South Island Hui 2024
Ōtautuhi Christchurch was the stage for our regional South Island Hui this year. Our local member, Christchurch Enviro Hub hosted our 6 Te Waipounamu member hubs and our EHA team for two days of connection, learning and exchange.
Our hubs representatives had the chance to do some meeting and mingling, before the official hui opening by our hosts from Christchurch Enviro Hub, followed by hubs introductions.
The second day started with our team sharing some highlights of our mahi and support to our hubs.
After morning tea, we had the first part of the workshop “Te Tiriti as the framework for the future, for us all”, delivered masterfully by Katherine Peet from Network Waitangi Ōtautuhi. The two-part workshop engaged the attendees in reflecting about Te Tiriti, new ways of thinking, living and working, models and possible actions for moving towards a Treaty-based society.
Following the workshop, we had a Local Connections session, opened by Hinerangi Pere, Head of Community Energy Services at Orion Energy.
Hinerangi kōrero “Community Energy Action - what’s possible” explored a bit of the important mahi Orion is doing the community. Orion has sponsored this year’s hui and we are really stoked to have their support.
Next, we heard from Alison Bower, Community Partnerships Coordinator at Environment Canterbury.
Alison’s presentation about the importance of submissions was really insightful for our hubs’ advocacy.
A bit more of our second day of Hui
On the last day, we had a chance to explore some of Ōtautahi’s local community environment projects on bikes. Our bike tour started at Ōtākaro Orchard and Urban Farm, part of the Food Resilience Network- Edible Canterbury. Hayley Guglietta, Edible Canterbury board member, gave us a tour and bit of background, and Murray James, also a board member, showed us around the amazing green building that will host a community centre and a café next to the orchard soon.
Next we got to see a bit of Red Zone and the Avon-Ōtākaro Network, then headed to Riverlution and Richmond Community Garden. The area is bustling with green projects, recovering what would be otherwise a written-off area after the earthquake and giving life back to the community. They’ve planted hundreds of trees, and run community gardens, composting workshops, and other sustainable community initiatives. We finished at the Climate Action Campus, Ōtautahi where Vicki Buck gave us a low down on what is happening there. We then head back to the the kiosk for lunch and farewells.
We really appreciate the Ōtautuhi hospitality and generosity in sharing their amazing mahi with our hubs. We got back to our homes very inspired by all the projects we visited and the enrichening exchanges we had. Thanks to all attendees, the awesome crew of Christchurch Enviro Hub, EHA staff and Board members, speakers and local eco champions.
