Revised New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement: 

Submissions on the Proposed New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2008 close at 5 p.m. on 7th May 2008. Copies of the relevant documents are available by phoning DOC on 471 0726 or by doing an internet search of "Department of Conservation Proposed New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2008".

Submissions on Council Draft Annual Plan

Dear Friends & Citizens!

Right now, it's most important that people submit on any positive initiatives (or against ones you judge unwise or unnecessary) in the draft annual plan - http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/publicinput/dap/2008-09dap-overview.html

For example, in particular I supported a modest subsidy going into the draft Annual Plan.

Promotion of Sustainable Building

Many buildings in Wellington would benefit from better insulation, solar water heating and better design to make use of the sun's warmth. The Council wants to encourage sustainable building practices.

The Council is proposing to spend $30,000 per year for the next three years to offset building consent fees for sustainable building features." and would like to know whether this is a good idea - as a pilot at least to see whether the money is too little, not taken up or what!

Other Environment-related matters include

Pest & Weed Control

The Council is proposing to commit additional funding for the next seven years to implement a Pest Management Plan. The plan will work towards getting rid of weeds and pest animals from key native ecosystems and other areas in the city.

The Council's current budget provides just over $750,000 a year to implement the plan. The Council is proposing to increase the total budget to $832,000 in 2008/09, rising over several years to reach $1 million in 2015/16.

Wind Farm at Southern Landfill

Carey's Gully, the site of the Southern Landfill, has potential as a wind farm. The Council plans to conduct a feasibility study to determine if a wind farm in Carey's Gully is technically and commercially viable, whether it would comply with planning and other laws, and what the appropriate business model might be.

The Council is proposing to allocate $50,000 in 2008/09 to go towards this feasibility study.

Converting Sewage into LPG or Electricity

The Council is planning to investigate options for future disposal of sewage sludge. Options to be considered include:

• a bioreactor plant to convert sewage to electricity or LPG
• a joint Wellington - Porirua sewage drying plant.

The budget for the investigation is $50,000.

There's an online submission form at http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/publicinput/dap/2008-09dap.php - if you don't know what area your idea falls into, don't worry - put it where you see fit.

In general, keep an eye on http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/publicinput/index.html for what we're consulting on.
Please take time to make a submission on a proposal you agree with - as well as following people's apparent instinct to focus on what they disagree with - both may be vulnerable to public input.

This year's ECO Conference,

Sustainable New Zealand: Rhetoric or Reality? is being held in Wellington from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 June, at St. John's in the City Church and Tapu Te Ranga Marae.

Ecomeditation

Outer change cannot be effective without inner change. Ecomeditation is one way to support and bring about inner change. Ecomeditation begins by connecting with Nature and the Earth. It branches out in many directions: 

- turning sadness to strength: dealing with sadness and other difficult emotions around Climate Change, Peak Oil, and the changing times we live in.

- creating love and community, and finding practical ways to live which support and nourish us.

- meditations for healing the Earth, and ourselves 

 Meetings include meditation and sharing.

Beginners are welcome; this work is for meditators with any level of experience.

MEETINGS IN WELLINGTON

-Mon 28 Apr 6-8 Connecting with Nature. Community room above the library, Civic Square 

-Tues 29 Apr 7-9 Meditation for healing the Earth, and ourselves Sustainability Trust, 9 Regent St, Newtown (to be confirmed)

-Sun 4 Apr 1-4 Turning Sadness to Strength: dealing with sadness and other difficult emotions around Climate Change, Peak Oil, and the changing times we live in. Community room above the library, Civic Square

-Tues 6 May 7-9 Ecomeditation, Buddhism and Green Tara. Namgyal Rinpoche Study group, Home of Compassion, Island Bay - Off Dee and Murray St, Island Bay (follow the AA signs)

-Wed 7 May 6-8 Meditation for healing the Earth, and ourselves. Community room above the library, Civic Square

-Sat 10 May 2-5- Ecomeditation and the Goddess The Woolshed 144 Muri Road, Pukerua Bay 5026

(there will be chairs at all venues. if you want cushion, BYO)

suggested Koha $10-15

 Dido Dunlop, the group leader, has been practising Tibetan Buddhism for 33 years. She has extensive training and experience in counselling, groupwork and facilitation, and in the arts. Dido is based in Kaiwaka, and visits Auckland and Wellington often.

Dido 09-4312992, 021-2089316 

ecomeditation@gmail.com, www.wisebirds.org

Victoria Plus Award

Victoria's service and leadership development award 

Victoria Plus is awarded on graduation to students who have made a significant contribution to service and leadership development opportunities. Being involved in an extra-curricular programme where you volunteer, engage in service to the University and actively lead in clubs or societies is important. It is a way of helping your community, networking and personal development.

The work activities and professional development you are involved in assist you to develop the Victoria Graduate Attributes of leadership, creative and critical thinking, and verbal and written communication. Successful completion of this leadership programme leads to an award certificate and ceremony, and is acknowledged on your academic transcript.    

I am pleased to inform you that the first Victoria Plus Award web pages are now available and provide all the details about how current students can achieve this prestigious award. It explains the steps to registering and the requirements of the award programme in detail.

Check out the website and from there you can register and start your e-portfolio via CareerHub. Click on My VUW Portfolio. There is then a full explanation of how to use the Portfolio on the welcome page, info sheets and FAQs.