Copy

Email not displaying correctly? View the online version

subtle gradient image


A Rocha National Conference 2012

A Rocha Aotearoa-New Zealand, Caritas, and The Centre for Theology and Public Issues (University of Otago) are excited to be jointly hosting this ecumenical conference on Christianity and the Ecological Crisis.  The weekend conference is an opportunity to join with others motivated by their Christian faith who seek to respond to issues of ecological degradation and injustice.  Stories of community conservation and ecological restoration – sharing our hopes and experiences of lament and love, justice and joy, from our backyards, neighbourhoods, forests, oceans, & even the kitchen sink!  Featuring stimulating speakers, informative workshops, fieldtrips and great kai.  (Also an opportunity to celebrate A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand's 5th Birthday!)  Come along and be inspired, restored, transformed!

For those of you that are able to stay another night - we will be meeting with Chris Naylor (A Rocha International Director) and the A Rocha Team and Trustees on MONDAY 8 October for an A ROCHA WHANAU DAY. Finishing after lunch on Monday.

For more details please contact andrew.shepherd@arocha.org

To register for the conference, visit:
To book accommodation for the conference, at Tapu Te Ranga marae, visit:


Reforesting the Pohangina Valley, Manawatu

The Pohangina Valley is a tributary of the Manawatu River, flowing down the west side of the the Ruahine Range. It is a beautiful valley, containing two forest reserves with magnificent totara and rimu trees.

Higher up, the valley is not so beautiful.. Misguided deforestation of very steep slopes on soft papa rock has led to landslips and massive erosion rates. In the 2004 floods, eroded silt from the Manawatu and its tributaries was deposited on the floodplain where Palmerston North is built.

A Rocha in the Manawatu has partnered with the Gray family in the valley to help protect and replant on a part of their farm in the upper Pohangina valley, with the agreement that the re-forested area will become a QEII Reserve.
 
A Rocha in the Manawatu now grows more than 2000 trees at their native nursery each year. They share the trees with the Gray family and other restoration initiatives such as the Pit Park project in the City.

Want to get involved? contact manawatu@arocha.org



There is No Waste in Nature! – Building the first A Rocha  Composting Dunny...
 
A generous grant from the Hamilton City Council is helping transform an old and rather sad and neglected looking Long Drop / Dunny at the A Rocha - Te Kaakano Community Garden. Weekly and monthly “garden parties” aka - working bees - at the gardens will soon produce more than just fresh vegetables. The Dunny is currently being refitted and transformed into a composting toilet to produce “Humanure!”
 
According to the experts - within a year the human waste-based compost is fully degraded and ready to go as a cheap, clean & natural fertiliser. This is a great way to utilize our own “waste” on site – although some have memories of ‘long drop’ toilets from days gone by while others just shudder at the thought of handling human waste rather than flushing it down a toilet – we can assure you - composting toilets really are different. 
 
The toilet will be regularly emptied and not left to stew.  We will also combine a reasonable amount of sawdust to mask the inevitable smell and this also aids the rapid breakdown of the waste. Watch this space as we transform our Composting Dunny!

Join our garden parties - contact new.zealand@arocha.org

 


A Rocha Eco Grommet* Camp - Raglan

"Grommet" ("grom") is used to describe a young energetic and enthusiastic participant in extreme sports. The term originally was used in the sport of surfing for anyone under the age of 16. However in recent years, the term has been expanded to include other extreme activities, most notably ecological care - or Eco - Groms.

A Rochas first ever Eco Grommet Camp was alot of fun! Led by our Teen Leaders and attended by campers aged between 10-13 years old - the camp provided a place for us all to hang out and be inspired by creation simply by getting out into the outdoors.
The camp included a visit to the rocky shore at Whale Bay and the Raglan Harbour - where we explored the tidal pools for species that live there. Scrambling across rocks and playing in the mud was super fun - especially when you can get wet! On our bush walk we learned a little about biodiversity and why we trap rats and possums to protect our native birds and trees. Our creative space included painting a mural together, making a personalised bandana and playing with playdough while Tania read from Genesis. A real highlight was a tour and cruise around the harbour on the Raglan Coastguard Boat - and did we mention the food? - it was really good!

"Thank you for organising a great Eco Grommet Camp! - I had alot of fun and heaps too. I cant wait for the next one!" Ben Drury - Eco Grommet 2012.

 


How wealthy are you?
 
On the North Shore of Auckland you are very likely to find many people who are concerned with their net wealth; nevertheless the A Rocha team in Auckland wanted to challenge their neighbours with a different kind of economy when they hosted a community day recently. Seeking to reach out to local churches on the North Shore, and share their passion for the local environment, the team led a nature walk in the Okura Scenic Bush reserve which was followed by a meal and presentation from Dr. Murray Sheard.
 
The theme of the day was “Our Place: Christian Perspective on Ecology and Economy”; which was a challenge and appropriate reminder to local Christians of where they live and how they benefit from its preservation. Okura Scenic Reserve it is one of Auckland’s best examples of Costal Forest; complete with ancient Karaka, Puriri, and Taraire - and John Staniland whom led the walk, enthusiastically pointed out many amazing species which included native passion fruit bearing vines of 10 cm in diameter.
 
Around 40 people attended the day – for some it was their first time at an A Rocha event. It was great to see the A Rocha values of ecology / conservation, community and theology reflected in the day with a shared meal after the nature walk and a theological discussion to round up the evening – these are similar values to those seen at A Rocha centres around the world.
 
The Auckland team plan to host a similar event in November in Avondale – if you would like to know more about what we do please contact us – Auckland@arocha.org

subtle gradient image
bottom footer image

A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand is an organization of:

Forward this email to a friend.

You have received this email because you joined our mailing list on our website. unsubscribe