Ban bottom trawling

Yesterday, hundreds of people gathered at Mission Bay to call for an end to bottom trawling in the Hauraki Gulf – Tīkapa Moana. There were people on yachts, dinghies, waka, kayaks and paddleboards and on the beach. The Hauraki Gulf is a national treasure. Once abundant, the gulf has been...

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Global Plastics Treaty – petition

Next month, world leaders will recommence negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty. Plastic pollution is flooding our planet, harming people’s health, accelerating social injustice, destroying biodiversity and fueling the climate crisis at each stage of plastic’s lifecycle. This Greenpeace petition calling for a strong global plastics treaty now has over...

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Waste system changes

The government recently announced a new waste strategy, new waste legislation, and changes to improve household recycling and food scraps collections. On 18 April, one of several webinars on this topic was held by the Ministry for the Environment, an “Overview of new waste legislation + strategy and kerbside changes.”...

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Old Choral Hall – watch this space

The Old Choral Hall on Symonds Street will soon look more like its old self, after work to seismically strengthen, upgrade and conserve the building will include the removal of later additions and the reconstruction of the classically-designed portico at the front entrance. Designed by Edward Mahoney, the building dates...

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Three accessible shared paths

Working with accessibility specialists, local boards and parks staff are incorporating better ease of access in planning and design. The following are three accessible paths which make for good days out: Pakuranga Rotary Walkway runs from Panmure Bridge to Farm Cove and is mainly smooth and flat with a couple...

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Wintergardens open again

The Category I Wintergardens at Auckland Domain have now reopened after two years of conservation and improvement works.  The two glasshouses have been seismically strengthened with additional steel ties and cleats. Glazing bars have also been added, and clear glass re-introduced, as per the original design intent. Their 100th birthday...

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Container Return Scheme

After years of campaigning by people and community groups, a Container Return Scheme was about to happen. But it’s been deferred by the government. Greenpeace have launched a petition calling for the Container Return Scheme to be returned. You can add your name here. This scheme will have enormous benefits...

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Waste legislation reform

The government has announced fundamental changes to the way we make, use, recycle and dispose of things, ushering in a new era for Aotearoa New Zealand’s waste system.  The initiatives are:   a new waste strategy to set New Zealand’s direction on waste for the next three decades   new and more...

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Food scraps bins roll-out

Auckland Council’s food scraps collection service – rukenga kai, which translates to food cast onward – is about to begin. The service will help reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfill by converting food scraps into a renewable resource. It will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The collection...

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