Visitors: Anaru Vercoe (Speaker)
Welcome From President Chris Dever…Chris advised that it the Whanganui Computer Centre Act (Wanganui for those who drop their aitches), was passed into law 45 years ago. They’ve been watching your every move ever since.
Birthdays & Anniversaries – According to Clubmate there are none of any this week which seems unlikely. Ross Brown’s name was offered up as a token attempt to appease the anniversary gods.
Chris asked that members at least enter their year of birth so the Rotary age profile can accurately reflect our overt senescence.
Meetings–will be resuming back at the Tauranga Club next week, but we are limited to 50 attendees. Dean Thompson suggested at this stage we refrain from bringing individual guests along. Members are also encouraged to get their apologies in early.
Guest Speaker Anaru Vercoe. Fresh water: Wai Maori. Anaru is a Principal Advisor for the Regional Council Policy and Planning Team. They are tasked with implementing the NPSFM (National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management). To date he has had 220 conversations with Tangata whenua about how they want to be involved.
Starting with the “Pantheon of Atua” he gave members a glimpse of a Maori perspective on the environment and water management. Central to that view is that water has a personality and characteristics, and that those traits are dependent upon how humans treat both the water and the catchment.
He then discussed abundance (or depletion) of mahinga kai (Inanga, koura etc) and the concept of Te Wairua o Te Taiao.
Question time was then hi-jacked by Buddy and his buddy (pictured)
Aongatete Forest Project - has been and gone by now. Michelle advised warm clothing and outdoor footwear for those attending, but you would have discovered that for yourself by now.
This Environmental Committee Event was organised to “Learn about predator control in the bush and help move New Zealand a step closer to Predator Free 2050”, courtesy of Bay Conservation Alliance. Members were encouraged to bring young’uns.
Sergeant Session: Jane Nees
Jane wonders at the future of local council asset management, once they have been stripped of any assets to manage. Dog tags and parking tickets was suggested. She then promised a two week holiday down behind the fridge, and something about the tip of the iceberg making an unsavoury appearance in an inappropriate place. It was enough to burst one’s bubble.
Parting Thought: Barry Fredheim
“There's a reason why your windshield is bigger than your rear view mirror. Where you're going is more important than where you came from.”
Apologies for the lack of images. Totally brain dead
