Sustainability in Hamilton, New Zealand

We hit to road bright and early at 7:30am for Hamilton for the International Sustainability Conference where Dr. Forgey was presenting a paper on sustainability program development.  While in Hamilton, we stopped by the impressive Hamilton Gardens.   

The Gardens are owned by the City and managed by the City Council.  The Gardens are divided into 5 different collections:

·      Paradise Garden Collection – a look at gardens around the world

·      Productive Garden Collection – gardens used for purpose and education

·      Fantasy Garden Collection – perfume

·      Cultivator Garden Collection

·      Landscape Garden Collection

The most relevant garden to us was the Sustainable Backyard Garden in the Productive Garden Collection.  This garden featured re-purposed household items as outdoor furniture, innovative composting techniques, liquid manure production display, worm 

Sustainability in Rotorua, New Zealand

Picked up the vans early on Wednesday, January 5^th and started off on our 3 ½  hour drive to Rotorua. First off, I think it is important to mention that Rotorua is rich in Maori culture and one of the “deep-rooted concepts” of this culture is the idea of manaakitanga.  This concept implies guardianship over the land, the people, and its visitors.  Rotorua has developed a Sustainable Tourism Charter (www.rotoruaNZ.com) and encourages all visitors to support Charter members. Additionally, the city encourages recycling, reduction – waste and transportation, and preservation – water and land.

Once in Rotorua, we visited the Aquatic Center to learn about their Enviro-Gold rating and sustainability initiatives within their business practices.  Some of the initiatives include:

·      Geothermal heating systems for pools

·      Extensive recycling program for all visitors and staff

·      Sought out and corrected water leaks

·      Automatic chemical regulators – minimizes the unnecessary draining and refilling of the pools

·      Organic vegetable garden for staff

The Aquatic Center, proved to be a fascinating point of interest. However, the success of such businesses seems to be greatly impacted by the support of the city and it’s like minded community. A public center such as this is allowed to thrive because the demand has been created by outside sources.

New Zealand SHAC 2009 Projects

The Sustainable Habitat Challenge (SHAC) consisted of nine teams: Canterbury, Central Otago, Housewise, Whareuku, Waikato, The Plant Room, Dunedin, Ecocrib, and BACH101.  Each of these teams took on the challenge of incorporating sustainable features on either new residential construction projects or by retrofitting existing residences.  The overall goal of all the projects was to allow theory to become practice by providing educators, students, and industry professionals with the opportunity to put their ideas into action.  This provides future builders valuable insights into sustainable best practices: what worked and what didn't. 

These projects were all achieved by the help and support of their community.  For example the Whareuku team designed low-income single family housing and educated the local community on the construction process.  Establishing these low cost solutions not only benefits New Zealand residents but has the potential of impacting many other populations in need.  Ideally, the diversity of these nine projects will provide vital solutions for a variety of sustainable development projects.

Sustainability in New Zealand & Australia

Auckland

1. The University of Auckland - The University of Auckland is committed to pursuing sustainability via environmental excellence. The environmental programme aims to establish a proactive culture of environmental responsibility across the University.The environmental programme is guided by the University’s Strategic Plan and Environmental Policy. Sustainability is central to achieving the commitments in these guiding documents and is the focus of the University’s environmental programme. While we recognise that we have a long way to go to achieve full sustainability, we have made a significant start.
2.  Ministry of Green - We are sustainability strategists and consultants. We craft solutions for sustainable cities, developments, businesses and homes. - <http://www.ministryofgreen.co.nz>  
3. The Iron Bank - is a mixed-use <http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/07/blooming-terraced-building-to-spring-up-in-slovenia-next-year/>  office and retail building in Auckland that has received a number of accolades for its rusty "container" architecture, environmentally-sustainable design, and its impressive parking garage featuring an innovative robotic car stacking system <http://www.ironbank.co.nz/video-gallery/> . http://inhabitat.com/auklands-ironbank-features-innovative-car-stacking-garage/
4. Geyser Building - eCubed are proud to be part of the first 6 Green Star - Office Design certified rated building - the Geyser building. The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) is proud to announce New Zealand’s first 6 Green Star - Office Design certified rating has been achieved by Samson Corporation for the Geyser building. – Currently under contruction.
   

Waiheke Island

1. Waiheke Island - Lite House Show Home - A new development has officially opened on Waiheke Island that is believed to be New Zealand’s most sustainable mixed use building. Our show home on Waiheke Island is open by appointment.  Please call 0800 372 100 to arrange a convenient time to visit.  
2. Lapp & Toft Architecture Ltd, 25 Whakarite Rd, Ostend, Waiheke Island 1081, Auckland, New Zealand
   
   1. We are dedicated to contemporary architecture with an emphasis on sustainable building.
   2. Most projects designed by our practice are new residential or residential alterations,
   3. however we are also enthusiastic about small commercial projects.
      
3. Te Whau (Wineray)- Te Whau is one of the poster boys of the Waiheke wine scene. Te Whau prides itself on hand harvesting, and being one of the founders of New Zealand's sustainable viticulture movement, which seeks to promote environmentally sustainable wine making. In fact, the winery is in the process of converting to fully organic and biodynamic production.
   

Hamilton 

1. YWCA Hostel Co-ordinator Riikka Anderson is leading our journey to further reduce our carbon emissions. We won the New Zealand Sustainable Business Exploring Award.  <http://www.ywcahamilton.org.nz/>
2. Know It? ... Live It! Program - Strategy and Research The 'Know it?... Live it!' programme provides important information to assist householders in their attempts to live and work more sustainably. The programme covers a wide range of sustainable topics including targeting key issues such as energy, water, waste, transport and purchasing decisions.
   
   • Level 2, Council Offices
   • Garden Place
   • Hamilton City Council
   • Private Bag 3010
   • Hamilton 3240
   • Phone: 838 6537
     

3.  Hamilton Gardens - Productive Urban Garden Demonstration of Permaculture Principles As well as traditional formal rose and camellia collections, nurseries and glasshouses Hamilton Gardens’ most significant features are its magnificent themed gardens – one of which is The Sustainable Backyard. http://hamiltongardens.co.nz/


Rotorua

1. Millennium Hotel Rotorua - www.millenniumrotorua.co.nz <http://www.millenniumrotorua.co.nz>  – Qualmark Enviro-Gold Accredited
2. Te Puia - A promise of a sacred, spiritual, personal encounter with the land, the artistic treasures of old and with our Maori people.Te Puia Daytime Experience tours run hourly from 9am-5pm in summer (9am-4pm in winter). Our tradition of guiding at Te Puia is something that we pride ourselves on. Many of the guides you meet can link themselves to Rotorua’s earliest guides <http://www.tepuia.com/wahi_maumahara_famous_rotorua_guides_exhibition.htm>  and the stories they relay have been handed down for generations. – Qualmark Enviro-Gold Accredited
3. Rotorua Aquatic Centre - Rotorua Aquatic Centre is one of Australasia’s finest Swimming Pool Centres. If you are into water sports, water recreation, aqua-fitness or just pure relaxation for yourself or your family and friends, then the Rotorua Aquatic Centre is one of New Zealand’s best. – Qualmark Enviro-Gold Accredited
   

Queenstown

1. Rilean Construction - Multi award-winning construction company Rilean Construction has sold its first energy efficient sustainable Evolution Series home, just weeks after launching the concept in Queenstown.  <http://www.rilean.co.nz/Rilean/About/>
2.  Ziptrek Eco Tours - http://www.ziptrek.com/queenstown-new-zealand/media/media-releases/420-ziptrek-ecotours-wins-queenstown-sustainable-business-award <http://www.ziptrek.com/queenstown-new-zealand/media/media-releases/420-ziptrek-ecotours-wins-queenstown-sustainable-business-award>  - 2010 Winner of Queenstown sustainable business award.
3. Otago Polytechnic – Centre for Sustainable Practice - The Centre is the newest school at the Otago Polytechnic created to meet the growing need for sustainable practice implementation.  The aim of the Centre is to build into a nationwide HUB for business, industry groups and government agencies alike. The CSP is overseen by Jean Tilleyshort, Group Manager of Regions at Otago Polytechnic.
   

Sydney

1. The Sustainable House <http://sustainablehouse.com.au/2010/10/special-tours-of-sydneys-sustainable-house/>
   
   1. The tours will show what’s happened after 14 years of living in a sustainable house and explain some of the data which is in the book.
   2.  The book will be provided on the tour as part of the tour.  
   1. What’s happened after 1.5 million litres of sewage has gone into the garden? 
   2. How have the solar panels lasted after 14 years? 
   3. What’s worked and what hasn’t?   
   4. How has the house saved over $30,000 in water and energy bills? 
2. BOND, 30 THE BOND  - What’s more impressive than a building design that aims to reduce its greenhouse emissions to a 5 Star Australian Building Greenhouse Rating benchmark, which is the approximate equivalent to that of a Gold LEED greenhouse certification level? How about one which has proven to meet its target and improves on it. This is the case of the building known as 30 The Bond <http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=20052019>  located at Hickson Road in Sydney. http://inhabitat.com/30-the-bond-sydneys-greenest-building/ <http://inhabitat.com/30-the-bond-sydneys-greenest-building/>
   

Top 10 sustainable restaurants: Sydney

Billy Kwong, Surry Hills
Winner of the inaugural Sustainability Award. <http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/sustainability/2009/09/10/1252519574688.html>

Red Lantern, Surry Hills
Luke Nguyen's Vietnamese restaurant composts and recycles and uses a waterless wok burner. It uses line-caught fish; free-range pork and beef; and organic fruit, vegetables, coffee and poultry.

Courtney's Brasserie, Parramatta
We're impressed by the blackboard map that traces a 200-kilometre radius around chef Paul Kuipers, in which he searches for local produce with an emphasis on seasonality and organics.

Eurolounge, Castle Hill
Here's a great example of thinking globally and acting locally, with the kitchen scraps and coffee grinds going to local gardeners, shredded paper recycled by a pet store and a menu seeking local produce and organic wines.

Becasse, city
Chef Justin North buys straight from the farm gate, forming strong bonds with farmers who share his approach to sustainability. In return, he showcases their work in regular producer lunches.

Sean's Panaroma, Bondi Beach
Every week for more than a decade, Sean Moran has taken scraps to his Blue Mountains hideaway to nurture the land, returning with the rewards, from fruit and herbs to eggs, chicken and even beef. Order herbal tea and they'll pick it fresh.

La Table, Mullumbimby
In the hippie hills near Byron Bay, this French bistro leads the way as a paid-up Slow Food member with a focus on local organic suppliers, including greens and herbs grown in nearby Newrybar.

Hungry Duck, Berry
David Campbell already has the organic runs on the board at The Book Kitchen in Surry Hills but takes it to another level with an organic garden at his Berry weekender, supplying herbs and veggies. He also uses composting and organic meats.

Grazing, Gundaroo
This 19th-century heritage hotel has a large kitchen garden producing heirloom vegetables. Nothing is wasted. Even the loo water is recycled through reed beds, while the chickens supply eggs. Home-brew beer sounds sustainable to us, too.

Neila, Cowra
Chef Anna Wong grows much of the produce — from Chinese dates to olives — with her partner, Jerry Mouzakis, on their farm. They adhere to the "100-mile" principle of sourcing food locally.