#161: The rescue chickens of it all

On what resilience looks like in our fair country

May 05, 2025

Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!

It’s been a rough week across Aotearoa, and unpredictable weather is only going to become more common for us with accelerating climate change. We all think it won’t happen to us - until it does.

But amidst the floods and storms, something stood out: our communities. In Northland, a small, flood-prone community withstood a 10-year rainfall event, thanks to new flood protection works led by Northland Regional Council, and supported by locals in the front lines. In other areas, neighbours checked in on each other, family members reached out, and volunteers and neighbours helped rescue chickens.

"We had never even met them before in our lives," Andy said, "People really sort of went out on a limb for us”.

That’s the same energy we need for climate action, as we work to create more resilient, supportive communities. Do you have local examples of communities coming together in your area? 💚

What can we do today?

The most-clicked link last week was 350 Aotearoa’s anti-coal petition!

🐝 5 minutes: Solar Power (Lorde’s version)

Homegrown energy from rooftop solar is a great way for NZ to decarbonise while saving money, and a way for our power grids to become more resilient in times of emergency. We need Government to take urgent action on a large-scale rollout of solar power.
Action: Sign to help push Aotearoa towards being solar-powered
What we know of the new RMA is that councils will not be able to make environmental legislation without potentially having to pay huge costs to affected landowners or businesses. We’re calling on the National government to follow through on their election promises, and empower local government to make local environmental protections.
Action: Sign the petition to Minister Chris Bishop to stop the proposed RMA reforms

🐇 15 minutes: You can GLOW your own way

Know anyone who would make a great leader in your local council? Local Government should be for everyone, but not everyone has the confidence or support to stand, campaign, get elected, and represent their communities. GLOW aims to make this process a little smoother for first-time candidates.
Action: Shouldertap a mate for GLOW or sign up yourself
Support the introduction of new WMA regulations to provide a take-back and recycling scheme for agrichemicals, their containers, and farm plastics. With the current opt-in scheme, materials are often buried or burned on farms instead of being disposed of responsibly, creating tonnes of unnecessary carbon emissions.
Action: Use this submission guide to support the proposed regulations (due 1st of June)

💃🏽 30+ minutes: Wheelie good online spaces

Tāhuna/Queenstown Lakes: Got time on your hands and know your way around a bike? Lightfoot is calling for volunteer bike mechanics to help get bikes to their waitlist of people who need a bike, or for people who have a bike to donate!
Action: Send an email to michael@lightfoot.org.nz to volunteer, or drop donated bikes to the OneBike Hub.
A lot of people get their information on climate change from the internet, so it’s important that it is a positive space for people who want to act for the environment.
Action: Sign up for an online Volunteer Training to be a good ‘Internet Vibe Patrol Officer’.

In case you missed it

New Plymouth, due May 15th: Councils are working on mitigation and adaptation plans for climate change, which gives us the opportunity to continue to push for urgent action (we recommend adding a note in the general feedback section to say that you will support your councillors taking urgent climate action through infrastructure changes!)
Action: Have your say on New Plymouth Council’s climate mitigation plan in this 15 minute survey.

Wins!

A Dutch court has upheld the world’s first law banning fossil fuel ads. The ban outlaws any publicly and privately funded advertising for petrol and diesel, aviation, and cruise ships.  
World’s top polluters have been 100% linked to $28 billion in climate damage: meaning affected communities will have more authority and stronger in their arguments for financial compensation.

That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this eBike giveaway by your very own Climate Club (open until 22nd May), or if you’re not in Auckland, enjoy this snarky meme about the ironies of cycling on holiday: