Plenty of environmentally conscious people find themselves asking the question: How can I help the environment in New Zealand? The answer doesn't always lie in some grand gesture, sometimes it's as simple as getting involved in local events.
When a group of people decide to be proactive, to learn about what there is to be done and how to do it, they are taking the most important steps towards changing our environment's future. That's why we've created a highlight reel including some of the best green events and meetups across the country. So, which green events in New Zealand should you attend? Let's run through the list (in no particular order).
1. Go Green Expo
The Go Green Expo stands as New Zealand's largest sustainable lifestyle show. With annual events in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, there is plenty of opportunity to check out the eco-options at this event. The expo covers an extensive range of sustainable categories, including:
- Home & Living
- Household Products
- Health & Beauty
- Food & Beverages
- Ethical Investments
- Electric Bikes and Cars
- Pets
The yearly event is committed to providing Kiwis with access to the resources they need to lead a greener life featuring sustainable businesses of all sizes across the country.
2. Green Room
The Green Room, a regular meetup hosted by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC), is an opportunity for green citizens and professionals to learn more about the latest tech and innovations in construction sustainability. The events are dedicated to open and thoughtful conversations about the future of green building in New Zealand. There are featured speakers in the industry designated to talk about key areas of growth and drinks and snacks are provided. It's $65 a ticket for NZGBC members, $85 for non-members.
3. Luminate Festival
While the Luminate music festival isn't exclusively a green meetup, the event's motto is all about sustainability. Hosted in Aotearoa, festival attendees must abide by a "pack out what you pack in" policy. There isn't a single trash can or recycling bin on the site. This is one of many eco-friendly policies, the festival website lists requests such as:
- You must bring cleaning/washing products that are biodegradable as we build our own grey water systems.
- Any food waste must be put in the compost toilets in camping or main compost. As this is a natural resource and the fertiliser will be used post festival to grow local organic vegetables!
The festival also helps attendees learn more about the sustainable practices used on site and hosts sustainable workshop during the week. Since 2009, Luminate has paved the way for more large-scale sustainable events across New Zealand.
How does getting involved with green events help our environment?
Every day people getting involved in their community is what spurs change. Attending these kinds of events, expanding our knowledge base and understanding how we can help expedite the transition to a more sustainable future are all steps that help the New Zealand environment considerably.
Here at Contact we pride ourselves on being a business that positively contributes to New Zealand communities. To learn more about how we do this or to find out what events we have coming up, check out our Community page or send us an enquiry.