whakatane newsletter september 2011
SEPTEMBER is going to be a massively important month in Whakatane, with the re-opening of the Mātaatua Wharenui on Sept 17th - thousands of visitors expected from all over the world. The official ceremonies will begin at 4am (more HERE). Additional to that, Green Screening is hosting an International Forest Film Festival, during Conservation Week with three film nights. Later in the month is the start of the 10th BIRDSaPLENTY Festival - HEAPS to get involved in!
Mātaatua Wharenui - The House That Came Home
The final act in a 130 year journey will be completed in September 2011 when the much-travelled Mātaatua Wharenui is re-opened in Whakatane. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa has confirmed Saturday September 17th as the official opening date for the carved Māori meeting house which was originally opened in Whakatane in 1875. Watch the story of the Mātaatua Wharenui below. Link to Ngati Awa website, event information and film clip here - http://www.ngatiawa.iwi.nz/cms/
GREEN SCREENING is celebrating the United Nations International Year of the Forests, and hosting a number of films from the Jackson Hole Wildlife Forest Film Festival during Conservation Week. Full list of locally available films here: Forest Film Festival
RIVER DOG
September 12th
Eastbay REAP
7pm
GUEST SPEAKERS - Mark Fort (Forest & Bird), and Matt Bloxham, local environmental scientist (BOPRC)
Refreshments available - koha appreciated
ALL WELCOME
More information about the evening and the film HERE...
PLAY AGAIN
This moving and humorous documentary follows six teenagers
who, like the "average American child", spend five to fifteen hours a
day behind screens. What happens when these teens are unplugged and taken on
their first wilderness adventure – no electricity, no cell phone coverage, no virtual reality? PLAY AGAIN investigates the consequences of a childhood removed from nature and encourages action for a sustainable future. TRAILER and more HERE....
Screening at The Sand Castle, Port Ohope, 6pm Tues 13th Sept. Spaces limited (RSVP to Pip). Bring a cushion or bean bag. No charge for screening. Hot yummy food available from The Sandcastle.FOREST FILM SELECTIONS - WHAKATANE
September 17th
Eastbay REAP
From 5pm
ALL WELCOME
JACKSON HOLE WILDLIFE FOREST FILM FESTIVALAs part of the on-going celebration of the UN International Year of Forests, we have the opportunity to watch a selection of films..
5pm - 9pm
Eastbay REAP
FULL LIST HERE... although we won't have time to see them all!!
Entry Free. Hot drinks available; bring snacks!
[You'll only be missing South Africa v Fiji and Australia v Ireland..]
FOREST FILM SELECTIONS - GISBORNE
Playing at The Dome Theatre on Mon 3rd and Mon 10th Oct. Four films will be featured each night- Poster HERE... - some of these Jackson Hole Festival winning films will also be in Whakatane on Sept 17th (details HERE...). 
A FEW MORE Forest Films TO WATCH on line..
GREEN examines the industries destroying the Indonesian forest - Watch Now (48 mins)Man of the Soil (Nom Tèw) - This poetic documentary is set on the island of Dominica Watch Now (7 mins)
OF FORESTS AND MEN -The official film for the International Year of Forests. Watch Now (7 mins)
SWITCH TODAY - About the environmental impact of toilet paper. Watch Now (1 min)
TEN FACTS ABOUT WISE MAN'S TIMBER - Bamboo.. used in thousands of products.. Watch Now (5 mins)
CLIMATE CHANGE & FORESTS: What You Need to Know and Do - Stop deforestation.. Watch Now (4 mins)COMMUNITY TREES: A LIVING INVESTMENT - How street trees improve our lives.. Watch Now (20 mins)
MORE DETAILS OF THESE FILMS ON SEPTEMBER'S GREEN SCREENING PAGE - HERE..
CONSERVATION WEEK 11th - 18th September
More information on EVENTS across the Bay of Plenty region. Guided walks, art exhibitions, clean-ups.. LOTS of fun!
BIRDSaPLENTY 2011 - 10th YEAR!
The 10th Annual BIRDSaPLENTY Festival is a celebration of the wonderful bird life in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. From Fri 24th Sept to Sun 16th Oct...Out and About, Inside and Out the Eastern Bay of Plenty—Whakatane, Matata, Opotiki, Rotorua. All age groups welcome ‐young and old, school children, toddlers and adults. LOTS of different activities, this year’s festival has something for everyone. Programme HERE... Contact:
Glen & Morley West on 07 312 5116 or birdfestmail@gmail.com
BIRDSaPLENTY Festival presents An entertaining evening with Ruud Kleinpaste, Fri Sept 30th Whakatane Little Theatre 7pm, entitled "Our Biodiversity in Whakatane – privilege and responsibility". Contact:
Glen & Morley West on 07 312 5116 or birdfestmail@gmail.com - MORE...
TAURANGA MONTHLY FILM NIGHT
CARBON NATION, "a compelling and relevant film that illustrates how SOLUTIONS to climate change also address other social, economic and national security issues". June screening was a sell-out, so a second screening is planned for Wed Aug 31st at the Wesley Centre, 7:30 pm. Contact Ron on rlopert@xtra.co.nz for more information, or sign up to their Facebook page HERE....
[Hopefully running in Whakatane in November...]
BOOK LAUNCH - Organic Explorer 3rd Edition
From Tony Ward "This one's a tourism guidebook with a difference! Unlike others of the genre it doesn't ignore or gloss over the increasingly sombre environmental realities of this beautiful country we live in. It takes a critical look at the rivers and lakes, beaches, forests and wildlife that are so important to the $18.6 billion tourism industry. It asks how tourism is coping in the context of dirty farming practices, mining, logging and oil exploration. and what needs to be done to preserve and sustain the uniqueness that visitors spend thousands of dollars to come and see. It takes a critical look at Government policy and practice, and strips away the veil of green-speak and PR lies about our Pure New Zealand image. It's a great critical analysis of New Zealand's primary industry that at the government level puts image before substance, short-term profits above long-term sustainability.
But it does more than this. It also situates the New Zealand tourism industry in its global market context, showing how our misguided foreign and trade policies are opening up New Zealand "resources" to further exploitation by international capitalists who don't give a damn about our environment and who are willing to pollute and rape the country as long as the government can guarantee that the citizens will pick up the bill.
It will be available on bookshelves or from the Organic Explorer website from the first week of September." Choice.
OTHER NEWS
JAVAMAN 214 The Strand, Whakatane, are now serving ONLY Fairtrade Coffee - Eden Tribal. EXCELLENT NEWS! Opening times and more HERE..
From 1st Sept, for every $50.00 spent with or donated to Living Economies, they are offering a free copy - while stocks last - of Deirdre Kent's bestselling book Healthy Money, Healthy Planet or Paul Grignon's classic DVD Money As Debt.
AFRICAN CATS - At Cinema 5 - An epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, African Cats captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna.
Concessionary VOUCHER ($9) available to Green Screening group. Contact me!
TREE PLANTING - ENERGY OPTIONS have booked Fri the 14th of October for their tree planting this year, and will be aiming for 4000. Well done (in advance!) - more information from Steve steve.hanna@energyoptions.org.nz
EXULT - Do you feel like your organisation is stuck in a rut? Does your organisation have a specific challenge to overcome, but you need help finding a solution that works? "Doing what you've always done will get you what you've always got." Join Cyriel Kortleven from 'New Shoes Today' as he walks you through the Creative Thinking process and helps you uncover the possibilities...Thur 15th Sept 9.30am - 4pm, Historic Village, 17th Avenue, Tauranga. Cost: $135 Contact: tracy@exult.co.nz.
EXULT - Whether you're looking for some simple fundraising ideas, or you need some more in depth help with Volunteering, Sponsorship or Marketing issues, we have a whole heap of workshops and resources to give you a head start with the business end of your organisation. Next TONIC CONFERENCE - Fresh Thinking for Community Groups - Thur 24th & Fri 25th Nov 2011, in Rotorua. MORE....
COMPETITIONS & CAMPAIGNS
Win EACH MONTH with ORGANIC EXPLORER New Zealand. All you have to do is: “Like” OE's Facebook page and be in the monthly draw to win.
Latest news, including special pre-order price for upcoming edition HERE....
PRIDE WHAKATANE Garden Competition entry form HERE... Closing date Fri Sept 23rd. LOTS of prizes! More information from Sandy on prydeworms@xtra.co.nz.
GARDENER OF THE YEAR - NZ Gardener magazine, in association with Kiwicare, is calling for nominations for great Kiwi gardeners, and for the country’s best school vege patch and community plot. With more than $20,000 in prizes up for grabs - The Best School Garden and the Best Community Garden will each receive $1000 worth of Mitre 10 vouchers and $1000 of Kiwicare garden products. Entries close on 12th Sept 2011. MORE...
KEEP NZ BEAUTIFUL - Clean Up Week 20-27 August 2011 - It is that time of year again - albeit an everyday problem that with your organisations assistance and support, the rubbish and litter that clutters and pollutes our roads, parks, beaches, rivers and waterways can be reduced and one day hopefully eradicated from our landscape. Please adopt a street, park or anywhere you want and help to keep it clean. Cash prizes to be won in 10 categories!! Entries close 15th Aug 2011. Entry Form HERE.... More information from Sandy on prydeworms@xtra.co.nz
WWF COMPETITION - Produce an original film on the theme "Life. Nature. You. Make the Connection". Your film should inspire people to love, value and protect the natural world - and to reconnect with nature. Deadline 9 Oct 2011. The entire film must be a maximum of two minutes long. Prizes - Commission from WWF to create a short film with a minimum budget of $10,000 USD and all expenses paid trip to India to attend the CMS Vatavaran environmental film festival.
CLEANFUELZ - "Cleanfuelz has a solution that works." Its Cataylser introduces hydrogen to the vehicle's fuel to change its octane rating - creating a fuel that burns more efficiently. With greater efficiency comes lower overall running costs - less maintenance costs and and lower fuel costs. More information from info@cleanfuelz.com.
