Whāingaroa Environment Centre / Te Pokapū Taiao o Whāingaroa

08/10/2026

A Dutch environmental group is lodging a complaint with the European Commission against New Zealand, claiming that NZ has breached climate obligations under the Paris accord. This is the first complaint of its kind, and is a promising indication that governments will be held accountable to their climate commitments.

Tune into this RNZ podcast to hear political scientist Professor Bronwyn Hayward chat with John Campbell about what’s happening and what it could mean for trade with the EU.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2019054081/nz-faces-complaint-over-climate-commitments-in-eu-trade-deal

RNZ article:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/1733924/the-price-of-backsliding-on-climate-deals?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

New Zealand faces its first climate complaint under EU trade rules, but the government rejects claims climate promises have been broken.

07/10/2026

What a wonderful turnout for our last Soup Time - so many helping hands making kai with aroha for our community! 🥣💛

Together, we made nourishing homemade soup to share with people who are unwell, recovering, or could use a little extra care. It was a chance to connect, enjoy each other’s company and put that care into action.

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who helped cook, contributed ingredients and containers, and made the afternoon such a success. A container of homemade soup is a simple gift, but it carries a lovely message: we’re thinking of you.

✨ Join us again 2-5pm THIS SATURDAY 10th October in the Stewart Street Hall

Huge thank you to the Congregational Church for hosting and supporting Soup Time 🥰

Credit to Lara Sweetman for the pics! 📸

06/10/2026

A huge mihi to Tua and Courtney Karalus from Deep Dive Division for an absolutely fascinating Science Night!

We were blown away by the incredible work their team is doing beneath the surface of Aotearoa’s waterways. From commercial and scientific diving to robotics, sonar, environmental monitoring, restoration and the removal of hazardous debris, they are bringing together innovation, deep expertise and kaitiakitanga in such a powerful way.

Thank you both for being so generous with your time and for gifting our community your knowledge, experiences and stories. It was a real privilege to learn more about your journey and the important mahi you are doing to understand, restore and protect our wai.

We also want to acknowledge Tua and Courtney’s whānau who came along to support them on the night. It was lovely to have you all there.

If you’re not already following Deep Dive Division, we highly recommend it. Their feeds offer a fascinating look at what lies beneath our waterways, the technology they use and the remarkable things their team is achieving, and their content is genuinely entertaining too!

🌊 Website: https://deepdivedivision.co.nz/
🌊 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepdivedivisionnz/
🌊 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Deep-Dive-Division-107826104884048/
🌊 YouTube docos, TikTok and more: https://linktr.ee/deepdivedivision

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who joined us for Science Night #35 💙🔬

05/10/2026

Do you have broken items taking up space at home?

Repair Cafe is here to help!

This Saturday 10am-12pm at Stewart Street Hall

Our amazing team of volunteer repairers can assess and often fix a huge range of things from:
+ Clothing and textiles with holes, rips and worn patches.
+ Small appliances like toasters, blenders, lamps, vacuum cleaners, coffee machines and more.
+ Knives and tools that need sharpening.
+ Computers, phones, printers, tablets that are malfunctioning.
+ Broken furniture, tools, toys that need gluing or screwing.
+ Simple fixes on jewellery, chains and watch-straps.

If you have something in mind, drop a comment and we'll let you know if we can help!

👉🏾 10am-12pm Second Saturday of each month in the Stewart Street Hall

Full event details in the first comment below ⬇️

02/10/2026

Join us tomorrow at Ruapuke and help see how much rubbish we can collect together! 🌊💙

We postponed our International Coastal Cleanup beach clean to support the March for Nature two weeks ago. Now it’s time to get out on the coast and !

Ocean currents carry rubbish onto Ruapuke’s coastline, where exposure to the elements breaks it into tiny fragments. Every piece we collect helps protect our moana and the life within it.

In 2023, 17 volunteers collected 20.55kg
In 2024, 20 volunteers collected 15.7kg.

What will we retrieve together tomorrow?

📋 This is citizen science in action! Some of us will collect rubbish while others record what we find on data collection sheets. If bending down to pick things up is difficult for you, recording our findings is another valuable way to take part.

📍 Meet at Ruapuke South Carpark
🕤 Tomorrow, Saturday 3 October, at 9:30am
🚶🏾‍♀️ We’ll walk to the north end and back.
☀️ All equipment, including bags and data collection sheets, is supplied - just bring sun/weather protection and a bottle of water.
🚙 Please carpool where possible. If you need transport, get in touch.

We won’t be having the BBQ afterwards as planned, but we’ll have delicious cold organic Karma Cola and Karma Lemonade for everyone to enjoy! 🍋🧊

We look forward to seeing you there!

29/09/2026

Sharing skills and preserving seasonal kai at Oomaero Paa 🥕🫙

This workshop was made possible with funding from Raglan Naturally Community Trust and supported by Toitu Whaingaroa. A big thank you to Lara Sweetman for her mahi in the kitchen, and Jo Kukutai for coordinating with whānau and organising the day.

Ngā mihi nui to the whanau of Oomaero Paa for hosting in Purehina wharekai, and to Maahanga Taiao whānau and everyone who joined in to learn and share their mātauranga.

Tania and Liz were privileged to share practical preserving skills and ways to make the most of what we grow. Whānau were still asking for the pūhā pesto recipe afterwards!

28/09/2026

THIS WEDNESDAY: Join us for Science Night: Deep Dive Division with Tua and Courtney Karalus, founders of Waikato-based Deep Dive Division.

Combining decades of commercial and scientific diving experience with environmental science, robotics, sonar and advanced underwater imaging, their team is making the underwater world visible. Their work spans environmental monitoring, biosecurity, marine infrastructure, restoration and the removal of vehicles and hazardous debris from the Waikato River.

Grounded in kaitiakitanga, Deep Dive Division brings together cutting-edge technology, Te Ao Māori and Pacific perspectives to better understand and protect our wai.

Come along to hear how the company has evolved, explore the technology transforming underwater research, and discover some of what their team is finding beneath the surface.

📅 Wednesday 30 September
⏰ 7–8pm
📍 Harbour View Hotel

Nau mai, haere mai! This is a free event. Arrive early to order dinner or a drink and grab a good table.

28/09/2026

THIS WEDNESDAY - Join us for Science Night: Deep Dive Division with Tua and Courtney Karalus, founders of Waikato-based Deep Dive Division.

Combining decades of commercial and scientific diving experience with environmental science, robotics, sonar and advanced underwater imaging, their team is making the underwater world visible. Their work spans environmental monitoring, biosecurity, marine infrastructure, restoration and the removal of vehicles and hazardous debris from the Waikato River.

Grounded in kaitiakitanga, Deep Dive Division brings together cutting-edge technology, Te Ao Māori and Pacific perspectives to better understand and protect our wai.

Come along to hear how the company has evolved, explore the technology transforming underwater research, and discover some of what their team is finding beneath the surface.

📅 Wednesday 30 September
⏰ 7–8pm
📍 Harbour View Hotel

Nau mai, haere mai! This is a free event. Arrive early to order dinner or a drink and grab a good table.

27/09/2026

After such a great time at our last Crafty Time, we’re doing it again - this time with a spring theme!

Come along for a fun morning of making and creating, with easy craft activities for all ages, plus fruit for morning tea.

Crafty Time is part of "It Takes a Village", a collaboration between Timebank Raglan and Neighbours Aotearoa, bringing generations together and building stronger connections in our community. It’s about sharing skills, meeting people and creating the kind of community where we look out for each other.

TOMORROW, Tuesday 29 September
10am-12pm
Stewart St Hall

Come at 10am and stay for as long as suits you.

Kids, parents, grandparents, friends and neighbours - everyone’s welcome!

23/09/2026

🍌 Go Bananas! A free, hands-on workshop for anyone keen to grow bananas at home.

Join us this Saturday 26 September, 1-4 pm, at the Wi Neera Street Community Garden.

Learn where to plant bananas, how to get banana pups off to a good start, and how to care for your patch through to harvest. We’ll put the learning into practice with some hands-on planting.

There will also be banana pups for sale!

Please register here: https://events.humanitix.com/go-bananas-a-banana-cultivation-workshop