Tag: Interview

An interview.

Solar Power From the Actual Experts

I must confess I am just about the furthest thing from an actual engineer – while I have a great deal of curiosity about the nature of solar power and its possible impact on household energy consumption at a micro level, on certain technical matters I will be a small kid with armbands swimming in the deep end.

What do we do when we are potentially out of our depth? We consult a real world expert. So for that reason, this week we speak to Martin King and Bryn Bennett of Degree Limited, who specialise in the installation of all things heating and cooling.

Continue reading “Solar Power From the Actual Experts”

How to Clean Up New Zealand’s Rivers Using Vermicomposting Systems

A few months ago I went to a talk with some representatives of the council in Feilding about composting. Their biggest problem they had was with what they called “biomass” – surplus run-off nutrients from farm waste disposal that they simply couldn’t compost, because they had insufficient compostable material to compost with it. I didn’t connect the dots at the time, but what they were referring to was nothing other than the sorts of run-off nutrients that are currently flooding New Zealand rivers, and which have become very topical in the lead-up to the election.

Continue reading “How to Clean Up New Zealand’s Rivers Using Vermicomposting Systems”

“The Age of the Independent” – Why Sam Jennings Wants to Represent Ōtaki

In the year of a tightly contested election, having an independent candidate represent a relatively small but growing town may be an excellent strategy that pays big dividends. Whichever party gets into power, they might need the extra vote from Sam. Having an independent MP representing Ōtaki would be a huge political coup for the town – it would be the equivalent of having a genie in Parliament being able to grant any wish the electorate wanted.

This week we talk to Sam Jennings about his ideas, hopes and motivations in running as an independent MP representing Ōtaki.

Continue reading ““The Age of the Independent” – Why Sam Jennings Wants to Represent Ōtaki”

Entering the Lightning Lab Electric

The Lightning Lab is a locally run accelerator programme designed to turn competent teams and workable business concepts into investable businesses.

This week we talk to Paul Spence, founder of Polanyio and I Want My Name, regarding his recently successful entry into the Lightning Lab Electric Accelerator programme.
Continue reading “Entering the Lightning Lab Electric”

Making the Most of the Ōtaki Microclimate

The Milk Station Grows Olives and Figs in the Otaki Microclimate

 

Over the past few years, Lyndia Wood has quietly built a formerly abandoned milk factory in Ōtaki into a destination venue for weddings and events.

In part to suit the Italianate design style of the refurbished Milk Station, Lyndia cultivated figs and olives (which she now sells to restaurants and supermarkets), thanks in part to the superb microclimate in Ōtaki.

Continue reading “Making the Most of the Ōtaki Microclimate”

How to Get Organic Certification in New Zealand

Each year, the revenue for organic certified exporting companies increases. It seems almost that New Zealand is built for organic production – the methodologies tie in well with New Zealand’s clean green farming image and can offer a point of difference for exports. For those reasons, an understanding of organic certification is probably quite critical to contemporary primary producers (small just as much as large).

Continue reading “How to Get Organic Certification in New Zealand”

The Greener Neighbourhoods Competition

Greener Neighbourhoods is a competition that has been running through the Kāpiti Coast District Council for the past seven years. What is interesting about the programme is not only has it galvanised a large number of local neighbourhoods to reduce their environmental footprints, but it has also spiralled outwards into a wide range of unrelated ecological initiatives that have stood the test of time and appear to have gained a high level of community engagement.

Continue reading “The Greener Neighbourhoods Competition”

Decline in Wellington Rugby Sevens Tickets Leads to an 88% Drop in Revenue From Costume Hires – Interview with a Local Business

Over the seasons since 2014, the Costume Company has seen an overall drop of 88% revenue during the week leading up to the Rugby Sevens in Wellington.

Continue reading “Decline in Wellington Rugby Sevens Tickets Leads to an 88% Drop in Revenue From Costume Hires – Interview with a Local Business”