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Central to A Rocha’s ethos as it engages in scientific research, community conservation and environmental education around the world, is its commitment to partnering with other community organisations. In Aotearoa New Zealand one expression of this is the partnership which has existed since 2010 between Desert Spring Ministries (DSM)/Te Puna Waiora and A Rocha.

At the heart of the project is a garden. The Te Kaakano community garden is an important draw-card for families and individuals who are in need of fresh vegetables or time outdoors. Participants meet at the garden once a week for three hours, to plant, care for the land, talk and eat food. What is evident is that through the actions of planting, nurturing, weeding, and mulching a vegetable garden, people develop an affinity for the land and the things that grow and live in it. A rich and complex interaction occurs between people, plants, soil, insects, and animals. The conversations of adults and children, during the work or over lunch, often relate to worms, fungi, birds, bees, and nutrient cycling, and our responsibilities as stewards of this Earth. The community garden provides a powerful educational tool to share the principles of ecological and environmental sustainability, while also bringing people closer to nature.

While initially centred on the community garden, other programmes have developed that both serve the community and further increase social, environmental and economic sustainability. One of these is the monthly Café morning held at the Desert Spring Community Centre which provides information on healthy, low-cost eating options, reduced packaging, recycling of plastics, and composting. Possibly the greatest benefit of the Café is the shared cooking and eating experience that builds relationships within the community and shows, in a practical way, how one might start to live an alternative – and more sustainable – lifestyle.

For most of us in Aotearoa/New Zealand the prayer, “give us today our daily bread” (Matt 6:11) slips easily of our tongues. After all, in New Zealand, purchasing bread from a local shop is not a great logistical or financial difficulty. Yet, many in our world live in conditions where accessing daily food is a much greater challenge. The impacts of Climate Change further exacerbate this struggle for ‘daily bread’. Below is an invitation from A Rocha International to join with them as part of a global initiative to fast and pray about Climate Change.

Some of you will know about the fast begun by Commissioner Yeb Saño the Filipino delegate at the 2013 Warsaw Climate talks which coincided with Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan devastating the Philippines. In a moving speech he said he would not eat until countries at the Warsaw conference delivered actions that would ‘stop the madness’ of the climate crisis. Hundreds of others from around the world chose to fast with him in solidarity. Despite this, the Warsaw meeting saw some countries actually winding back their climate commitments.

Since then, the Fast For The Climate has grown into a global movement with the participation of youth groups, environmental groups and faith-based groups – including many Christian organisations – who all want urgent action on climate change by governments at the major UNFCC meetings in Paris in November-December 2015. Whilst this is a wide coalition with people of various beliefs, we believe this is one area where we in A Rocha can stand and act together with others. As Christians we can pray for God’s mercy, and for governments to act together to avert dangerous Climate Change.

A trip to Quail Island has been a couple of years in the planning. While my kayak-towing technique has improved dramatically from the first two Fossil Fuel Free Multisport events (2011 & 2013), finding people willing to cycle-tow a kayak over the Port Hills isn’t easy. Fortunately, Jono, a recent purchaser of one of my new cycle trolleys, was keen to give it a go.

We set off at 8:10am on a frosty July Saturday dressed in polypro and balaclavas and it was pretty easy towing the kayaks over the flat. After ditching some layers of clothes we began the grunt up Dyers Pass. It soon became clear Jono’s bike wasn’t geared low enough so he ended up walking the steep sections. Towing a kayak up a hill is a great way to initiate conversations with strangers, and a number of people helpfully pointed out the closest water was in the other direction!

We reached Dyers Pass around 10am and had an enjoyable descent into Governor’s Bay, taking it quietly due to the frosty conditions – reaching a maximum descent speed of 30 km/hr. Arriving at Cass Bay, we were on the water by 10:40am in lovely, still conditions. A kayak out to Quail Island and a swift walk (the third component of the multi-sport event) was followed by the return kayak and then cycle back over Dyers Pass and into Christchurch – arriving home at 3pm. It was a great trip with lessons learnt regarding the need for low gears on a bike (!) and more stable kayaks for the harbour. We’re both keen to try it again in summer, with an added sea-swim leg as well as the walk on the island.

A Rocha Wellington's 7^thbirthday celebration
The A Rocha Wellington local group

celebrated its 7^th birthday celebration on the 23^rd of August. It was a good occasion – the fellowship was warm, despite the cold weather (a bitter-cold southerly!) and we gave thanks to God for all the fun we have had over the past 7 years, and all that we have achieved with God’s help.

The Auckland A Rocha Group is holding a Marine Day on Saturday November 8^th. The event will include a guided walk around the rocky shore at Long Bay and then a talk by NZ underwater cameraman Steve Hathaway (see: http://www.stevehathaway.com/play-full-screen.html) For more details contact: auckland@arocha.org

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