WEC will be at the Old School Creative market on Sunday 9am - 2pm with info about water conservation, Maui's Dolphin Day, volunteer opportunities and the petition against Open Cast Mining in Raglan/Aotea.

We'll also bring some organic baked goodies, jams, and sauerkraut as well as our Ragbags to carry home all your market goods.

See you at the market!

What do you think about the food bill? There's a lot of opinions out there to sift through.

Opening this up for discourse, we'd like to present some of the views out there and get your feedback.

First, the food bill itself is online here

Here are a few articles published by Oooby, which explain the facts and myths about the new food bill. For example, seed swapping is no longer part of the new bill, thanks to an amendment made in response to feedback. Backyard swapping and neighborhood food growing is also no longer subject to the bill. Selling produce directly to the consumer is considered a "low risk" activity, and is not subject to lots of paperwork and fees. However, selling through a local cafe, shop or other third party will be. Read the articles here.

Here is an article by Kate Wilkinson, the Minister for Food Safety, stating that the food bill is "nothing to fear." She says that it will not impede people from exchanging, trading or giving away their food, and that small marketers like roadside stalls and charity sausage sizzles will be given free information about food safety. Click here for article

 Finally, here is an article in strong opposition. "[The food bill] allows for the state to absolutely deploy its full capacity to control even the minutest levels of food and food-related components."

The food bill certainly needs our attention. If you would like to sign a petition to oppose the bill, click here Or write directly to Kate Wilkinson, the Minister for Food Safety: kate.wilkinson@national.org.nz and let her know your specific concerns. Or contact your local MP.

You can post your comments below.

Here are those links again:

Food Bill: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2010/0160/latest/DLM2995811.html

Oooby articles:http://ooooby.ning.com/profiles/blogs/food-bill-time-for-action

Kate Wilkinson's article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/opinion/6271131/Nothing-to-fear-from-Food-Bill

Strongly opposing the bill: http://nzfoodsecurity.org/

Petition opposing the bill: http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/oppose-the-new-zealand-government-food-bill-160-2/1301

Local MP look-up: http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/

Mining company Sinosteel Australia Pty Ltd have so far tagged 3,528 hectares of Aotea and Ruapuke coastal farmland for possible extraction via Open Cast Mine of Iron Sand. 

If you would like to show your objection to this mining, we have a petition to sign... available at WEC.

Timebank meeting Tonight  January 26th @ WEC

Tonight we are having a meeting to identify areas of need, our main objectives, and our assets. We’d also like to share information and insights that we’ve gathered with you all. Let’s create a strong core group as we head towards a community-wide launch. Please let me know if you can’t make it but would like me to send information and resources your way. Otherwise, see you there!

Timebank Raglan Meeting time:

Thursday Sept 26^th

@ WEC (town hall)

7:30pm

bring nibbles or drinks to share!

Hi All - attached is some information about New Zealand Sea Lions, and a request forwarded from Forest and Bird.

New DOC study reveals our nationally critical New Zealand sea lions are likely to become extinct in just 23 years at the current levels of by-catch

NZ sea lions were once found all around coastal New Zealand but are now restricted to sub-Antarctic Islands.

Our sea lions are the rarest in the world.

NZ sea lions are in the same endangered/threatened category as kakapo and Maui dolphins.

The squid fishery trawls in the same area as the main breeding population of the threatened NZ sea lion.

The fishery could catch squid without NZ sea lion or seabird by-catch if it changed its fishing method from trawling to jigging.

We urgently need your help, sign our online petition to stop NZ sea lions becoming extinct

The squid fishery open on 1st February and action needs to be taken now! 

Sign the online petition at www.forestandbird.org.nz asking that New Zealand Sea Lions be given full protection under the Marine Mammals Protection Act (they are currently "protected"under the Fisheries Act); and that allowed fishing methods change from trawling to jigging.

FB sea lion appeal 2012.pdf

Here's a reminder from Xtreme Waste about recycling, as well as holiday hours, just in time for your summer holiday guests and parties =)  Keep the folks at Xtreme happy during their holidays by bringing large amounts of recycling to the recycle centre, as they are extremely busy over the holiday period dealing with the increase!

Kerbside Recycling Basics

In the crate

Glass bottles and jars  (no broken glass, crockery)

Aluminum and steel cans (washed and squashed if possible)

Plastic Containers 1, 2 and 5 (washed, squashed, lids off, NO meat trays, polystyrene or car oil containers)

Clear Film – bread bags and bubble wrap (contain in one bag)

Beside the Crate (secured)

Paper - clean and contained in a separate bag

Cardboard  - clean, flattened and secured

NO Tetrapaks

Some Christmas wrapping paper is now made out of plastic, please rip the paper to check if its paper or plastic.  We can only recycle wrapping paper made out of paper, not the plastic wrapping.

During the holiday period, the amount of recycling that is created is much more than normal. The kerbside collection truck is not able to collect large quantities of items like glass bottles, cans and cardboard in excess of the allocated two crates per household. Please bring large amounts of recycling and other reusable items to the recycling centre (for free) – 186 Te Hutewai Road.

Rubbish

In Raglan, rubbish should be disposed of in a pre paid rubbish bag, available from local supermarkets, dairies and petrol station.

Kerbside recycling and rubbish collections on Monday and Tuesdays by 8:30am (one day late after a statutory holiday)

Raglan Recycling and Transfer  Centre Xmas Holiday Hours

Xmas Eve – 8.30-12.30 (morning hours only)

Xmas Day – Closed

Boxing Day 8.30 – 4.30pm

New Years Eve 8.30 – 12.30 (morning hours only)

New Years Day – Closed

Mon 2nd Jan – 8.30 – 4.30pm

Otherwise normal hours

Mon, Weds, Fri and Sun 8.30-4.30 , Sat 12.30-4.30

Closed Tues and Thursdays.

VISIT THE RAGLAN MALL – KAAHU’S NEST REUSE SHOP  A must see for all visitors, come and check out the reuse shop at the recycling centre. It is jam packed full of all sorts of treasures; ranging from clothes, furniture, pots and pans, bric a brac, wood, compost, and tiger worms – the list is endless, and not to be missed out on your list of things to do whilst on holiday.

825 6509 (office, closed 25 Dec - Jan 8)

825 0017 (shop) www.xtremewaste.org.nz or email education@xtremewaste.org.nz for more info

Whaingaroa Environment Centre is seeking artists to create a Maui’s Dolphin sculpture to be installed at the new wharf.

This is an opportunity for fame and positive change! Artists that would like to apply must be local to Whaingaroa. Applications are available for pick-up at WEC (Town Hall) 10am – 2pm, Mon – Friday and Saturday 11am – 3pm (closed Dec 23^rd – January 6^th). You can also email wenvc@kol.co.nz or download one from our website at www.whaingaroa.org.nz Applications are due on January 20th!

Please forward this on to your networks and interested artists!

"Kia ora koutou,

We have an abundance of tipu kumara (kumara sprouts) of the rekamauroa cultivar - these produce medium sized, long white and sweet tubers and have been grown in Aotearoa for over 1000 years so are well suited to conditions here.  The tipu will be available from WEC from Monday Dec 19, on a koha basis.

Choice,
Liz. Rick and Whanau"

Thanks guys,

We also have more tomato seedlings available at WEC now! This week hours are 10am - 2pm, Mon - Fri.