| Kia ora koutou permaculture whānau, On Sunday December 1, we held our AGM and I would like to thank everyone who participated via the online voting forms and the Zoom meeting. You can read the results below and hear a little bit about our new council members. Our financial members have already shared a lot of feedback with us during the voting process, and we hope they continue to do so, but even if you are not a member we want to hear your feedback, so feel free to share your thoughts, feedback, and ideas by emailing info@permaculture.org.nz. Diverse perspectives and input enable us to consider a wider range of opportunities and ensure the organisation is meeting as many needs as possible.We are now a month past the National Hui held at the Green School in Oakura, lost property has been returned where possible, follow up and feedback sought, and all the bills are paid. As we reflect back on what we as council were able to deliver we are very proud, and also grateful to all the people who aided us in making the event what it was. We are still documenting all of the things we learnt, areas for improvement, and what we heard from members, so this is not the last that you will hear about the 2024 Hui. And if you attended but have not yet provided feedback please do so using the link you were sent as soon as you can, as all feedback is valuable.As we head towards the Solstice and Christmas I would like to wish everyone a productive growing season, a bounty of summer produce, an abundance of opportunities to connect, strengthen and build relationships, and a Meri Kirihimete. Ngā mihi, Fiona Moorhouse Chairperson Permaculture in New Zealand |
| 2025 council members There are new and old faces on the council. Fiona Moorhouse has been re-elected to chair the council. Lucretia Charan and Alaina George will continue to serve out their two-year term. They are joined by the newly elected Trish Brocking and Lynsey Ellis. Alex Hildebrandt and Amanda Warren have resigned their council positions. Co-opted council member Mei Leng Wong did not stand for election. Here, our two new council members introduce themselves. Trish Brocking Doing my PDC in 2022 felt like I was coming home to the way things ought to be. I want to follow this path further by volunteering my time and skills to PiNZ. Having run a small bookkeeping business for 20 odd years, it seemed natural to stand for the treasurer role. Lynsey Ellis I completed my PDC in 2021 with the Auckland Permaculture workshop. I’m a keen permaculture practitioner and have designed my quarter-acre section according to permaculture principles, based in Ōrewa North Auckland (@harvesthomesteadorewa). I’m a registered social worker and I teach social work at Massey University part-time. For my Ph.D I studied the health and social impacts of climate change and I now teach a degree level course on environmental sustainability and social community work. I’m especially interested in Social Permaculture. I coordinate (with a team) the Ōrewa community garden and am the co-founder of Sustainable Ōrewa a local group promoting sustainable practices on the Hibiscus Coast. I recently attended the Permaculture Hui and I’d love to be more involved in supporting permaculture in New Zealand. |
 Steve Mushin donated a copy of his amazing book Ultra Wild for us to give away at the Hui and to be in to win, we asked for ideas of rewilding from which Steve picked a winner.Congratulations to Viryam Robertson and his idea to stock bus stops with seed bombs so that seeds can be spread by passengers as they travel out into different areas of communities. |
In Ultra Wild Steve Mushin tackles climate change with an avalanche of mind-bending, scientifically plausible inventions to rewild cities and save the planet. Jump into his brain as he designs habitat-printing robot birds and water-filtering sewer submarines, calculates how far compost cannons can blast seed bombs (over a kilometre), brainstorms biomaterials with scientists and engineers, studies ecosystems and develops a deadly serious plan to transform cities into jungles, rewilding them into carbon-sucking mega-habitats for all species, and as fast as possible. Through marvellously designed and hilarious engineering ideas, Mushin shares his vision for super-high-tech urban rewilding, covering the science of climate change, futuristic materials and foods, bio reactors, soil, forest ecosystems, mechanical flight, solar thermal power and working out just how fast we could actually turn roads into jungles, absorb carbon and reverse climate change. Developed over seven years, Ultrawild is an optimistic book about creative thinking, science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and the potential for massive change. Filled with laugh-out-loud design-ridiculousness, it aims to empower and excite a new generation of designers, scientists, engineers and ultra-wild thinkers.This book is great for kids and adults alike and if you want to know more check out this article and interview. If you want to get a copy for someone this Christmas you can order online. |
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 Hui speakers & presentationsAt the National Permaculture Hui, many sessions saw three speakers presenting in simultaneous time slots in different rooms. As a result, we know many missed out on the sessions they wanted to attend as well – which is why ticketholders will soon receive an email giving them early access to the videos recorded on the day. All other PiNZ members will be provided the link in the February newsletter. |
| Looking to connect? |
| Coming up this month our members are holding events around the country. Head over to our website and check out what is being offered in your local area.If you are a member and have an event coming up that you would like to promote on the website, please get in touch by emailing Permaculture In New Zealand. |
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