Sea Shepherd's ship Sam Simon will be open to visits from November 1 to 9 in Auckland. Photo / Supplied
Sea Shepherd's ship Sam Simon will be open to visits from November 1 to 9 in Auckland. Photo / Supplied
Meet the Sea Shepherds
Southern Ocean activists Sea Shepherd and the trusty boat Sam Simon are currently docked at Princes Wharf, and are open for visitors from November 1 to 9.
This will be the first large Sea Shepherd conservation ship to visit Auckland since 2002. Following the Auckland stock they'll cast off, bound for Wellington, and then on to the meet the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean.
This year, Japan has advised it will not be taking whales, so if that commitment is adhered to, the Sea Shepherd fleet will instead patrol the waters for illegal toothfish poaching.
Check out the Sam Shepherd from 10am-5pm on weekends, and 1-5pm on weekdays.
National treasure Dame Anne Salmond - author, academic, environmentalist - will be delivering four lectures: 'Sea' (Tauranga), 'Land' (Christchurch), 'People and Power' (Wellington), and 'Rivers' (Whanganui).
• Tauranga - 7pm Tuesday 28 October at the Tauranga Yacht Club, Keith Allen Drive ($5 entry fee at the door to cover refreshments)
In a rare public interview, Sir Stephen Tindall is to speak with award-winning business journalist Rod Oram about his journey as a business leader, philanthropist, and sustainability advocate. The event takes place at The Auditorium in Auckland War Memorial Museum in Parnell on Thursday, October 30 from 7:45pm - 9pm.
The conversation will explore how Sir Stephen came to be convinced of the priority of sustainability for New Zealand businesses and public policy, his aspirations for the Tindall Foundation, and how ecological issues intersect with the concerns of faith communities.
On the last weekend of November you'll no doubt notice the 'Tree of Bikes' on Queen's Wharf, a novel way of celebrating the difference the humble bike makes in the lives of children around the world.
In countries like Sri Lankam a bike can transform an arduous walk along dangerous roads into a much more manageable cycle to the classroom. The bike is part of ChildFund's alternative 'Gifts that Grow' catalogue.
You can contribute your own bike to be part of the tree, by bringing it to Forrest Hill Presbyterian Church, Forrest Hill Road, Forrest Hill on Saturday, November 1, from 10am-2pm.
Chris and Melissa Bruntlett are the wonderful humans behind Modacity, a consultancy based in Vancouver that focuses on inspiring happier, healthier, simpler forms of urban transport through photography and film.
They're coming to New Zealand as part of Auckland Conversations so on Sunday November 2, Generation Zero, Bike to the Future, Transportblog, Blend Store and Frocks on Bikes are teaming up to give them a car-free tour of the city.
Meet at 3.30pm at the top of the Grafton Gully cycleway, on upper Queen St. It will take about an hour and refreshments will follow. All the details are on Facebook.
Van Cycle Chic - Observations from an Emerging Bike Culture
If you can't make that, catch Chris and Melissa Bruntlett on Tuesday November 4 at 5pm in The Maritime Room, Voyager Maritime Museum, Viaduct Harbour, downtown Auckland. The event is free but registration is required.
Time to start training
Oxfam Trailwalker, one of New Zealand's longest-standing charity events, is celebrating the launch of its 10th anniversary event with a new trail and a big goal: to raise $1 million to help people in the Pacific rise out of poverty.
The event - which takes place in March 2015 - sees teams of four walk, or run if they're keen, 100km together in less than 36 hours, alongside some of New Zealand's most spectacular scenery including Huka Falls, native bush and Lake Taupo.
Oxfam Trailwalker will take place over March 28-29, 2015, at Lake Taupo. Enter or find out more at oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz or by calling 0800 600 700.
The winners of the NZI Sustainable Business Network Award finalists will be announced on 18 November on Auckland's waterfront. Early bird tickets are now on sale until 5 November, or until sold out. Find out more about the awards and buy tickets here.
New guide to sustainable events in the Waikato
A new online sustainable events calendar is now officially up and running at sustainableevents.org.nz.
The calendar is an important new resource for publicising all kinds of sustainability events and activities throughout the Waikato region.
It is free to use for community groups, businesses and individuals, and includes events throughout the greater Waikato region, from Coromandel to Mokau and Taumarunui.
