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In this issue: Community momentum is building, with great events, fresh sustainability research, and inspiring young people stepping up. Plus, EIF grant highlights, and a new cycling group bringing people together.

Did you interact with ENM in the past six months?

We’d really value your feedback — the good, the bad, and everything in between. It helps us support you better.

We’ve simplified the form to make it quick and easy, as part of improving how we serve our environmental community.

We’ve all seen the headlines: climate change is here, is happening, and is challenging everything about our existing food systems.

Join farmers, growers, and industry leaders at Kai o Ngā Tau Ki Mua, Food Futures Hui to explore how climate change is shaping the future of food production and what practical solutions are already working on the ground.

Hear directly from producers, researchers, and innovators while sharing real-world insights on resilient, profitable farming and land use in Aotearoa.

The program includes keynote speakers, presentation sessions, panel kōrero, and interactive workshops with dedicated time for whakawhanaungatanga, networking, and delicious locally sourced kai. Connect with others across the sector, build partnerships, and leave with ideas and actions you can put into action.

Connect with others who care about climate, kai, and community and be part of shaping what comes next.

The future of food starts here

21 July 2026 | 9:00am–5:00pm | Palmerston North Conference & Function Centre

Explore the latest research and discover new perspectives on how we can better understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities ahead. We’ve picked relevant academic research exploring sustainability issues. All research featured is freely available through open access, supporting the sharing of knowledge and helping important insights reach a wider audience.

SUBMISSIONS

In a world increasingly digitised and commodified, conservation land represents a bastion of truth and connection to the living world that is rightly accessible to all.

The proposed Conservation Amendment Bill seeks to fundamentally distort the role of the Department of Conservation from conserving and protecting the natural taonga of Aotearoa to monetising them.

The Minister for Conservation says he’ll drop the clauses allowing the sale of public conservation land. That’s welcome but it doesn’t fix the problem.

It lays the groundwork for concentration of power at the ministerial level, silencing the voice of the people in decisions relating to their natural heritage.

We urge you to make a submission to bury this Bill - Consultation closes this Thursday, 2 July.

There will be a public meeting hosted by a collective of amazing community groups at Globe Theatre at 7pm TONIGHT!!!! (Tuesday 30 June). It would be great to see you there, and please spread the word far and wide.

Let's fill the Globe with a resounding rebuke to this shortsighted, greed-fuelled legislative bulldozer, and stop the conversion of living taonga into cold dead numbers on a screen!

Forest and Bird have put together an excellent summary of the problems in the bill and the lasting damage it could do if enacted. You can find detailed guidance on making a submission at the link below:

FUNDING

Nineteen projects have recently been awarded funding through ENM's Environmental Initiatives Fund Large Grants, with 32 projects receiving Small Grants since July 2025. Established in 2020, the Environmental Initiatives Fund (EIF) is administered by Environment Network Manawatū (ENM) and is made possible through the support of Palmerston North City Council and Eastern & Central Community Trust.

Each year applications for large grants open in February through to mid-March and are for environmental projects within the $1000-$15,000 range. We were significantly oversubscribed for large grants again this year, receiving 29 applications worth over $400,000 in funding requests.

Of the nineteen successful applications, we were able to fully fund four projects and partially fund a further fifteen. Just over $135,175 in large grants was distributed this year. Successful applicants must demonstrate that their project aligns with one or more of our funding priority areas. A summary of each of the awarded projects can be accessed here.

This year we have awarded $32,600 through the Environmental Initiatives Fund Small Grants across the Manawatū catchment. These grants are for projects that need support of up to $1,000. A sample of projects completed through this fund since July 2025 are shared here.

PNCC still has funding available through the Resource Recovery Fund, with grants from $2,500 to $15,000 to support practical, community-led projects.

If you’re looking at doing something that helps reduce, reuse or recycle, whether it’s a small pilot, an event, education programme, or even some research, they'd really like to hear from you.

More information and how to apply can be accessed through this link.

Horizons provides a range of funding to support biodiversity and the environment. Please use this link to see the full list of current grants and sponsorship opportunities.

VOLUNTEERING

Our network is always looking for passionate volunteers to help make a real difference in our community. There are a variety of opportunities available, with time commitments starting from as little as 2 hours a month—perfect for any schedule. Whether you're lending a hand at working bees or offering your skills behind the scenes, every bit of help counts. Interested in joining us?

Lead a beeswax wrap making workshop

This is for students to make free wraps for Plastic Free July.

Commitment: One off, 5pm on Friday the 24th of July

Location: Massey University

Contact Haleigh

Keen gardener

The first official working bee run by Hannah the new organiser. 

Group: Apollo Parade Butterfly Park, PN

Commitment: 130min -2 hrs 

Contact Hannah 

A collection of stories, updates and events broken down into our four pou.

Big congrats to Hannah on taking over Apollo’s Butterfly Park. We all know how busy life gets and how precious time can be, so it’s awesome to see that energy going into something that connects with and supports the community.

It’s a beautiful space, and the kaupapa behind it is something other parks can really aspire to. This project has been growing for 15 years now, which speaks to the care and commitment that’s gone into it over time.

The park is supported by a small volunteer team who do an incredible job, and they’re always keen for more hands to help lighten the load. If you’ve got a bit of time or just want to be part of something meaningful, give the page a follow and reach out to the group.

As ENM’s Biodiversity Lead, Mark has been delivering the Trees for Survival project over the past year. Recently, he’s hosted planting days with Glen Oroua, Opiki and Turitea Schools, where students have been involved every step of the way, growing plants from seedlings before planting them out.

Although the article sits behind a paywall, it was exciting to see the programme featured in The Post, with ENM getting a mention.

Wednesday mornings in the holidays at Ahimate Park, FREE whānau nature pop ups.

All welcome. 10.30-1pm

Spend time playing, creating and cooking round a fire together.

Run by PNCC, Wild Nature School & Sport Manawatū

Nature connection, creativity and FUN for kids - check out our school holiday programme.

*Bushcraft, fire cooking, nature art and craft, Wild Boys*

Tuesday 14th July from 7.00.pm.

PN City Library, George Street Entrance, Palmerston North

Hosted by Forest and Bird Manawatū

Talk: How to speak Sea Lion - A field diary of the Sub-Antarctic

Speaker: Anne-Sophie Pagé BVSc, Resident in Wildlife Pathology Tāwharau Ora – School of Veterinary Science, Massey

Swept by relentless winds and framed by the crashing surf of the Southern Ocean, Enderby Island is a place where wildlife outnumbers people and every day feels suspended at the edge of the world. During the peak of the New Zealand sea lion (pakake) breeding season, the island comes alive with beach master bulls high on testosterone and piles of pups. This talk will take you into the heart of life in the subantarctic — the mud, the isolation, the humour, and the privilege of working amongst one of the world’s rarest sea

lion species — while exploring the fragile reality faced by these animals and the many endangered species that depend on these islands as one of their last remaining strongholds.

Zoom link available

Thanks to the Environment Initiative Fund, registration for Green Week 2026 is FREE! Many thanks to ENM for this support. This event is also funded by Horizons regional council and Horowhenua district council.

One week to win. Schools across the region complete challenges to care for the environment and take meaningful steps towards sustainability. Every activity earns points that contribute to each school’s total.

At the end of the competition, the school with the highest score wins the title, along with the grand prize of $1000.

2 to 9 August 2026

Green Week is designed to inspire young people to embrace sustainability, planting the seeds for a future where their actions help shape a healthier planet.

With category prizes, spot prizes, and a grand prize on offer, there are thousands of dollars’ worth of goodies to be won. Will one school take home the $1000?

Save the date: 13 August 2026

Save the date for a Circular Economy Showcase where Grassroots Expo meets Community Hui event! Community projects get to show what they do based on the Waste Hierarchy.

Repair Cafes are free pop-up events where local people bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

Feilding Repair Café

August 15, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:45 AM

14 Bowen St, Feilding, 4702

Palmerston North Repair Cafe + Hand tool care and sharpening workshop

July 25, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Palmerston North Community Leisure Centre, 569 Ferguson Street, Terrace End

Workshop: 9.30am -11.30am

Discuss and see demonstrations of techniques that will keep your gardening and woodworking hand tools sharp and in good shape for the years to come. We'll focus on items such as spades, axes, loppers and secateurs as well as hand planes, chisels, knives and hand saws. Feel free to bring along one tool that needs attention, learn how to sharpen it yourself to get it working effectively - time permitting. Please note for health & safety that you do so at your own risk.

Textile Rescue works with businesses, charities and individuals to divert textile resources from landfill, connecting communities to still-useful textiles through redistribution and repair.

Having access to verified recycling pathways means textiles that can't be reused are recycled here in New Zealand where possible, or with partners overseas rather than landfilled.

Individuals can get involved through the Rescue Bag — a prepaid postal collection service for household textile waste — or by volunteering. They're a small social enterprise with big dreams and there's always something to do.

Get connected to other textile enthusiasts by joining their Facebook group.

Email Sonya to get involved or volunteer

Visit their new website

This is a free 6-hour training workshop for rangatahi 13-19 interested in learning new digital skills and giving back to their community. Places are limited and you must be able to commit to attend a session on either Monday 6th July OR Tuesday 7th July from 10am-4pm.

Learn to:

• take apart a laptop and key parts of a device
• how to diagnose what's wrong with it and fix it a day
• how to diver e-waste keeping laptops out of landfil

Love festivals, events, the outdoors, and making a difference? We're on the

hunt for energetic, positive people to join our team of Recycling Champions

in and around Manawatū.

As a Recycling Champion, you'll be positioned throughout event sites to

assist the public, monitor recycling stations, reduce contamination, and

support waste diversion initiatives.

You don't need previous experience. We'll provide training!

Public Meeting: 5.30 – 6.30pm, Tuesday 14th July 2026. Globe Theatre

Hosted by: Greasy Chain Charitable Trust

Two speakers [Peter Masters – Bike Taupo, Michelle Jurgens – CEDA] will provide specific related information before a discussion panel [Peter Wells – MMBC & Alice Williamson C2SRT] dive a practical discussion about what would be required to build momentum across the region. This would allow the meeting to combine external evidence, regional strategy, and local voice, while also creating space for practical discussion about next steps.

Desired outcome: help strengthen a shared understanding of the opportunity, build support for a practical next stage and establish a spear group to drive this economic opportunity.

How would you like to engage with this project?

We’re back in August with ‘Chooks’ presented by Phil Stevens: a beginner/intermediate level workshop on keeping backyard chickens. This is on Saturday August 15th 1-4pm at the Village Valley Centre, Ashhurst. Registrations can be made at recap.org.nz.

On Saturday August 22nd 1-4pm they have both the Palmerston North City Council and Manawatū District Council Emergency Management Officers joining us to speak on Emergency Preparedness for you and your whānau. This will be tailored to the most likely scenarios for our specific area. With adverse weather events increasing year on year, we really encourage you to make time for this. It is a free seminar, with afternoon tea provided. Registrations can be made at recap.org.nz.

You’ll learn what’s happening, why it matters, and how to take action. The course includes both scientific and Indigenous perspectives and focuses on practical ways to support climate action in your community.

• Nine weeks (around four hours per week)
• Online
• University of Canterbury
• Starts 13 July
• Free for NZ citizens and residents

Since opening in 2011, Just Zilch has been rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste and making sure it reaches people who can use it. What began as a small community initiative has grown into a vital service supporting households, community groups, and charities across the region.

Over the past 15 years, Just Zilch has rescued and redistributed more than 4,500 tonnes of food, supported over 810,000 people, and assisted more than 200 community organisations. Today, an average of 500 people visit Just Zilch each day to access food directly from the organisation.

For Just Zilch, the anniversary is not just about celebrating a milestone. It's about recognising the community effort behind it. Every volunteer, every food donation, and every partnership has helped ensure food is shared rather than wasted. We thank you!

Celebrate Matariki through kai, whanaungatanga, learning, and community connection.

Te Kawau Herenga Waka – Matariki Kai Festival is a free community event bringing together local food vendors, cultural experiences, and interactive learning opportunities for whānau of all ages.

Come along and enjoy:

🍽️ Delicious kai from a range of local food vendors

🌱 Gardening, nutrition, and wellbeing workshops

🦷 Health promotion activities

🎨 Whānau-friendly activities and community stalls

🌟 Opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate Matariki together

Matariki is a time to remember those who have passed, celebrate the present, and look forward to the future. Through kai and kōrero, Te Kawau Herenga Waka creates a space for our community to come together, share stories, strengthen connections, and celebrate the Māori New Year.

The Landscape Supply Yard supported James from Mission 4 Men this month by supplying a truckload of soil for a community garden the group has created. They are proud to be part of initiatives like this and welcome the chance to support similar community garden projects.

They also offer their own contracting service, which means they can provide additional support for larger jobs. This includes building garden beds or supplying a digger with an experienced operator. The team is always happy to help, so feel free to get in touch to talk through what is needed.

Tuesday 21 July – Kai o Ngā Tau Ki Mua. Food Futures: Building Climate-Resilient Food Systems.

Thursday 13 August – Grassroots Circular Economy: A Community showcase

Thursday 15 September – Food Sovereignty meets Circular Economy: All about Composting

Thursday 22 October – ENM Membership Gathering & Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 3 November – Biodiversity Hui: Rewilding from Back Garden to Back Block

Thursday 1 December – Community Food Sovereignty Summer Hui: Celebrating Impacts of Volunteer-Led Environmental Action

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

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