes, Enviroschools

2. Nathan Foote  - Te Mauritau   (38)   self employed

Te Pakakohe, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngati Porou, and Ngati Pakeha are my tribal affiliations.
My background is broad & varied and covers Traditional maori wood carving at NZMACI, Bio-intensive gardening, Permaculture, Heirloom seed saving at Koanga Gardens, First Nations studies, Greenwood work & Responsible home design.

I am presently teaching a bio-intensive gardening course, & helping to create a sustainable food garden at Te Mauri Tau Inc, Raglan, NZ. Prior to this I was a presenter on a TV show called Kiwi Maara (garden), presenting the bio-intensive component of this show, the first time this gardening method has been aired on NZ television.

My preferred teaching style is hands on, demonstrating to people through good practice how easy responsible action can be. I consider bio-intensive gardening to be responsible action; it relies on energy efficient methods, & focuses on sustainable resource management.

I also hope to revive with new understandings the old arts and crafts that have a strong commitment to sustainability. Greenwood work is one example of such a practice. I am inspired by the work of Englishmen, Ben Law, & Mike Abbott who are part of the revival of the Greenwood work movement in Britain.

My goal is to set up a school for responsible action, which implies responsible thought, which leads to sustainable living. I hope to offer apprenticeship learning opportunities to help facilitate the skill base and mindset changes needed to reconnect to our beautiful earth mother.

I am an advocate for responsible living, not ‘alternative’ as this remains on the outskirts of our modern mindset, we need to re-connect, re-embrace, & remember our responsible role as children of this good earth, Gaia, Papatuanuku.

Nathan Foote
Whaingaroa / Raglan

Nathan's application document
Letters of Support: Te Mauritau, Enviroschools, Ecology Action, Transition Town Whaingaroa

CAMPBELL LIVE VIDEOCLIP " Steps to turn your backyard into a healthy feed" (8th Oct 08)

Note: Nathan will stay over for five days in San Francisco on a refresher course with Ecology Action, then travel to Victoria Canada where he will present at three conferences and do other workshops before returning on 2nd Nov)

3.  Shona Sam - (32) PhD student from Lincoln University - Canterbury

Kia Ora koutou katoa

Muaupoko, Ngati Ruanui and Ngati Pakeha are my tribal affiliations.
Born and bred in the North Island however after living in the South Island for over 10 years, I now consider Te Waipounamu my home. 

I grew up in the back country of the Manawatu and went to boarding school at St Joseph Maori Girls College, Napier.  I have tried a broad range of careers including Vet Nursing and Military Service. It was when I left the military to finish my science degree at Lincoln University (Ecology and Conservation), I found my passion - New Zealand native ecology and conservation.

I was fortunate to become a Research Assistant at the University once finishing my degree.  Part of this job was being the Project Manager for The Greening Waipara Project.  The project aim is to bring native diversity back into vineyard regions and using that biodiversity to provide sustainable growing. The project was in collaboration with Lincoln University, Waipara Winegrowers Association, FRST(Foundation of Research, Science and Technology), Landcare Research and the Waipara community

I have a passion for all things that make New Zealand unique and have a strong desire to conserve, protect and honour that uniqueness.  I believe a significant part of being kaitiaki is gaining knowledge but most of all – passing that knowledge on. I am currently doing a PhD which is part of a project involving smart pest control in which the overall aim is to give Maori communities and others the knowledge and capability to be more self reliant on their own native land.  This project is in collaboration with many different communities including FRST, Landcare Research, Ngai Tahu, and Connovation Research Ltd.

I am truly honoured to be a part of this hikoi and I will endeavour to bring back valuable information that I can use and pass on to individuals and community groups alike.

Toitu te marae o tane, toitu te marae o tangaroa, toitu te iwi.

Shona Sam
Christchurch

Letters of Support: - Bio Protection Institue, Lincoln Uni, Ecotown Lincoln, CPIT (See below)

4. Bernadette Papa (43), BA(hons) is a consultant in Ngati Whatua o Orakei’s heritage and resource management unit - on left of picture

She specialises in ethno-botany and cultural resource sustainability issues. This has included research into her own Ngati Whatua tribal heritage and how this may be applied in creating and enriching unique urban spaces and places.

Some of that research also provided key information and support in the formulation of the largest ecological restoration project on the Auckland Isthmus at Bastion Point*. Named ko te PUKAKI, the long-term project is unique in Aotearoa (New Zealand) for the scale of its native forest restoration that excludes the use of herbicides and chemicals for weed control and plant maintenance.

This is part of Ngati Whatua o Orakei’s heritage and resource management plans to create a sustainable urban papakainga (village) in Auckland City which could see 6,000 of their people able to afford to return to their ancestral lands in central Auckland. Bernadette has been tasked to return with information and contacts with people who can support them on this exciting project.

Bernadette’s work has included cultural design input for the redevelopment of two popular Auckland playgrounds at Okahu Bay and Victoria Park. Her design approach included surveying youth and parents from the local community to gauge an understanding and reflect their needs and desires in the final outcomes.

Bernadette has been actively involved in harvesting materials and providing her skills for their marae restoration and other arts projects.  As part of this year’s Matariki Festival, Bernadette gave presentations at the Auckland Art Gallery on the cultural significance of Harakeke (Phormium tenax) and some of her work was also exhibited at the TelstraClear Pacific events centre (Manukau City) and E Whitu Nga Whetu fashion event. Bernie has also taught the fundamentals of Maori weaving and heritage in local schools, workshops and school holiday programmes at the Orakei Marae.

A widow before 30 years of age, Bernie raised her two daughters single-handedly and now has three treasured grandchildren.

Letters of support: Mere Roberts past UoA supervisor, Ngati Whatua, NEXUS UofA Sustainability Students,

* The history of Bastion Point and the official Ngati Whatua o Orakei website

GENERAL LETTERS OF SUPPORT

(At least two individual recommendations are available for each delegate above)

Dear Madam,
Dear Sir,

As a French Canadian writer, I have been attracted to Aotearoa/New Zealand to learn more about the meaning of sustainable development from a Maori standpoint. I met many amazing people from diverse communities around the country. I also had the great opportunity to accompany three Ngati Whare from Te Whaiti to Wisconsin where they were speaking at a conference on Indigenous Wisdom. Later the same year, I went with two other Maori to a conference on Sustainable Resources in Colorado. Last year I welcomed Dr. Te Kepa Morgan who came to lecture on his Mauri Model at the University of Sherbrooke where I am teaching. I also joined the young Randal Stensness from Hokianga Harbourcare at a conference held by the Center for Ecoliteracy in San Francisco.

Those people’s mind-blowing intelligence and social skills earned them the respect and love of all the other participants. All New Zealanders would have been very proud to see how well they were represented by their fellow citizens. So please let me encourage you to send many other young Maori overseas to share their culture and knowledge of your majestic country with people striving for a more sustainable world.

Thank you for paying attention to my comments.

Best regards,
Andrée Mathieu
Montreal Québec

To whom it may concern
25 September 2008
Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Support letter for sponsoring Maori students to attend Bioneers Conference 2008

Nexus Sustainability is formed of students committed to Sustainable Development. We are based at the University of Auckland and are drawn from different disciplines and fields of learning. We seek to integrate our varied skills and abilities to come up with comprehensive, unique, and innovative solutions to today’s problems. Nexus has been actively involved in projects with Local Government, private enterprises, other NGOs and various other organisations and individuals working on Sustainable Development.

Nexus Sustainability would like to support the sponsorship application for the four Maori students from different disciplines and institutions to attend Bioneers Conference 2008. We feel that Bioneers is an excellent programme for the four student representatives to explore the forefront of positive change in deeply inspiring plenary talks and special sessions with visionary thinkers and doers from wildly varied fields, cultures and walks of life. We also believe that the four students would be proud ambassadors of New Zealand in the international conference and that they would be able bring back valuable experience and knowledge gained in the conference to our wider community upon their return.

We are supportive of this application and look forward to contributing our skills and experience towards the project by hosting a public forum for the students to share their conference experience with interested parties. We hope that the success of this application will play an important role in equipping New Zealand’s future leaders with the skills, technologies and networking opportunities in bringing a sustainable future for New Zealand.

Yours sincerely,
Jenny Chu
President
Nexus Sustainability
www.nexusnz.org

To Whom it may concern:

Kia ora

On behalf of CPIT I am pleased to add my support for Shona Sam to attend the Bioneers 08 conference in San Francisco on 16th October as the representative from Canterbury.  Shona is travelling on this learning journey with three other young Maori people from other parts of New Zealand.

We believe it is important that our youth have opportunities like this to connect with others internationally and gather best practices, trends and information at such conferences that they can bring back to share widely with their peers and beyond.   When she returns we will invite Shona to address a lunchtime session on our campus so that staff and students are made aware of the international developments and trends she observed.  Even more significantly, we will be interested to hear how this challenging team experience has helped her in her personal growth; growing her confidence and effectiveness as a person committed to a well future for all in Aotearoa. 

Naturally I also strongly support this youth hikoi initiative in my separate capacity as Deputy Chair of SANZ, Sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand.  www.phase2.org

We wish Shona and the team all the best for their travels.

Hei konei ra

Rex Verity, MEIANZ
Environmental Manager and Sustainability Advocate
Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology
PO Box 540
Christchurch 8015
Aotearoa / New Zealand
Phone +64 3 940 8301
VerityR@cpit.ac.nz

Deputy Chair, Sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand
-  for people and planet  -

To whom it concerns

This is a general letter of support for Nathan Foote, Shona Sam, Simon Ngawhika and others to travel to the Bioneers 2008 conference in the United States. Information on the conference is at http://www.bioneers.org/program As a member of our kaitiakitanga network we are proud to put forward those below to represent our communities and country. Each has unique skills and qualifications that cover a range disciplines.

Nathan Foote

Nathan teaches bio-intensive gardening courses. His successful teaching style of a hands on approach quickly demonstrates how easy responsible action can be. A presenter on a TV show called Kiwi Maara, (gardens) he has attracted a large audience with proven success. His  goal to set up a school for responsible thought which leads to sustainable living; along with the  offer of apprenticeship learning opportunities; will result in helping to  facilitate the skill base and mindset changes of those who participate.

Shona Sam

 Shona has a passion for all things that make New Zealand unique with a strong desire to conserve, protect and honour that uniqueness. Shona is currently undertaking research for PhD with Lincoln University in Canterbury. Her project is in collaboration with many different communities including FRST, Landcare Research, Ngai Tahu, and Connovation Research Ltd. Her believe of being kaitiaki is to gain knowledge but most of all; passing that knowledge on.

Simon Ngawhika

Simon is in a unique position and he has a great passion for effecting positive change for whanau and our people. His commitment to this is evident in his work and the actions of being involved in many issues and groups.

Bernadette Papa - (Later entry)

It is critical that tangata whenua participate in these global events. Adding the indigenous voice that puts kaitiakitanga, tikanga, kawa and matauranga maori perspective forward is a benefit to not only Aotearoa but others. Having been on a similar learning journey; I am able to attest to the value of conferences like this. The conference I attended was in Boulder Colorado and the report I furnished for our network can be found at http://www.kaitiakitanga.net/projects/3-2-3a%20Sustainable%20Resources%20Conference.htm

Sustainability is to the forefront of Government strategies and the participants that our network wishes to get sponsored are of a high calibre with reporting mechanisms and networks that has the ability to effect policy change, socio-economic issues and human-environment relations that would benefit the physical, cultural and economic wellbeing of Maori and NZ as a whole.

Therefore I endorse and encourage that they be supported to the Bioneers 2008 conference.

Naku noa na,

Malibu Michael Hamilton
Environmental Researcher.
Te Ngaru Roa aa Maui
P.O.Box 2
Whaingaroa
Raglan 3265

THE ITINERARY

Wed 15th

Depart Auckland AirNZ 0008 7:30 PM arrive San Francisco 12:55pm
Make way using public transport - BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT (BART) and busses to San Rafael
Liz Cunningham has a room for four organised at the conference organisers hotel

Embassy Suites Hotel
101 McInnes Parkway
San Rafael
California
Phone 415 499 9222

Sessions to be attended: (provisional - to be revised when attendees meet on plane)
(further details on all sessions is available here - mark in the room code for your choice)

SIMON, SHONA, BERNIE FOLLOW ON PROGRAMME:

Mon 20th

Evening - move to backpackers in town with good access to early flight next morning

Tues 21

United Airlines NZ9750 departs San Francisco at 8:00am for Vancouver arriving 10.13 am
Catch the 2:00pm Quick Shuttle for Bellingham Airport arriving at 3:50 pm
Wait at the ground transportation area (where the shuttle drops off)
Rhea will pick you up there and drive you and Anacotes to catch the 5.05pm or 6.35 Ferry to Lopez

Fri 24th

Catch 6:20 am Ferry from Lopez to Orcas Island arriving 6:35am
Catch 8.40 am Ferry from Orcas to Victoria (Sydney Harbour) BC
Catch local bus to Downtown Victoria

Fri 24th

Catch Route 70 bus from Downtown Victoria at at to Swartz Bay
Catch 4:00pm Ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen Bay, Vancourver arr 5:35pm (or one deps 3.00pm)
Catch 6.00pm BC Transit Bus #620 leaves on the hour and half hour) for Vancouver airport arr at 6.40pm
Check in on Air NZ 0083 departing Vancouver at 9:00pm arriving Auckland at 7.00 am on Sunday 26th

 

NATHAN FOLLOW ON PROGRAMME:

Tues 21 Own arrangements

Wed 29

Depart United Airlines UA1116 San Fran term 3 at 10:42am arr Vancouver International at 1:05 pm
Own arrangements from there.

Sun 2nd Nov

Depart Air NZ 0083 Vancouver Intl Term 3 at 6.45 pm arriving Auckland Intl 6:00 am on Tuesday 4th

Start Date:

The conference runs in San Rafael on 16-20 October

Budget: (Provisional)

We thank a donor who wishes to remain anonymous for the koha they gave to get Simon there - on the strength of the kaupapa and his commitment to make win-win connections there, then return and share what he brings back in his kete not just Maori but with all New Zealanders.

Thanks to the Lottery Minister's Discretionary Fund for making this hikoi possible by funding the other three airfares and conference costs for at Bioneers.

Thanks to three other organisations who are contributing to allow Simon, Shona and Bernie to extend their conference learning with a practical visit to the Lopez Island Community Land Trust who are pioneering sustainable community processes (Transition Town thinking and beyond) that they wish to see the particapants bring home and share broadly in Aotearoa.

Nominal Project Leader:

Peter Goldsbury - Voluntary Coordinator - Kaitiakitanga Network c/o Strategic Expertise Ltd, 20 Hastings Parade, Devonport Auckland will act as the agent for funding sources to coordinate travel book and Bioneers registration so each individual does not have to replicate everything. We will handle the funding account, pay overseas and travel costs and facilitate the other logistics needed to make this happen smoothly.

Once they are on the plane and meet each other the team will take over totally.

Issues Register:

Progress Log

NOTICES AND ACHIEVEMENTS:

Our gift to you - download Free Whirinaki Matariki Wall Calendar

What Andree a sustainability writer discovered about Kaitiakitanga

Coming Easter 2010 Biomimicry Exploration - Norbert Hoeller, Auckland
David Bellamy - Moa's Ark revisited tour Whirinaki 25 4-10 Oct 09
The Maori Youth Hikoi to Bioneers Conference, San Francisco 16 Oct 08
VIDEO "Redesigning our Future" - Youth Forum with Michael Braungart

Papakainga Development - Matekuare Whanau Project underway
Minginui Community Gardening - underway thanks to Community Max
Whirinaki Ecological Technology (We-tech) Our pest control innovation

Check out our school's Energy Monitoring / Weatherstation project
Our drama production, kapakaka and other creative initiatives


Ngati Whare Iwi Treaty Settlement signed, incl partnership with DOC
WEMZ - The Whirinaki Ecological Restoration Zone - a project with DOC
DOC partnerships information kiosk, Mangamate, Sanctuary(proposed)
Take a photo tour through our valley see restoration work needed
Ready to start - our Whirinaki Centre, Nursery and Recycling Projects
Our project to upgrade our water supply in Minginui Mar 07
Thanks TPK for facilitating Govt support for Minginui initiatives
Our network's submission to govt on Rural Community Opportunities

Toxin Bioremediation Project started in Whakatane May 09
Celebrate what our friends at Hokianga Harbourcare are doing
Our Network's Mycorestoration Research Project - Fungi and mushroom
Our Lopez friends help Raglan with an affordable housing project

Thanks MfE for a big toxin cleanup on our millsites - July 07
Blocked - our Community Digital Strategy - Whirinaki Interactive 12/06
Prince Andrew adopts our Kiwi, Princess Beatrice on Mokoia Is Mar 07
Our network on the Kiwi Youth Voice learning journey to US. Mar 07
Our network at Youth Voice Digital Earth Summit on Sustainbility Aug 06
We welcomed Hunter Lovins 7-9 July 06, VIDEO view NZ tour resources
Thanks Waikato University for help with broadband 05
Thanks Housing Corp, house painting and marae restoration teams
Go Tramping in Whirinaki. See Kaka, Kiwi, Weka, Robin, Blueduck
Report Living Organisation workshops. Tipu Ake presented worldwide 05
Report Hikoi to Indigenous Knowledges Conf , Well, NZ. June 05
Thanks to UNITEC Architecture Students for help with town plans 04
Report on Sustainable Resources Conf, Colorado 04
Report on PMI Global Forum, Los Angeles Tipu Ake paper 04
Report on Sharing Indigenous Wisdom Conf, Wisconsin, June 04
Int and local visitors attend Tipu Ake Retreat March 04 See report
MPs Horomia and Mallard open our new merged area school Jan 04
Trip to Whaingaroa Env Gp Raglan, Jan04 learnings, VIDEO view