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Frequently asked questions

What is the Sustainable Manawatu database for?

The Sustainable Manawatu database is a resource for your **inspiration and motivation**.

Feeling blocked about alternatives to driving to work? Maybe visit ‘Active Transport’;

Finding it hard to envisage living more sustainably? Take a look at: ‘Conserving Power’ or 'Reduce Reuse Recycle'

Looking for connection with local people who may have the same interests as you? Have a visit here: ‘Not for profit and NGO’s’ or 'Education, Activities, Advocacy'

Wanting to locate local green businesses to support? You can find some here: ‘Local Green Business Directory’ and ‘National but locally-available Green Businesses’

The Sustainable Manawatu database has been put together for you.

Frocks on bikesJumping Jellybeans Highbury Community Garden

How do I find what I want?

Go to the Sustainable Manawatu database, and in the ‘Search’ box, type in a key word or phrase. Press 'Search' and 'Voila!’: the one thing you are looking for, or a range of them, will show. Remember, the search tool looks everywhere in the site -- the Gallery, the News etc. -- so, when your search result comes through, do scroll down through the different areas to see where to find what you are looking for.

If you prefer a more systematic approach, check out the category titles. If you see what you think you may be looking for, click on it, and choose from a range of sub category titles. Sometimes the particular service, piece of information, or group you are looking for will happily belong within a number of categories and sub-categories. Such entries have been multiply listed.

By clicking on the bolded listing title, you will be taken to the full listing, from where you can click on the link to the listing's websites.

How do I add my business, group or activity to the database?

Before being able to add your own listing, you need to register first. To register go to, 'Add your organisation here'. You will need to give some details, select your user name and password, and once confirmation of your email is finished, and you are registered, you may then begin listing your business, group or activity.

It's easy! Add your group, business, product, activity or service name; describe it in the box provided; give your contact details. When you list, you are asked for a website. If you do not have one, then write www.sustainablemanawatu,org.nz.

One image per listing is allowed, and it's best these be around 50KB. Once that's uploaded tick which sub-categories best suit you. Press "Create" and the message will tell you whether you have been successful or not. 1% of the time there may be a problem, in which case email me consultant@sustainablemananwatu.org.nz and we'll sort it out together.

Welcome.

How is the database structured?

Well, like all good things it is simple and multilayered. There are six categories. These are:

Within those six categories are forty-five sub categories:

  • Business, Organisations and Government – Local Green Business Directory; National, but locally-available, Green Businesses; Sustainable Business Consultants and Business groups; Government Agencies; Iwi; Not for profit and NGO’s; Sustainable Communities Information
  • Food and Gardening – Growing Food; Iwi perspectives; Permaculture; Community Gardens; Composting; Wormfarming; Healthy Consumer choices; Seedlings and seeds
  • Education, Activities and Advocacy – Volunteer opportunities; Parenting sustainably; Community Education; Iwi education; Places to visit, bush walks, getting out into nature; Eco-tourism; Green Economies; Children’s learning; Tertiary courses; Ways to advocate; Online courses; In the field courses; How to get funding; Online Green Guru's and Environmental media
  • Transport – Active transport; Car-pooling; Creative ways with cars; Public transport; Urban design; Renewable fuels
  • Energy and Recycling – Renewable Energy; Conserving Power; Building and Renovating; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Consumer choices
  • Natural environment – Conservation and Restoration projects; Eco-sourcing and Growing Natives; Urban Greenspace; Water Quality; Pests and Weeds; Resource Management

If you have suggestions about other areas to be included in the Sustainable Manawatu database, please let us know consultant@sustainablemanawatu.org.nz

We wish you well in finding the information you need to resource you to live more sustainably for the wellbeing of our local and global community.

How do I find out about local events?

EASY: On the Sustainable Manawatu website, visit the ‘Calendar’. Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates, under ‘Newsletter’. Visit our Sustainable Manawatu Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SustainableManawatu

AND, do subscribe to the Environment Network Manawatu newsletter by emailing coordinator@environmentnetwork.org.nz. environment network manawatuVisit Environment Network Manawatu’s website for details of meetings and activities of ENM’s many environmental member groups. Check your Thursday’s Guardian newspaper for the Environment Network Manawatu weekly article, and the ‘Community notices’ and ‘What’s on’ pages of both the Tribune and the Guardian.

ALSO, subscribe to Palmerston North DOC’s newsletter ‘Keeping on Track’

Or, come see us. Give us a call 06 280 2443

Before you know it, you’ll be the source of all environment event news in your neighbourhood.

Can you promote my event/course etc?marquee

Sustainable Manawatu is always keen to promote events and activities that assist people in our community to develop more sustainable lifestyles.

You can add events yourself on the Sustainable Manawatu website, by going to ‘News’ under ‘Resources’ and submitting a ‘News’ item. Your entry will be checked before being fully submitted. As well, there is an option for entering an event into the ‘Calendar’ on the Sustainable Manawatu website.

Or, if you have an ongoing activity, perhaps your entry belongs in the Sustainable Manawatu database? Go to ‘Database’ and follow the instructions for submitting your information there.

If you prefer, just email  consultant@sustainablemanawatu.org.nz and s/he will enter the information for you.

If you have brochures, we can display at our Green Hub centre. Just come on in. Or, post them to us at Sustainable Manawatu PO Box 1271 Palmerston North

Can I recycle this and where?
 

First, come to Sustainable Manawatu database, go to the sub-category ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’ and see what you can find there. Palmerston North and the Manawatu are well-served with all manner of ways to recycle all manner of things.

toitu eel

If it's e-waste - computers, TV's etc - take it to Green Hub, 160 Rangitikei Street. Palmerston North City Council (and other councils such as Manawatu District Council if you live in Feilding) have information on what you can recycle. Phone Palmerston North City Council, phone 06 356 8199 or go to their website www.pncc.govt.nz and look up ‘Recycling’ or come see the Sustainable Manawatu link here .

At the Palmerston North recycling centres (Ferguson St and Awapuni) you can leave a range of materials: glass, paper, tins, plastics etc (these are also collected fortnightly through the kerbside collection).

Check out PalmyFreeCycle and how about PalmyWaste Nazis. Palmerston North’s ARC will welcome your cast-offs. The Sustainable Manawatu database has many more links – see rubbish free for ways one Christchurch couple tried to live rubbish free for one year.

Please be aware that there are lots and lots of opportunities to recycle. If you have clothing to recycle, there are local clothing shops that accept used clothing – from boutique to budget. At some supermarkets and at the transfer stations, a number of the social service groups have bins for collecting used clothing and bric a brac.

As well, these social services groups (such as Methodist Social Services, Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc) have shops that sell recycled household goods and clothing.  The best thing to do if you want to send your recycled household goods to these shops is to ring them (you can find phone numbers in the phone book).

A number of businesses are involved in recycling.  For example, scrap metal and recycled timber is accepted (and sometimes bought) by some local businesses. Strongs Metal Recycling is situated on the PNCC Sustainable Development site at Awapuni and deals with all types of metals, old cars to pots. The Yellow Pages has information about such businesses but you’ll need to search under relevant categories.

Who do I report pollution to?

You can call the Pollution Hotline. Phone: 0508 476 558. This is run by Horizons Regional Council. If it’s an urban matter, you might like to let the City Council know – 06 356 8199. The Palmerston North City Council runs a service for cleaning up broken glass from streets and footpaths. Phone 0800 I TDY UP (0800-483-987) for that.

If the pollution is an ongoing concern, you might like to consider writing a letter to your local papers and letting your local councillors or local MP know.

Who do I talk to about problem weeds?

Horizons Regional Council provides advice about noxious plants. Phone 06 952 2800 Check out their pests and weeds brochure, at this link. Or come in and see us. We have their brochure at i-site and Green Hub.

Weedbusters’ website has a lot of information and advice about weed identification and protection. Weedbusters also produce a regional ‘Plant Me Instead’ booklet. As of September, 2010, the most recent edition is not yet available.weedbusters

DOC can also help – DOC offices, phone 06 350 9708 and Sustainable Manawatu has the weed advice booklet, ‘Plant it Instead’

I have grown some native trees – who can I donate them to?
The main local group keen for native seedlings is Pit Park People. Green Hub may also be willing to accept plants.

If you would like to grow seedlings for other groups – see the list below—you need to contact them and receive ‘eco-sourced’ seed from them. Once you have their seeds, certainly they will welcome your care and labour raising the seedlings:

Are there any community gardens here?St Peters Community Garden

Yes.  Saturday mornings interested people gather at the community garden behind St Peters Church. St Peter’s Community Garden

Highbury Library in conjunction with Jumping Jellybeans and Supergrans. Jumping Jellybeans or phone 06 354 3804, also has a community garden.

Palmerston North has a community group called Community Gardens that is working to find suitable sites and support groups to develop further community gardens.

Can I get advice on starting my first vegetable garden?
Indeed, it seems there are many expert gardeners out there, keen to share their skills.

For example, two Palmerston North and Manawatu email services are available for beginner gardeners: Hern Teo-Sherrell’s no cost Palmy Seedsaver and Sian Cass’s Pickyourownfromhome

Plant to Plate and Supergrans are able to assist people with getting a garden started.  PNCC environmental education team run vegetable gardening workshops for groups of people (10 or more) sometimes in conjunction with Supergrans, sometimes in conjunction with TBL Solutions.

For many resources on starting your first vegetable garden, see our Sustainable Manawatu database for ‘Food and Gardening'.

And, don’t forget your local library! There is a lot of vegetable gardening information available through library books www.citylibrary.pncc.govt.nz.

From time to time, there are community events such as environmental expos and festivals where there are sessions on starting your own garden.  Some local garden businesses (including places like Bunnings and Mitre 10 Mega) also offer workshops and assistance. It would be best to give them a call.

It's easyEvery season is a chance to begin your first vegetable garden; each season and each year you will get better at the vegetables you have already grown, and you can begin growing different ones. Each season a new vegetable garden begins.

I/we (business, school, church group etc) am interested in doing some volunteer work – what is available?

First of all, good on you for wanting to give it a go and offer some help. Whether you live in Palmerston North City or further afield, there are lots of opportunities for anyone to volunteer for the environment. Visit the Sustainable Manawatu database, click on  ‘Not for profit and NGO’s and get the big picture of how many opportunities there are for environmental volunteering. Here’s a more streamlined approach:

OUTDOOR opportunities for volunteering:

If you’re interested in outdoor work -- planting natives or food plants, weeding and protecting plants, keeping records of wildlife, say -- here are some suggestions of groups to contact:

Don’t forget to check out the Sustainable Manawatu database for many more groups who work outdoors directly with wildlife, water, plants etc. and who welcome volunteers.

INDOOR opportunities for volunteering:

Of course, there’s a heap of indoor opportunities as well – being a treasurer, a researcher, a minute-keeper, a database compiler, a media person…

Here’s some suggestions of groups to contact fPNCET financially support Sustainable Manawatuor indoor work:

We’ve given you some ideas above and there’s many more possibilities here [link]

What do I want to OFFER as a volunteer?

Before you make first contacts, perhaps you’d like to ask yourself:

  • What skills do I have or want to develop?
  • What time do I have available?
  • Do I want to work indoors or outdoors?
  • Am I more comfortable in a team or working alone?
  • Do I want to be out and about or work from home?
  • What part of environmental sustainability do I most want care about and want to contribute to?

To help you with this process of volunteering, you could also get some help from the experts and go along to the Volunteer Resource Centre

Are there any paid positions available?

Very occasionally there is paid work. You’ll be most likely to hear about paid work opportunities by being involved.  Sometimes such work opportunities are short-term and the group won’t necessary put a job advertisement in the paper.  When paid positions are available, they will often go to people who have shown interest in the group and are familiar with what the group does.  That’s why being a volunteer can turn out to improve a person’s chance of getting a job.  When you do volunteer work you’ll meet new people and develop useful contacts in the community.

Can I do an internship with your organisation?

If it is Sustainable Manawatu that you wish to do an internship with, please send us your CV highlighting the skills that you wish to offer and indicate the time that you have available.  Please include the name and contact details of someone we can contact for a reference.  Some of the community groups and other organizations (businesses, government departments) may offer internships from time to time or consider providing an internship.  The key thing is for you to demonstrate what you can offer.  This doesn’t have to be very specialist skills – sometimes your time, energy and enthusiasm will be all that is needed.  But other things will often be important including reliability and some relevant experience.

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