Media release:
23 January 2008
Two community-based initiatives, the Sustainable
Living Programme and the Sustainability
Trust’s Ecokiwi scheme, have received $100,000
each to help people take their next steps
to be more sustainable in their everyday
lives.
The funding from the
Ministry for the Environment will help both
initiatives increase their exposure and
expand their reach.
The Sustainable Living
Programme is run by Marlborough District
Council on behalf of 21 councils around
New Zealand. It includes seminars and night
classes on topics such as energy efficiency,
waste reduction, water use, building and
renovation, travel, and shopping wisely.
Marlborough District
Council’s education officer Annie McDonald
says interest in the programme has grown
significantly, and the extra funding will
make a difference to its development and
the number of people it can reach.
The Sustainable Living
Programme is successful because it provides
opportunities for participants to take action
in an informative and fun way, she says.
“We have seen many people change the way
they have done things for the benefit of
the environment and their families”, said
Annie McDonald.
The Sustainability Trust’s
Ecokiwi scheme will train and support local
community groups to engage members of their
community in sustainable living. The scheme
will tap into community organisations including
Lions groups, Rotary, health clinics, marae,
churches, community centres, childcare centres
and schools to encourage as many people
as possible to take small steps for a more
sustainable lifestyle.
Sustainability Trust
Executive Officer Hilary Campbell says “We
believe that changing our behaviour to become
more sustainable is within the reach of
most New Zealanders, and that it can also
bring about a number of other personal benefits.
For example, finding ways to use the car
less can also help improve health and save
money”.
The scheme, which is
currently being trialled in Wellington,
Dunedin and Wanaka, links sustainable living
with other benefits such as better health,
lower living costs and having time for the
important things in life.
Both the Ecokiwi scheme
and the Sustainable Living Programme complement
the Ministry’s new sustainability website,
sustainability.govt.nz, and its Sustainability
Challenge which invites New Zealanders to
commit to their next steps to be more sustainable.
The website has lots of information to help
Kiwis select – and complete – their next
steps.
For more information
about Ministry for the Environment funding
for sustainability programmes see www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/funding.
For more information
on the Sustainable Living Programme see
www.sustainableliving.org.nz or phone the
national coordinator on 03 960 2656.
Sign up to the Sustainability
Challenge at www.sustainability.govt.nz
