By the team at the Hikurangi Foundation

Mark your calendars, 14-21 April 2012 the inaugural Tour of New Zealand cycle ride hits the road.

The Basics

The Tour of New Zealand is an 8-day, epic road ride taking in km after km of iconic NZ scenery (and keeping to the quieter roads where possible), described by organisers as, “the most dramatic, accessible multi-day cycling stage race ever to hit New Zealand. It’s an 8-day amateur event designed to celebrate everything good about cycling, scenery, competition and community, played out on some of the best roads the country has to offer.”

You choose to cycle either the North or the South Island, 716 km Cape Reinga to Wellington, or 777km Bluff to Picton. Then on day 8, riders from both islands will converge for a final showdown round the Beehive.

And, it’s not just about soaking up the scenery while feeling the wind in your hair…

When you fill in your online entry form, you’ll have the chance to tick a box to say that you want to ride to raise funds for the Hikurangi Foundation. Tick the box!!  Why?  Well…

Turn your ride into a Hikurangi fundraiser and 100% of the money you raise will go directly back to enabling better and safer cycling in New Zealand, supporting community-led cycling projects and innovative transport solutions.

We’re looking to get as many bikes on the Tour as possible, so there are many options for how to tackle the ride.  You can enter by yourself or as a team with anywhere from 3 to 70 people!

Team Rules

Teams must have between 3 and 5 cyclists on the road at all times.  Whether those are the same people for the full Tour, or you ride it as a relay, is up to you.  You can change riders daily, halfway through the race, or even swap riders partway through a day. For example, you could enter a 3, 4 or 5 person team and ride every km together, or enter a team of 15 and take it in turns.  The possibilities are endless.

You need not be Lance Armstrong to enter (though if he calls we’re not turning him down).  The Tour can be ridden as a race, competing for the daily stage winner prizes, or you can take it on for the pure challenge of crossing the finish line, not to mention the pure joy of seeing the gorgeous scenery New Zealand is so famous for, at a pace that allows you to take it all in, and looking pretty fit as a result!

Put your pedal power into work to support community cycling projects and smarter mobility

The Tour of NZ isn’t just another cycle race; organiser Peter Yarrell wanted to put together an event that showcases New Zealand’s incredible cycle touring potential, AND puts all its pedal power to good use. Hikurangi and Tour of NZ are partnering together, so that the Tour isn’t just about one great bike ride, but being a fundraising event means that it’s also about supporting community cycling projects and community-led innovative transport solutions to create lasting effects for years to come.

When you fill in your online entry form, you’ll be asked to select which charity that you want to ride to raise funds for.  This is your chance to select the Hikurangi Foundation. Tick the box!

Sign Me Up!

This is the first year of the Tour of New Zealand, which you have to admit is a little bit special.  Make sure you can say, “I was there when…”

Enter ASAP at www.tourofnewzealand.co.nz.  Signup now! All early entries get a bottle of wine (not guaranteed to help your training).

Entering early also gives you plenty of time to sort out your accommodation and transport – and of course find a good support crew driver or two.  Please let us know if you have entered or are considering it but would like some advice.  The more the merrier!  We have some savvy cyclist friends who have agreed to help us help you – with training and nutrition guides, and be on call for general questions.  Hikurangi will be entering one team on each island so we’d love it if you rode with us!

The Nitty Gritty
Individual entry is $500. Team entry is $400 per bike on the road. E.g team of 3 equals $1200, team of 4 equals $1600, team of 8 with 4 riders on the road at any one time also equals $1600. Tight budget? Enter a bigger team and split the cost between more people! Plus, there is a special reduced entry fee of $300 per bike on the road for student teams.

See full details, including race maps, and sign up online at www.tourofnewzealand.co.nz and select Hikurangi as your preferred charity! You’ll be supporting projects that will help to spark a positive cultural shift for cycling in New Zealand.

Download the pdf of this information here.

See original post here on Nick Potter’s Blog Re-Be.

Sometimes the universe just wants us to throw a stick

A few weeks ago I was sitting on a Gisborne beach. It was a calm summer evening. The sea breeze had ceased exhaling. Sunlight skimmed the surf. My toes explored the lingering warmth in the sand. I had just farewelled some friends so I was feeling slightly lonely.

Then a shaggy little fellow with flapping jowls and mischief in his eyes decided to break the peace.

Dogs and I often befriend one another. This one was a bit too salty for my liking though. His coat was rough and frothy from playing in the surf. He carried an air of decomposing seaweed. He was very much one with the beach.

Shaggy smiled (some might say panted) and sat before me. Eye to eye, he seemed to check me out. Then Shaggy turned to face the waves. We sat together for a while. It really was very shanti. Then something else got Shaggy’s attention. He sprung up and bounded down the beach.

The thing in Shaggy’s attention was a stick. Or more accurately—it was the idea of a stick.

He roamed the beach for a while, looking for his ideal piece of wood. Occasionally he’d pick one up between his teeth and give it an exploratory chew. Eventually he found a stick that met his dogged standards.

Shaggy brought me his Ideal Stick. He placed it at my feet. He knew what he wanted. And he knew that I knew what he wanted me to do. And so I lingered. I watched the stick patiently, playing a game of my own. I was unsure if I really wanted to go down this road with an old salty sea dog.

Then Shaggy barked. He really barked. It was part howl, part growl, and full force. He didn’t need to make his intentions any clearer.

We were playing. And I better hurry up and realise it.

So I picked up the stick and threw it. Shaggy whirled around. He ran off to retrieve it, trotting with delight. He collected his stick in his big mouth… and then ran around in circles. He looked totally mad. He dragged the stick around the sand. He buried it. He showed off how good he was at finding it again. Then he returned and placed the stick by my feet.

I paused. We faced off once again. If dogs could roll their eyes, Shaggy would have done it. Then he barked his awful bark and I picked up the damn stick and threw it. He chased it. Repeat cycle many times.

I soon gave in to Shaggy. His joy was infectious.

Looking at all the froth around his mouth, I hoped that he wasn’t infectious with anything else (I was glad that dogs don’t have rabies in New Zealand).

Shaggy and I played together for half an hour. His owner was nowhere in site. I probably looked a little mad myself as I tried to trick him with different sticks and buried his Ideal piece of wood.

Eventually we went our separate ways. He had left me with an air of joy (and a little bit of seaweed). This set the tone for the rest of my evening… and my week…and I’m still feeling joyful a month later. I’m not suggesting that Shaggy did this. But the Joy Factor is definitely riding high right now.
This encounter also reminds me of a time when I was not so joyful.

When I experienced depression many years ago, dogs were often in my dreams. Two days before I had a crash, a dog would appear in a dream. The dog would bite me. I’ve never had a bad experience with dogs in waking-life, so this really freaked me out. But I began to recognise the pattern. The ‘black dog’ of depression was making me take note.

At some point I realised that the dog attacking me in my dream was really just part of myself.

I was hurting myself. I needed to take better care of myself. And after I realised this—and made changes in my life—I had another dream about a dog. It ran towards me. I felt a rush of terror, fearing the old cycle. Then the dog stopped and licked my hand. I relaxed. I woke up, relieved. And I knew that something had totally shifted.

Playing fetch with Shaggy reminded me of how much I enjoy life now.

And I’m curious that the word “fetch” comes from the old English word “fetian”, which means to touch or grasp. Shaggy wasn’t the only one who’s good at fetching. I’ve grasped how good life can feel when we really open ourselves to different ways of being.

See original post here on Nick Potter’s Blog Re-Be.

Herald in the new generation of socially and environmentally responsible media.

Thanks to your messages of support and appreciation, all Happyzine members are invited to pay the super affordable price of $1 per week for their good news fix.  All paying members will automatically become members of Club Happyzine, which means they’ll automatically go in the draw to win great green gifts.

Every single cent will go towards supporting a world-changing, independent and highly positive media source on a mission to inspire positive environmental and social development, by sharing the inspiring stories of New Zealand and beyond.

Set up your regular payment now:

$1 per Happyzine newsletter OR $4 per Month OR $48 per year.  OR, you’re welcome to increase your contribution.

Payment Instructions:

Kiwis: please set up an AP (Automatic Payment) to Kiwibank: 38-9006-0747456-00.  Overseas Happyzine followers can email charlotte@happyzine.co.nz for a paypal invoice (meaning you can use your Visa card).

With sincere gratitude,

Charlotte Squire

Editor and Founder

www.happyzine.co.nz

Ooooby

Switch to Local Food for your belated 2012 New Years Resolution.

Visit Ooooby at: http://ooooby.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

It soon became apparent that what started out as simply a creative outlet for it’s members was too good to keep hidden away and it just felt wrong to not give everyone the chance to shake their shaky bits to tracks oozing with infectious fleshy hooks.

Although relatively new to the music scene,  TBC’s members most certainly aren’t.

Jason Kerrison has spent many years at the top of the NZ Music Scene with his band OPSHOP, enjoying not only commercial success, but also picking up numerous NZ Music Awards and the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll Award along the way.

Jamie Greenslade, better known as solo hip-hop artist Maitreya, is another Silver Scroll winner, taking away the APRA Maioha Silver Scroll Award in 2010.

Tim Skedden has enjoyed a long musical career, being a founding member of both The Feelers and also OPSHOP and while Tim has previously thrilled fans with his guitar playing, he is now stepping more into the limelight and unleashing his too long kept hidden song-writing and vocal talents.

Newcomer Selwyn Leaf completes the TBC line up. A natural entertainer, he brings a big top boom to each and every occasion and adds a soulful tone to the groups high energy performances.

TBC delivers a recorded and live experience that is as uplifting as it is refreshing and has now evolved into a fully fledged live act that has left crowds up and down the country eagerly awaiting the next time the Circus rolls back into town.

Maybe it’s the songs, maybe it’s the on stage chemistry, maybe it’s the guy wearing face paint, maybe it’s all of the above, maybe we’ll never really know…

Click here to view the embedded video.

By Charlotte Squire

Ok, it could be said that I dwell amongst the most extreme greenies in all of New Zealand.  Golden Bay was not so long ago found to have the most Green Party voters per capita, so I’m certainly amongst friends here. And so therefore what I’m about to say is coming from the very extreme perspective of a people loving, planet loving, optimist.  I don’t feel very extreme, but hey, extremists never do, do they?

This blog is about Waikoropupu Springs, the sacred waters bubbling from the throat of the earth, the Taniwha that watches over the place, grateful tourists, and Time.

Let’s start with Time – those fresh water springs, gurgling some 14,000 cubic metres per second, water that comes from the the the snow and the ice and the heavy falling rains of the Kahurangi National Park and the Takaka Hill with its gaping and mysterious Harwood’s Hole and all the mountains that cup Golden Bay – by gum those waters they keep on giving.

Floods come, droughts come, snow falls closer to sea level than anyone can remember, babies are miraculously born, people die in the strangest ways, the world seems to slide to a complete stop with every extreme event, and those springs, they keep flowing fast and strong.  And they have done since … forever.  They’re a steady thing, in an unpredictable world.

People arrive, people fly here from lands across the seas, they find the Springs and they’re stunned.  They can’t believe the pure clarity of the water, the sheer volume of water, the calm atmosphere of that place.  They can’t believe we’re letting all that water flow out to sea, and they can’t believe it’s free to visit,  especially when back where they come from, people charge good money, to see far worse.

Some stand on the viewing platform near the springs and theorise that us Kiwis don’t quite get how amazing our natural environment is.  They say we understate it.  They say, this is the world’s purist Fresh Water Spring and all there is to show for it is a small yellow sign on the main road that points to the turn off and says simply ‘Spring’.

“I could have missed this!” Breathes an Australian man.  “I could have driven right past that small sign that said ‘Spring’!  Where I come from a place like this would be surrounded in high rises and bottling plants.

Ok, so that’s not our way.  We don’t do Vegas.  But in a country where our Government is cutting funding to our conversation efforts, I got to wondering … if this is about budgeting, why we’re aren’t charging just a little bit for people to see these places, these special, sacred places that we absolutely must preserve?

“The day they charge me to visit this place, is the day I bail” mutters a Kiwi man.  So how about we only charge tourists then?  Seriously.  How about it?

Perhaps I’m going all capitalist on you here.  But if it comes down to it, decades down the track would you rather see places like Waikoropupu Springs unprotected and unmaintained, vulnerable to Didymo and far more drastic commercialisation and god knows what kind of other activity, or would you like to see it continue to be revered and honoured and preserved?

It seems to me, that in today’s times, placing monetary value upon a place gives it real, true value in they eyes of our society.  Yes, I know, these places already have value far beyond the financial, they’re valuable beyond measure, but not so in the eyes of the majority of today’s voters, because look at the political party they voted into power, and look the organisations who are loosing funding these days – our environmental sector is copping it big time.

What if, all that would be required to add to our conservation coffers, was be a small fee, paid by thousands of tourists who barely noticed the money changing hands, every summer?  I mean really, would it be so bad to ask for two dollars at the gate?  That’s great value for the experience of the most pristine spring water on the entire planet.

There’s said to be a female Taniwha guarding those springs.  Her name’s Huriawa.  She travels deep beneath the earth to clear blocked waterways, she’s brave and wise and she dives the land and sea.  Now I must say, that in the strangest of ways, I feel incredibly welcome at the Springs.  Coincidence?  I think not, it’s Huriwa I tell you!  I feel supported and nurtured and I always, always find clarity in myself when I’m there.  I find connection with the deepest parts of myself, in the stillness, when I walk through the forest at the Springs to stand near the waters.  Spending time in such an ancient, revered place is medicine for me.  I always leave there with the reassurance that all is well, and my goodness is noted and true … in the same warm kind of way I used to feel when I let my Grandmother’s house, with my belly full of cake and my heart full of love.

So let’s return to Time.  In twenty years, would you like to take your children, your children’s children to the most pristine Fresh Water Springs on the planet and see the same beautiful clear water you see today?  Of course you would.  Because you, plain and simple, are of your environment.  I mean that.  You know it and I know it, we just don’t have the language for it.  We think we look like fools speaking of our land as if it’s an ancestor, or a member of our family, but actually we’re foolish not to.

I think we need to be trading on our 100% Pure Image internationally, more, much more, and yes perhaps using the language that our culture have so readily embraced, for now, that being the language of money.  And in doing so, this may re-frame the way our culture regard special places such as Waikoropupu Springs.  Our Government may even just catch up with the rest of the world and remember just how precious these taonga, these treasures really are.

One more thing, I claim the right to change my mind about this.  I claim the right to alter my opinion, or to remain sure of this, depending on what I discover next.  I think that’s the right way forward, to be supple of the mind.  So show me a better way forward, or don’t.  But one thing’s not going to change: those sacred places around Aotearoa need protecting, honouring and preserving, because they’re family.  Is that extreme?  Not where I live.

Learn how to use your natural writing talent to contribute to an exciting environmental and social future for your people, and for future generations (while also gaining a clear idea of how to make money from your efforts!)

It is hoped that participants who complete The Positive Writing Course - which will involve watching one – two videos per week on Vimeo (like You Tube), participation in subsequent discussion and a one hour talk with tutor Charlotte Squire – will ‘walk-away’ with one published article under their belt, a clear understanding of the potential markets for their work, insight into the needs of an Editor, experience in pitching story ideas to Editors, and a greater understanding of how to create or source appropriate images for their articles and blogs.

Starts: January 10th 2012, Tuesday 7 pm online.

Segment one: Writing Positive Articles – Explore the power of words, tone, angles, structure, subjects, titles, introductions and endings when writing positive and inspiring articles.

Segment two: How to Write Inspiring Blogs That People Actually Read – Learn how to formulate a great blog angle, how to think outside the square and come up with an eye-catching title for each blog, and understand why the words in your title matter for more reasons than one.  Get the scoop on spelling and grammar in blogging; understand the importance of expressing your personality in your blog and how to do it; explore good lengths for blogs; discuss how often you should blog; learn which established sites are always looking for bloggers; explore how to have fun with the content of your blog and of the very exciting ripple effects of enjoying yourself; learn how to attract web-traffic to your first ever blog by officially launching it; learn how to write about ‘trending topics’ and how to attract more traffic to your blog.  Finally, we’ll take a brief look at promoting your blog via social networking sites.

Segment three: How to Find Paying and Non-Paying Markets For Your Work - Learn where the markets (both paying and non-paying; both positive and general) are for your inspirational writing.  Learn how to pitch an article to editors with such enthusiasm and intelligence that you’re certain you’ve raised your chances of success significantly. Also, gain an understanding of what Editors really need from you.  Come to understand the meaning of Word-Counts – why they’re important and how to stick to them.  Also: writer’s guidelines – be clear why they’re important and how to recognise them.  Finally, gain a basic understanding of the legalities of copyrighting, reproducing people’s content, images and quotes.

Segment four: How to Provide Great Digital Images for Both Online and Print-media - Learn the basics of providing good digital photography to accompany your work (we will explore up-loading, appropriate file-sizes, composition, content, and image-formats). Learn where to source free, good quality images when you can’t provide your own.  Finally, we’ll review our month of learning together.

How the Course will be run: Charlotte Squire will present four online classes.  Students will be encouraged to participate in discussions and dialogue about each presentation.  Charlotte will coach each student to write one 500 – 1000 word positive article (students are required to begin this process immediately).  She will also conduct a one hour personal coaching session with each of the students.

Tutor’s background: Charlotte Squire is the Editor, founder and a writer for Happyzine (www.happyzine.co.nz), an online media platform for positive social and environmental change.  She has managed and edited countless writers (bloggers, press secretaries, and Public Relations agents) who have contributed to Happyzine.  She has a BA in Social Policy and Politics, and believes in the power of positive media to create exciting political, social and environmental change.  Charlotte has been a passionate writer since she was five, a professional freelance writer for around ten years, and is an original singer/songwriter. She is also a published creative writer, and last year completed her personal, very public challenge to write every day for one year straight about the good in life: ’365 Days of Fun and Chillaxation’, which you can view on www.happyzine.co.nz.

Course Cost: NZ$250 per student before December 27th 2011 (early-bird price) or $300 up until January 10th providing places are available (Members of Club Happyzine will receive a ten percent discount).

Registration and payment: Students are required to pay in full, or arrange payment plan before course begins. People with New Zealand bank accounts can  can deposit their course fee into bank account:  38-9006-0747456-00.  Or email charlotte@happyzine.co.nz for a paypal invoice.

Segment Dates: January 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st (Tuesday evenings, 7 – 8 pm)

Number of students: Five minimum – twenty maximum

Experience required: This course is for people who have always had a passion for writing and who would like to develop their talents for the freelancing/positive writing market.  Charlotte Squire is happy to discuss skill levels and appropriateness of the course with people who are considering participating, email charlotte@happyzine.co.nz

Feedback from previous positive writing students:

“I got so much out of it, far more than I had imagined beforehand. The strong positive encouragement and emphasis on self belief really helped and getting so much practical information on writing stories people want to read and how to access work and all the processes involved with articles (like photo’s etc) was brilliant.” Rebecca Toon

“I picked up a lot of useful tips about writing and pitching articles to publications. it also gave me more confidence/motivation/feelgood factor!” Grace Deathridge

“Dear Charlotte!  You have created something very personally nurturing, special and supportive in Happyzine – to all who read it, all over the world. With such open and honest contributions from dedicated bloggers, it comes across as an emotionally safe space in which to wax lyrical on the rich inner life of one’s soul.  I’m thrilled and proud to have my article, photos and bio up there.  I’m sending the link to friends and family!!!  Thank you so much!  Clair x” Clair Fones.

Email: charlotte@happyzine.co.nz to inquire today.

Applications are invited for the positions of Intern-Writers and Intern-Sub Editors for Term 1 (Monday 30 Jan – Thursday April 5) of the 2012 New Zealand school year. 

Intern-Writers

Some previous writing experience is necessary, though a natural aptitude and love for writing is the most important attribute required.  Intern-Writers who are accepted into the Happyzine programme must be prepared to submit four pieces of work (articles or blogs) during the course of one term, including at least one good quality image.  Intern-Writers will experience: working to dead-line, researching and writing seriously positive pieces of work, interviewing, transcribing, crafting a well structured piece of writing, submitting work that’s in alignment with the Happyzine ethos and is of high quality, and having their work Edited.

Writers can live anywhere as all work and communication will be online, though some familiarity with the New Zealand culture and language is preferred as our audience are primarily Kiwi.

Positions available: 5

To apply send one 300 word article and one image to charlotte@happyzine.co.nz

Intern-Sub Editors

Sub Editors must have proven writing experience and a passion for creating flow, structure and excellent grammar and spelling within written pieces.  It would also be useful to have some experience working in the back-end of blogs.  Sub Editors will be required to edit four to six original articles or blogs and to post up press-releases so that they’re ready to be published on Happyzine.  These tasks include checking spelling and grammar, ensuring the story flows and makes sense, ensuring the story sits well within the Happyzine ethos, polishing structure and checking that articles are factually and ethically right for Happyzine.  Sub Editors will need to work to dead-lines and will need to have an excellent eye for detail.

Sub Editors can live anywhere as all work and communication will be online, though some familiarity with the New Zealand culture and language is preferred as our audience are primarily Kiwi.

Positions available: 3

To apply send a cover letter and an example of a previously written article to charlotte@happyzine.co.nz

Intern Positions will be available during each New Zealand school term.

Term 1 – Monday 30 Jan and Tuesday Feb 7 – Thursday April 5

Term 2 – Monday 23 April – Friday 29 June

Term 3 – Monday 16 July – Friday 28 September

Term 4 – Monday 15 October – no later than Friday 14 December

Note: Intern positions can be planned to work with course requirements.

Wanaka Wastebusters

Nominate bad packaging to win a good-looking shopping bag

Sick of bringing home plastic shopping bags filled with bad packaging? Do something about it by nominating the packaging that bugs you most for the Unpackit Packaging Awards. Put in any nomination for the Unpackit Awards before Christmas, and you could win one of five gorgeous Loopcase shopping bags – hand-crafted in Wanaka from recycled materials. No more single use shopping bags to add to the billions of plastic bags thrown away each year, a Loopcase shopping bag will carry home your groceries time after time and keep looking good too.

The packaging which drives you mad might be non-recyclable, excessive, harmful to the environment or just plain ridiculous. Go to www.unpackit.org to put in your nomination for the Best or Worst Packaging sold on New Zealand shelves. You can put in as many nominations as you like, just remember to say why you have nominated the packaging and to give us your email address in case you’re one of the lucky winners.

The Best and Worst Unpackit Packaging Awards will be decided by public vote in 2012. All nominations made in the month leading up to Christmas will be entered in the Loopcase competition.

Friday February 10^th, 10am till 6pm, Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna

The ReGeneration Trust invites you to join us for a day of inspiring, entertaining and thought provoking presentations from leading New Zealand changemakers. As well as great talks, films, live performances and intergenerational presentations there will be plenty of networking time to meet new people as well as catch up with old friends.

The Convention will be held on the 10th of February at the Bruce Mason Centre on Auckland’s North Shore from 10am till 6pm. Speakers include Robin Allison, creator of Earthsong Eco neighbourhood, Gael Surgenor from the It’s Not Okay campaign, activist and comic artist Sam Orchard, and John Stansfield from Oxfam New Zealand.

So get a crew together, take a day out from work or study and come and get inspired about the positive change projects happening all around this beautiful country.

–
Lani Evans
ReGeneration Project Co-Convener

021-474-496
lani@regeneration.org.nz