Kaia Desai Fihn will be HECUA’s student blogger for the New Zealand program this spring semester. Kaia is a junior majoring in History and minoring in Race and Ethnic Studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. You can read Kaia’s previous post here.
Week 3: Activism
Raglan welcomed us with a downpour, which lasted for the entirety of our six day stay. We “glamped” (glamorously camped) in tipis at Solscape Eco Retreat, a venue based on the principles of sustainability. We were spoiled with queen-sized beds and duvet covers in the tents. The bugs seemed to enjoy glamping as much as we did. It was a bit of a climb up to the tipi site, which was a common complaint amongst us. However, once the sun set, the path to and from our tipis was lit by glowworms. Our complaints quickly died down upon this discovery.
Solscape was bustling with young backpackers, surfers and yoga enthusiasts. The venue was filled with chatty people, so we had the opportunity to talk with a variety of young travelers while preparing a meal, or over coffee in the vegan café. Everyone we met had exciting stories to share about their travels and recommended spectacular places for us to visit.
During our first full day in Raglan the owner of Solscape, Phil McCabe, guided us around the venue, showing us accommodations made out of 100% recycled materials, renewable energy sources, gardens (which are the main source of produce for the Solscape café) and massive composting agents (both food scraps and toilets). It was impressive to see all of these sustainable components working cohesively and efficiently. Phil also spoke with us about activism and community action in the Raglan region. He is an avid surfer and leader of KASM (Kiwis Against Seabed Mining). Seabed mining ultimately kills many creatures that dwell on the ocean floor and destroys public ocean recreation. He shared with us how he and a number of others have protested against large corporations who hope to cash in from mining the sea floor. Many people have lined the black sand beaches or staged sit-ins in the ocean on their surfboards in order to combat large companies’ interests on these beaches. Phil explained how social media has been particularly effective in furthering KASM’s efforts. In order to not let activism burn out, Phil suggested more people need to surf. He then provided us with this opportunity!
The rain poured onto the tent’s surface throughout the night, and we were sung to sleep by nature’s most musical element. We awoke the next morning, prepared for a full day. First, we connected with Rick Thorpe at his permaculture farm. A family with three young boys aged two to nine joined us on this day trip. It was so inspiring to see young children exposed to permaculture principles. Although the boys were much more focused on the animals and the rope swing, it was exciting for us to see them so excited to be on the farm.
Rick led us around the farm, showing how he uses recycled materials in the farm’s structure. For instance, tires were frequently spread throughout the farm to trap heat and block the winds from some of the more vulnerable crops. Goats, pigs, chickens, and ducks filled the farm, which we found adorable. Although we all exhaled an excited “aww” whenever we spotted, fed, pet or held one of these animals, we also learned how each animal contributes to the farm. While some of us walked around the farm with banana tree leaves shielding us from the rain, Rick explained how the best thing to do to get a permaculture farm up and running is to do nothing. In fact, he travelled for three years while his entire farm grew. It is about letting nature take its natural course. Rick explained that permaculture is about earth care, people care and fair share. He emphasized the importance of creating zero waste, for having no waste is a reflection of nature. Rick has successfully implemented these principles into his lifestyle and farm and has been extremely influential in the Raglan community.
During the afternoon after a marvelous lunch, we had the opportunity to surf. Phil generously gave us a group discount for surf lessons. We piled into the van and followed our surf instructor to the beach. One of the harder parts of surfing was just putting on the wetsuit! Not to mention carrying our beginner boards down to the beach. Our instructor explained the correct placement of our bodies on the board, how to paddle and effectively stand up. These are simple steps, but once we were among the crashing waves, even paddling seemed impossible. Eventually we figured it out and managed to stand upright on a surfboard. We had officially earned the right to throw up a “hang loose!”
The next morning we all woke up sore from attempting the surf life, but that meant little because this day was not only a fellow student’s twenty-first birthday, but also the day we went to the dump (quite a special venue for a celebration!). This was not just any dump, for it was hardly a dump at all. Xtreme Zero Waste is a community enterprise that uses business as a tool to meet the needs of the Raglan community. It is entirely community driven. At approximately 75% diversion from landfill, Xtreme Zero Waste is turning Raglan’s waste into resources and moving forward to zero waste.
In 1950, the land that Xtreme Zero Waste lies on was a solid and sewage landfill. By 1998, the landfill closed and a Refuse Transfer Station was established. The community began devising alternatives to landfill development. The site was landscaped and trees were planted over the wasteland. The Local Educational Trust, Whakamaua-te-Aio, was established to manage greenwaste and take over paper and cardboard recycling in 1999. They also researched a business plan and budget for a zero waste strategy. The Trust advocated for a zero waste plan and was successful by pro-actively working with the Raglan community.
Everyone had to be on board in order to promote change. In its first year, Xtreme Zero Waste had a 74% diversion rate from the landfill. This is incredible! The diversion rate has only continued to climb. Approximately 178,833 kilograms of waste is diverted from landfills each month. By 2020, Raglan is expected to be 100% waste free. Our visit to Xtreme Zero Waste was unbelievable. When we were told we would be visiting a dump, we envisioned a massive trash pit that reeked of death and housed billions of flies. Who knew a dump could be so organized, odorless, and insect less! Just walking around the site, I envisioned restoring “waste” into a new piece of furniture or artwork fit for my future apartment! The site even had a shop from which you could purchase other people’s “waste” of good condition. This excursion was definitely a highlight, for it was “Xtremely” inspirational to put into perspective what community influence can do to erase the human footprint on the planet. You can check out the Xtreme Zero Waste website at this link http://xtremezerowaste.org.nz/ if you are interested in more information about this initiative.
The evening after our visit to the dump, we had a barbeque in celebration of our fellow student’s birthday. It was a relaxed evening, filled with music, dancing, smiles, good conversation and good company. The next day we heard from Fiona Edwards, founder of Whaingaroa Harbour Care. This initiative began twenty odd years ago when two curious people questioned why the harbor turned brown every time it rained. The answer was simple, the rain unleashed sediment runoff from the land into the Whaingaroa catchment. In order to combat this, Whaingaroa Harbour Care was established. Since 1995, this organization has grown and planted 1.2 million native trees along streams and harbor edges. The ultimate aim of Whaingaroa Harbour Care is to stop sediment runoff from land and improve water quality through riparian planting. By collecting seeds, growing native trees and planting them alongside local waterways, Whaingaroa Harbour Care creates a buffer between land and water. With these plantings there has been a 95% success rate.
Riparian planting not only benefits the waterways and local community, but also the farmers who contribute to waterway contamination! For example, riparian planting reduces stock loss in wet areas, vet bills, soil loss, and weed control as well as improves stock health, pasture quality, and shade/shelter for stock. Fiona mentioned that the hardest part of her job is to convince farmers to become a part of the initiative. Yet more than 40 farmers have participated, fencing and planting an estimated 450km of riparian areas. It is a win-win situation. After 20 years, the water quality in the area has dramatically improved! To view photos of the harbor’s success, visit http://www.harbourcare.co.nz/before-and-after. Fiona ultimately emphasized that this project is not rocket-science. All you need is community support and the tools to plant trees to make a major difference!
After hearing from Fiona in the afternoon, we had the rest of the day free. Unfortunately, the downpour of rain held us captive indoors. Like the good students we are, we spent this day around a warm fire finishing class assignments.
Our last rainy day in Raglan, we visited Bridal Veil Falls (Wairēinga). It is a 180ft waterfall that plunges over a basalt cliff that was formed by volcanic activity. While this sounds extremely scenic, we were awakened to the reality of the water quality in the region. Fiona had stated that the water in the harbor would turn brown every time it rained and we got to see this first hand. Although the water quality has greatly improved, it has not been cured. This beautiful waterfall was brown. We had hoped to be able to take a dip in this natural pool, but the E. coli levels did not meet the health standards for swimming. It was a beautiful view, but the water discolor definitely depreciated the sight. Although this excursion was spontaneous and there was no scheduled lesson at this site, we had the opportunity to truly observe the enormity of Fiona’s efforts. After this visit, we gained a deeper appreciation for Fiona and felt strongly compelled to contribute to her endeavor!
Raglan was a fairly relaxed town despite its activism. Perhaps this is because everyone surfs? Our last night was spent in town. Even though it was a weekend night, the town was pretty quiet. We visited the Yot Club, where we listened to live music ranging from country to death metal. It was a rather interesting venue. Just like the Raglan community in terms of a range of activism, the Yot Club also had a lot going on!
Our time in Raglan was a very concentrated stay that focused on activism, sustainability and restoration. The morning we left we awoke to a blue-skied, sunny Raglan. Although the rain put a “damper” on our visit (literally), we were humbled by the ongoing resilience of the Raglan community.