Transitions in Action A TR A N SITIO N S IN A C TIO N TRANSITIONS IN ACTION AN URBAN AND REGIONAL TRANSITIONS GUIDE FOR TE UPOKO O TE IKA WELLINGTON Amanda Yates, Gradon Diprose, Kelly Dombroski, Thomas Nash “ It’s easy to feel despair and desperation at a time where our decisionmakers continue to prioritise profit over people and planet, but when I see the community led mahi happening in Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui, it restores my faith in people power as a pathway to the future. This book shows that we don’t have to wait for politicians to create the communities we deserve.” Tamatha Paul MP Member of Parliament for Wellington Central  Contents 7 Introduction 11 Visualising transitions 13 Five rings of the compass explained 14 Te Whanganui-A-Tara 16 Kaicycle 20 East by West Ferries 24 The Living Pā 28 Wesley Rata Village 32 Transitional bus and bike lanes 36 two/fiftyseven 40 EkeRua ReBicycle 44 Hopper Refill 48 Innermost Gardens 52 Mevo Car Sharing 56 Waitangi Park 60 Dwell 64 Centre Port 68 RepairED 72 Capital Kiwi 76 FTN Motion 80 Kokiri HIKO E-bikes 84 The Wellbeing Protocol 88 Te Upoko o Te Ika: Greater Wellington Region 90 Toast Electric 94 Wellington Fruit and Vege Co-op 98 Greater Wellington Low Carbon Acceleration Fund 102 Metlink 106 Well Homes 110 Porirua 112 Ngāhere Korowai 116 Bilingual Street Signs 120 Te Hiko Centre for Community Innovation 124 Te Hiko – Good Cents and Wealth Pool 128 Ruamāhanga 130 Wairarapa Pūkaha to Kawakawa Alliance 134 Wai Waste 138 Vagabond Vege 142 Hoskins Energy Systems 146 Wairarapa Moana Restoration 6 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 7 He Tīmatanga / Introduction Our cities are facing complex socio-ecological crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss and social inequity. This changing environment is challenging, but it can also galvanise more positive change for resilient and regenerative urban systems. Some of these transitions are already occurring across different domains, in ecological, economic, and energy systems, in community networks, in the built environment and buildings. These transitions are small and localised to neighbourhoods or communities, or large, as for example in the new zero-carbon energy systems or flood- resilient wetland infrastructures currently being distributed across cities and surrounding landscapes. These changes are being driven by diverse actors – including Indigenous groups, communities, scientists, activists, urban authorities, and businesses. This Guide documents a range of innovative initiatives or projects occurring in the Greater Wellington region to help activate positive transitions more broadly. What do we mean by transitions? When we talk about transitions here, we are referring to an adoption of new and just systems, practices and projects that bring wellbeing for people and planet. Often transitions theory and techno-scientific change models assume that change is a technological process that relies on individuals electing to change their habits. Importantly here, we emphasise a fundamental shift in cultural frameworks, from human-centric to eco- centric, in order to heal and regenerate socio-ecological systems. What is required now is transitions in the systems that underpin our culture and cities, including ecological, energy, and economic systems, community and built environment systems. Mauri ora, or social, cultural and ecological wellbeing, is central to a just and regenerative transition process and is a core indicator of value, over and above a narrow economic measure. Community economies researchers describe ethical principles for negotiating place-based economies that serve people and planet. Kate Raworth’s “City Doughnut” model applies this approach to cities, establishing social and ecological limits for urban systems. Closer to home, the Ngā Tohu Mauri Ora Urban Wellbeing Compass (see Visualising Transitions below) visualises positive regenerative transitions 8 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 9 that can enhance urban resilience and social and ecological vitality in Aotearoa New Zealand. In this Guide, we understand urban and regional change as a way to build towards wider transitions in our social systems, our built environments and infrastructure, and in our economy. In this approach, participatory practices and community-led change can be powerful ways to initiate transitions in place. Wider policy or strategy initiatives – “top-down” models of change – can then support this place- based or flax-roots change process. Why does a Transitions Guide matter? By bringing together a curated collection of recent or in-development transitional projects situated in Te Upoko o Te Ika, the Wellington region, this Transitions Guide works to catalyse further change. The projects are wildly diverse, ranging from small-scale social businesses to large-scale urban energy infrastructures, to new regenerative buildings. The initiatives champion exploratory, open-ended approaches that a place-based, local model of change provides. This change model allows flax-roots possibilities to be investigated in real time, with active communities. Each project is also propositional and speculative, as it explores opportunities for a future Wellington region. The Guide is arranged via watershed catchments, following the holistic ecological and community based organisational model, adopted by the Greater Wellington Regional Council as part of its Whaitua programmes for catchment management. Understanding economic and social activity at the level of a watershed helps to connect us and our everyday activities to the physical environment. The Guide shows how just transitions to more regenerative, equitable, low-carbon, less wasteful, and redistributive economies are already underway across the Greater Wellington region. As a region, Wellington faces challenges on a range of fronts including climate, housing, and the natural environment. There has been a steady decline in the health of freshwater ecosystems and freshwater fish, both in urban areas and more rural areas. There is a severe housing shortage, particularly in Wellington City, and expensive, low quality rental housing is the norm. This is bringing down Wellington’s attractiveness as a destination for talent and business and causing a drag on the city’s economic competitiveness. Meanwhile, water infrastructure in the region’s cities has been neglected in favour of decades of artificially low council rates. It will require many years of sustained investment to replace old pipes, repair leaks and install new infrastructure, such as water treatment plants, smart water meters and more bulk water storage. The same is true of rail infrastructure, where key assets on the rail network – parts of tracks, bridges, signals, points, etc – need to be replaced. The choice between a focus on public investment in rail, both for public transport and freight, and a focus on investment in roads will be decisive in shaping the success or failure of the Wellington region, both in conventional economic terms and in the broader conception of economic, social and environmental success. The cost of dealing with this infrastructure deficit – whether it is water, public transport or other infrastructure – will now fall to younger generations who bear little responsibility for the deficit building up in the first place. In fact, the infrastructure deficit was fuelled by an environment of low rates and taxes and economic settings that provided for high untaxed capital gains on property. As a result, property ownership is unachievable for many young people. This intergenerational inequity is a key challenge for the region and for the country. Te Upoko o Te Ika – Greater Wellington: the potential Yet despite its challenges, the Wellington region is well positioned to lead the development of more resilient and regenerative urban systems. It is a relatively low emissions region compared to the rest of the country, dominated by Wellington City’s technology and services focused economy, with some industry in the Hutt Valley and primary production in Kāpiti and Wairarapa. The region’s economic heart is Wellington City, the capital of Aotearoa New Zealand and a significant economic centre. The region’s population is spread over several cities located along the main transport routes up to the Kapiti coast on the northwest, the Hutt Valley, to the north, and the Wairapapa, to the east. The Hutt Valley and Kapiti are connected to Wellington City by rail and Wellington City has an extensive bus network, resulting in the highest per capita use of public transport in Australasia outside Sydney. The region has a range of spectacular natural environments, from the mountains of the Tararua and Remutaka ranges to the sea with a coastal marine area that reaches from Otaki all the way around to the rugged Wairarapa coastline. The region has a highly educated and resourceful population with a reputation for creativity. Geographically, the region acts as a transition point between the North and South islands of Aotearoa. Mana whenua have a variety of various kinds of relationships with the different levels of city and regional governance throughout the region and a number of Iwi have settled claims with the Crown under the Te Tiriti o Waitangi. As a region, a number of indicators are going in the right direction. There are several critical decisions ahead on where to focus future public and private investment and how and where to prioritise urban and economic development. The native bird population is flourishing in Wellington City with predator eradication efforts having proven successful over the last few decades. The Regional Council’s possum control work, the Zealandia fenced sanctuary, the Predator Free Miramar and now Predator Free Wellington initiatives and Capital Kiwi (see page 72 for more) are all elements of a remarkable turnaround in native bird life in the capital city. Meanwhile, public transport use is on the rise, with bus use reaching all-time highs in 10 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 11 Understanding Ngā Tohu Mauri Ora Urban Wellbeing Compass How can our cities and urban communities be better supported to enact regenerative system change?   Supporting communities to think and talk about transition can be a valuable way to build awareness, direction and intention to action change. This Guide is intended as a tool to support such reflection, communication and engagement. Within the Guide we use an urban regenerative action ‘compass’ as a further transition tool that helps users to see urban systems transitions in action in each project.  The ‘compass’ focuses to transitions for mauri ora or social, cultural and ecological wellbeing. Mauri is the interconnectivity of life while mauri ora is the vitality of that connected life field or system (Durie, 2001; Yates, 2016; 2021). Thinking through mauri, through life force and living systems, allows us to understand our environments as animated and alive – rivers, mountains, oceans, sky, wetlands, insects, bird-life, plant-life and humans all intermeshed together on this living planet. The compass connects ancient Indigenous knowledge and contemporary regenerative approaches for the wellbeing of planet and people as a connected whole. Focusing from a human-centric to an ecological mauri-centric model communicates a clear direction for urban resilience and regeneration.   The compass visualises, in five central circles, key urban transitions in regenerative ecosystems, zero-carbon energy, regenerative circular economies, connected urban communities, and regenerative buildings. The innermost circle focuses on mauri ora, thriving life. A mesh background represents mauri, or the connected living systems of the planet. Local and global rings draw attention to how local system change can build wider global resilience and regeneration. A side panel points users towards principles and pragmatic actions on the ground for mauri ora, resilience and thriving.     Visualising transitions March 2024 and train use steadily increasing. With all these benefits, the region has the potential to enjoy thriving social, cultural and ecological wellbeing supported by resilient and regenerative systems. Some specific examples of this potential include: • Shifting the incentives of urban development towards building high quality residential buildings within existing urban areas instead of converting more land outside urban areas into residential sections. • Supporting housing models focused on provision of homes to people who need them and security of tenure, rather than simply profit, including more social housing, led by local and central government. • Developing vibrant, fun, mixed-use and walkable neighbourhoods with local shops and cafes mixed in with housing and schools and workplaces, rather than focusing on commuter suburbs lacking convenience and community. • Scaling up public transport and active modes to facilitate the development of these neighbourhoods and to allow people to live healthy, connected, high-quality, low-emission lifestyles, without increasing their cost of living. • Restoration of urban streams through dedicated projects that incorporate natural waterways into urban stormwater and flood protection systems and, where possible, daylight piped streams, restore stream banks and construct wetlands to clean up water on its way to the sea. • Further restoration of native vegetation on previously grazed land to regenerate the natural infrastructure of forests, wetlands, and coastal marine areas. Conclusion This Guide documents real-world stories of how people and organisations are working together to achieve and progress important work. In talking with these groups, we have witnessed people’s passion, engagement, and the gritty work of addressing bureaucratic barriers and rules. We have documented the powerful impacts of the projects, how they connect people across social difference, foster joy, curiosity, and fun, enable relationships, reduce waste, save money, and improve both the environment and people’s lives. While we are living in a time of complex and often polarising crises, we can see that wellbeing-led just transitions are already happening through this work, driven by individuals and communities. The everyday practices and examples documented in this book offer a range of ways for communities to have more agency and achieve resilient and regenerative transitions that improve their own wellbeing and wider social and ecological wellbeing together. The new enterprises, models, and structures that we document here illustrate wellbeing- led change in multiple domains, whether in ecological, economic, energy systems or community and social infrastructures and innovative buildings. These are the kinds of initiatives, projects, organisations, businesses, and people that will bridge the gaps between the path we – as a region and country – are currently on as well as the path we need to take to deliver a more resilient future. We need just transitions to meet the needs of all people and to enable a restoration of the vitality and wellbeing of the ecosystems that support all life, including our own. We hope the entries in this book will inspire people to consider how they can contribute to help bridge the gaps in ecological regeneration, climate adaptation, housing, community, energy, food, or transport system transitions. The Guide is a snapshot of how we are already succeeding in this transition, in specific places, and within communities. It is time now to scale out existing transitions efforts more effectively across Aotearoa to better enhance the wellbeing of planet and people. Reference Hamdi, About the Art of Practice and the Limits of Planning in Cities. 12 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 13 MAURITANGA MANAAKITANGA MAHITAHITANGA THRIVING LIVING SYSTEMS ORA SO CIA L, C ULTURAL & ECOLOGICAL WELLBEING GLOBAL | Ā AO LOCAL | Ā-ROHE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES REGENERATIVE ECOLOGY ZERO CARBON ENERGY REGENERATIVE CIRCULAR ECONOMY REGENERATIVE BUILDINGS NGĀ TOHU MAURI ORA REGENERATIVE ACTION COMPASS A TRANSITION TOOL FOR RESILIENT, ECOLOGICAL, WELLBEING-CENTRED COMMUNITIES Wai ora, whenua ora / ecology  Regenerating living ecosystems and infrastructures  Ecology is the first ring of the regenerative urban action compass as thriving ecosystems are foundational to urban and wider global systems wellbeing. As we increase urban nature, we build resilience in the face of floods and heat events and enhance biodiversity – the planetary life support system – while increasing human wellbeing in proven ways.  Ecological vitality needs to be at the centre of urban policy, design and action to see cities thrive.  Hihiri-ora / energy Transitioning to zero carbon energy Transitioning our cities to a zero-carbon energy system for buildings and transport supports climate stability and improves ecological and social wellbeing, while distributed building-based renewable energy generation and storage improves energy resilience and sovereignty.  We can power our vehicles and cities from the ecological and renewing resources of sun, wind and water.    ̄Ohanga ora / economy   Transitioning to a regenerative circular economy Economy focuses on the transition from linear take- make-waste economies to regenerative circular economies that actively revitalise the societies and ecosystems they operate within. This includes utilising low-carbon and non-toxic materials, developing para kore or zero-waste systems, or working with the ethical employment practices that are part of wellbeing-led just economies. A just, regenerative, circular and resource-to-resource economic approach ensures we’re respecting planetary boundaries and working with the ongoing regenerative and recycling processes of the living world while enabling social and ecological wellbeing.  Hapori ora, āhei ora / connected communities  Connecting and resourcing communities This domain emphasises the value of connected and resourced urban spaces and neighbourhoods that allow for local living, working, schooling and shopping. Living more locally enables more social connection, supports active mobility options such as walking, biking, scooting that are good for the planet and our bodies, and supports a lower-carbon lifestyle.   Creating accessible and resourced spaces that connect urban communities in just and equitable ways can improve social, cultural, and ecological wellbeing.  Whare ora / architecture  Creating regenerative buildings   Our buildings can integrate larger urban system changes for enhanced wellbeing. They can generate local renewable energy, use circular bio-based materials and practices, and create community connection when designed for shared and social spaces.   Our buildings and neighbourhoods can enhance ecological, social and cultural wellbeing as they generate resource and connect communities.   Five rings of the compass explained 14 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 15 Te Whanganui-A-Tara Fugia dendis dolupis ciducimPorro vollorumquid que ius, odi rem rescime nimintem cusdanti berest voluptatem nessi debit quiasiEbisi iliqui dust, occus. Te Whanganui-a-Tara This catchment includes all of the land and waterways that flow into Te Whanganui a Tara, Wellington’s magnificent harbour and the south coast of Wellington, including the Taputeranga Marine Reserve around Wellington’s Island Bay. It includes Te Awa Kairangi Hutt River and all of the tributaries that flow into it from forested hills and it also includes streams like Kaiwharawhara that flow from Wellington City’s western hills to the harbour. It is the most densely populated of the region’s catchments and its urban streams need some love. 16 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 17 Transitions at a glance Thanks to Kaicycle, city-living Wellingtonians unable to compost household or office food waste on site can drop off or have their food waste collected. Kaicycle then compost the waste and sell, use or donate the compost and the food they grow with it. This stops food waste and organic materials piling up in landfill and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. They also provide community education on composting and regenerative farming. Kaicycle is an example of a regenerative circular economy and a more connected community. Reinvigorating food and green waste Food and green waste in landfills releases methane – a potent greenhouse gas that fuels climate change. Yet currently Wellington City Council doesn’t collect food and green waste. Change is afoot: the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) mandated that by 2030, all urban districts and city councils will have food and garden waste collection services. Community organisations such as Kaicycle are creating transitions now. Making compost collection easy Kaicycle removes about 40 tonnes of food waste each year from 220 households and offices in Wellington. They collect compost by e-bike and provide community drop-off points for waste. Using specially designed composting boxes that blend food scraps with arborist waste, coffee chaff, and wood shaving, they are transforming what was once waste into rich, earth-friendly compost. A regenerative, organic urban farm in the heart of the capital city Kaicycle donates much of their compost to local gardening groups and uses the rest in their Newtown regenerative, organic urban farm. This farm supports community agriculture – providing weekly produce to members in exchange for a seasonal subscription. They also give excess food and • Regenerative circular economy • Connected communities Kaicycle Solving Wellington’s food waste dumping “ We are on a mission to see communities recycling their organic waste and growing nutrient-dense food.” https://kaicycle.org.nz https://kaicycle.org.nz/ 18 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 19 compost to volunteers, community food projects and social housing. They also educate the community through public volunteer sessions, events, workshops, and an urban farm school – run in partnership with education provider Papa Taiao Earthcare. In 2023, over 25 local high school students participated in a year-long, NCEA accredited programme at the farm school. Introducing high-capacity composting For the past year, Kaicycle has been on a mission to expand its operations. With a recent boost in funding, they are setting up a new, advanced Transitioning to a regenerative, circular economy Grassroots organisations, such as Kaicycle, encourage community-led transitions that reduce waste and repurpose it in ways that support social and environmental health. How can wider urban systems support the change Kaicycle is leading? More funding is needed for organisations, such as Kaicycle. The Waste Levy provides an opportunity to fill the funding gap to support wider systems change across Aotearoa New Zealand. How can you support local communities to make change? Adopt and enhance food and green waste collection and processing services. Or if home composting isn’t an option and your council doesn’t provide services, support innovative local solutions that welcome compost contributions, such as Kaicycle, Sharewaste or your nearest community garden. Educate people about how to turn food and green waste into a resource. Whether it’s traditional composting, bokashi, or worm farming, each method turns scraps into gold for gardens. Once more people learn how to do this, it creates a ripple effect, raising awareness about how to reduce and repurpose the waste we create. Find out more https://kaicycle.org.nz www.sharewaste.org.nz Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor. (2023). Community solutions for food waste. Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/5x7ahmjr Research evidence For more on how policy can support diverse forms of organic waste infrastructure, see: Diprose, G.,et al. (2023). ‘Emerging transitions in organic waste infrastructure in Aotearoa New Zealand’. New Zealand Geographer, 79(1): 15-26. For more on how community-based organic waste management works, see: Diprose, G. et al. (2023). Scaling-up, scaling-out & branching out: Understanding & procuring diverse organic management models in Aotearoa New Zealand. Zero Waste Network. Retrieved from https://tinyurl. com/3avb5m7t For more on international examples of community- supported composting, see: Morrow, O., & Davies, A. (2021). ‘Creating careful circularities: Community composting in New York City’. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 47, 529-546. For a recent series of reports on food waste in Aotearoa New Zealand, see: Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor reports on food waste and solutions: www.pmcsa.ac.nz/topics/food- rescue-food-waste/what-can-i-do-with-my-food-waste/ For statistics on the emissions impact of community-led composting, see New South Wales Environmental Protection Agency. (2022). Emissions impacts of composting food waste. Retrieved from: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/ corporate-site/resources/wasteregulation/fogo/22p4164- emissions-impacts-composting-food-waste.pdf composting facility in Rongotai, equipped with a high-capacity, in-vessel composter. This new site will increase their processing capability by 60 tonnes per year. They collaborate with Predator Free Wellington on trapping efforts. Since July 2023, Kaicycle has also been collaborating with Te Toi Mahana to establish a seedling nursery and food gardens at the Pukehinau Apartments. Using Hua Parakore (Māori organics), the initiative draws on Māori knowledge about how to grow food and take care of the whenua (land) without using contaminants. It empowers residents to engage in food sovereignty, climate action and resilience. https://kaicycle.org.nz/ https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/topics/food-rescue-food-waste/what-can-i-do-with-my-food-waste/ https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/topics/food-rescue-food-waste/what-can-i-do-with-my-food-waste/ https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/wasteregulation/fogo/22p4164-emissions-impacts-composting-food-waste.pdf https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/wasteregulation/fogo/22p4164-emissions-impacts-composting-food-waste.pdf https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/wasteregulation/fogo/22p4164-emissions-impacts-composting-food-waste.pdf 20 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 21 Transitions at a glance East by West Ferries run commuter and tourist ferry services in Wellington Harbour. They operate the Ika Rere, the Southern Hemisphere’s first fully electric, high-speed passenger ferry – and support public transport and social equity for ferry passengers. East by West Ferries is protecting the local environment and supporting the use of renewable energy as part of Wellington’s transition to zero-carbon transport options. Going electric East by West Ferries is a privately owned company offering commuter and tourist ferry services between central Wellington (Queens Wharf), Mātiu/Somes Island, and Days Bay in Eastbourne. Ferry services have been running in Wellington for decades, but in 2022, East by West introduced Ika Rere, the Southern Hemisphere’s first fully electric, high-speed passenger ferry. Built by the Wellington Electric Boat Building Company and powered by Meridian Energy, Ika Rere represents East by West’s vision of Wellington as a “... sustainable, smart city.” Ika Rere offers a quieter, smoother ride with fewer moving parts than traditional diesel engines. This reduces the need for maintenance and therefore disruption to the sailing schedule. The ferry is also lighter, faster, and can carry over twice the number of passengers compared to East by West’s diesel-powered ferries. This move to renewable energy is part of a broader effort to decarbonise public transport across the Wellington region, involving collaboration between Metlink, the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Meridian Energy, and local manufacturers (such as the Wellington Electric Boat Building Company). ‘Complementing our goal of using Wellington’s harbour-based geography to reduce transport emissions, Ika Rere will also deliver a comfortable and reliable service for passengers’. Website quote https://eastbywest.co.nz/electric-ferry • Regenerative ecology • Zero carbon energy East by West Ferries Providing zero carbon ferry services https://eastbywest.co.nz/electric-ferry 22 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 23 Transitioning to equitable transport solutions What’s the transitions takeaway of East by West Ferries? While East by West Ferries champions zero-carbon transport with the innovative Ika Rere ferry, it has also supported public transport and social equity for ferry passengers. When the Labour government’s half-price public transport fares ended in July 2023, East by West Ferries took bold action. They absorbed half of the fare increase, easing the transition for passengers and attracting new riders. This move kept ferry costs equal to a single bus trip to the same destination. While East by West Ferries could no longer afford to continue subsidising fares beyond early 2024, the action reflects their commitment to the ‘Tiaki Promise’, caring for people and place. It is an example of how a transition to zero- carbon transport can also support more connected communities. How can you support local communities making this change? Advocate for better services by speaking to local city and regional councillors, and your MP, to push for improved public transport. Personal efforts matter, but real change comes from investing in affordable, accessible, and reliable public transport. Political decisions and public investment make this possible. Use local public transport, especially those testing new zero-carbon technologies. Your ridership helps drive change. Find out more https://eastbywest.co.nz/electric-ferry https://www.simrad-yachting.com/sv-se/world-of- simrad/sustainability/ika-rere/ Research evidence Muhammad, I., & Pearce, J. (2015). ‘Discursive barriers to sustainable transport in New Zealand cities’. Urban Policy and Research, 33(4): 392-415. Mackenbach, J.D. et al. (2016). ‘The influence of urban land-use and public transport facilities on active commuting in Wellington, New Zealand: Active transport forecasting using the WILUTE model’. Sustainability, 8(3): 242-256. Stone, J., Mees, P., & Muhamma, I. (2012). ‘Benchmarking the efficiency and effectiveness of public transport in New Zealand cities’. Urban Policy and Research, 30(2): 207-224. Hasan, M.A. et al. (2019). ‘Emissions from the road transport sector of New Zealand: key drivers and challenges’. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26, 23937–23957. https://eastbywest.co.nz/electric-ferry https://www.simrad-yachting.com/sv-se/world-of-simrad/sustainability/ika-rere/ https://www.simrad-yachting.com/sv-se/world-of-simrad/sustainability/ika-rere/ 24 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 25 Transitions at a glance The Living Pā is a living building nestled on the Kelburn campus of Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. The building is a showcase for regenerative design and cultural integration. Designed to enhance its local ecosystem and embracing social equity, the Living Pā serves as a cultural heart for the campus, weaving together mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and kaitiakitanga (environmental care) with cutting- edge regenerative practices. For these reasons, the Living Pā is helping a transition towards a more ecologically integrated built environment and a regenerative, circular economy. The role of living buildings Buildings are at the heart of the climate crisis, responsible for about 40 percent of annual global carbon emissions. These emissions stem not only from building operations but also from the materials used in construction, such as concrete. The concept of Living Buildings offers a groundbreaking solution to this challenge. Living Buildings are designed to exceed mere sustainability; they aim to regenerate and give back resources to the ecosystems and communities they inhabit – and in this context, enhance mauri (lifeforce). To achieve this, they must excel in seven critical areas: site, water, energy, health and happiness, materials, equity, and beauty. More than just reducing harm, living buildings contribute positively to mauri – the life force of both nature and people – turning buildings from carbon sources into carbon sinks and agents of ecological restoration. Regenerating ecosystems and centering culture As a living building, the Living Pā is more than just a piece of architecture; it’s a dynamic test bed for decarbonising and regenerating our living environment in a way that aligns well with tikanga Māori (Māori practices, values and knowledge). The Living Pā Investing in Māori regenerative building culture “ The Living Pa represents a fundamental shift in the way we live and work, and the way we care for the natural world around us.” www.wgtn.ac.nz/living-pa • Regenerative ecology • Zero carbon energy • Regenerative circular economy • Connected communities • Regenerative buildings https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/living-pa 26 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 27 Strategically located next to Te Tumu Herenga Waka, the university’s wharenui (meeting house), the Living Pā hosts the offices of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori and the Sustainability Office, Ngāi Tauira (Māori students association) and Āwhina (support services). The ground floor is an open zone for all, the second floor is dedicated to teaching, and the third floor provides office space for staff, making The Living Pā a multifaceted hub for regenerative learning, innovation, community and culture. Net positive buildings The three-story, 3000 m² building champions the use of locally sourced, low-carbon materials, generates its own energy and captures water for use in the building. Notably, mass timber is used in the building. This low-carbon alternative to concrete and steel, made from multiple wood panels glued and fixed together, significantly reduces the carbon footprint, turning the building into a carbon sink. With its suite of solar panels, the Living Pā not only meets but exceeds its energy needs by 105 percent, ensuring net positive energy generation. An advanced building energy management system monitors and optimises the use of power for heating, cooling, and lighting, while onsite lithium batteries enhance energy resilience, providing a buffer during grid power outages. Transitioning to regenerative buildings Living buildings like the Living Pā are contributing to more socially and culturally just and ecologically healthy urban systems. What is the transitions takeaway for you and your city? Ecosystem regeneration is a fundamental aspect of the transitions embodied in the Living Pā. Wider ecological restoration initiatives associated with the Living Pā include regenerating local waterways by daylighting 30 meters of the culturally important headwaters of the Kumutoto Stream. Meanwhile, to combat urban flooding, a 20,000-litre rainwater retention tank moderates water flow into the city’s systems. The building uses this captured rainwater for drinking water, treating it for safe drinking first. An onsite wastewater treatment plant recycles water for toilet flushing, annually conserving over 300,000 litres of precious drinking water. In a further move for ecological wellbeing the Living Pā eliminates the use of red-listed and highly toxic chemicals, opting instead for safer, eco-friendly materials. The building has wider wellbeing benefits for the neighbourhood and city. How can you support local communities making this change? Encourage those who are building new to consider following the Living Building certification process. Not only does it transform the immediate environment, but it also catalyses broader regenerative change in social and ecological systems. Find out more www.wgtn.ac.nz/living-pa https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/bringing-the- change-the-living-pa-te-herenga-waka/ Research evidence Camrass, K. (2022). Urban regenerative thinking and practice: a systematic literature review. Building Research and Information, 50, 3, 339-350. Schurig, S., & Turan, K. (2022). The concept of a regenerative city: how to turn cities into regenerative systems. Journal of Urban Regeneration & Renewal, 15, 2, 161-175. Cole, R.J. (2023). Transition to a regenerative future: a question of time. Buildings and Cities. 4, 1, 457-474. https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/living-pa https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/bringing-the-change-the-living-pa-te-herenga-waka/ https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/bringing-the-change-the-living-pa-te-herenga-waka/ 28 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 29 Transitions at a glance The Wesley Rātā Village in Naenae, Lower Hutt is affordable housing that promotes community well-being and resilience. Creating an inter- generational community especially for older people without a permanent home or assets, Rātā Village focuses on quality and amenities. It emphasises connections to nature and to other people. The Wesley Rātā Village is showing the way for transitions towards more connected communities and affordable, sustainable housing. Tackling Aotearoa New Zealand’s housing crisis Aotearoa New Zealand faces a critical housing crisis, with our homes being more expensive and lower in quality than those in most OECD countries (Barker, 2019). This crisis has led to long waiting lists of people needing government- subsidised housing. As of September 30, 2023, the Government’s Housing Register had 25,284 applicants. The housing crisis deepens the socio-economic divide between homeowners and renters. Renters often spend a larger portion of their income on housing and accumulate less material wealth (Bentley, 2021). Opinions on the solution vary. Some advocate for building as many new homes as possible. Others emphasise careful planning of new housing developments, to avoid poorly designed high-density developments or sprawling low- density areas that could create new problems. Innovative housing solution: Te Hiko Rata Village In partial response to these concerns, community housing providers such as Wesley Community Action, alongside partners, have crafted a strategic approach to housing that promotes wellbeing and resilience at Wesley Rātā Village in Naenae, Lower Hutt. In February 2019, Wesley Community Action, Airedale Property Trust, and the Methodist Trust Association began constructing 25 affordable rental homes on this site to cater for individuals on the Government’s Housing Register. Rātā Village now offers 55 affordable rentals, including 30 rented privately to older tenants. Exciting plans are in motion to transform the two existing large buildings into modern apartments. Sitting on a beautiful 60 hectares at the edge of Naenae, Wesley Rātā Village boasts a rich history. From 1955 to 2017, the site housed the Wesley Haven Rest Home and Hospital. Today, it features buildings, gardens, and vast stretches of regenerating native bush with public walking tracks. Wesley Rātā Village Connecting people to affordable housing, each other and nature • Connected communities • Regenerative buildings “ We’re retrofitting a massive staff nursing home into apartments. We constantly have to think, ‘how could we repurpose this?’ ‘How could this be adapted?’ ‘How could this be reimagined?’ Those are great skills. They’re great processes. What Rātā Village will do, I hope, is show how you can help people live connected lives.” Moira Lawler, Wesley Community Action 30 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 31 Designing affordable homes that connect people and nature The redevelopment at Rātā Village aims to provide affordable housing in an intergenerational community, especially for older people without a permanent home or assets. Unlike many developments that prioritise quantity, Rātā Village focuses on quality and amenities, emphasising connections to nature and to other people. Each home offers privacy, sunlight, and scenic views, while the overall layout fosters interactions between residents and their natural surroundings. The design features communal spaces, outdoor areas, and a village green for residents. These areas host various activities, including an Ageing Well group, Positive Seniors Club, community meals, cooking classes, an intergenerational playgroup, a nature playgroup, and art classes. A collaborative project with the Naenae Nature Trust and Te Atiawa supports native bush regeneration through pest eradication, enhancement of the Waiwhetu stream headwaters, and works to improve community access to the site. Though Wesley Community Action staff support the village social programmes, the community leads the programmes, focusing on the local community’s skills, needs, and desired activities. Wesley Rātā Village exemplifies how thoughtful housing solutions can enhance community wellbeing and create vibrant, sustainable communities. Supporting transitions to connected communities What urban systems transitions can further support the change exemplified in Wesley Rātā Village? Buildings and landscapes can be better designed for community interactions and to support peoples’ connection to each other and nature. The village enjoys stable tenancies and is fostering strong community bonds, even welcoming new babies! The approach demonstrates the importance of intentional placemaking where residents connect in diverse, meaningful ways, creating a vibrant, supportive environment. How can you support local communities making this change? Support Government policies that provide decent housing for low-income groups. Support nonprofit organisations working in housing. You could do this by gifting or holding land in trust, serving on boards, contributing to fundraising or providing volunteer work for these organisations. Find out more www.wesleyca.org.nz/community-actions/wesley- rata-village Research evidence Coele, M. (2014). Co-housing and intergenerational exchange: exchange of housing equity for personal care assistance in intentional communities. Working with Older People, 18(2), 75-81. Barker, A. (2019). Improving well-being through better housing policy in New Zealand (OECD Economics Department Working Papers No. 1565). Bentley, A. (2021). Sticky rents and the affordability of rentals for housing in New Zealand. New Zealand Population Review, 47, 145-170. 32 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 33 Transitions at a glance With a commitment to providing 166km of safe routes for people to bike around the city by 2032, Wellington is using a transitional approach to successfully improve mobility. The programme sees the use of bike lanes installed relatively quickly using adaptable, lower cost materials. This means, based on public feedback, designs can be refined once they are installed. Bus lanes and improved bus stops, alongside pedestrian improvements, including around 35 new and improved pedestrian crossings by 2024, are also delivered along the way. The programme shows how a shift to sharing public road space more equitably and efficiently allows the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people and supports the transition to zero carbon energy in ways that regenerate the built environment. Reallocating road space for walking, bikes and buses Prioritising private car travel within cities is neither space nor cost efficient, compared to other options. Given that 95 percent of private motor vehicles use fossil fuels, it also guarantees higher emissions than other transport options, such as public transport, biking and walking. By reallocating road space for dedicated bus lanes, the city is learning how to better support the two million bus boardings that take place per month in the Wellington region, most of which happen in Wellington City. Their decisions are about making the network faster and more efficient. Similarly, reallocating road space to allow people to ride a bike safely unlocks the potential for people to use a bike to travel to and from work, rather than rely on a private car or use public transport, which is already at capacity during peak morning and afternoon hours. Making biking safe for people also provides the highest benefit for the lowest cost of any transport investment. So far bus and bike lanes have been delivered on the main North-South transport route from Newtown to the central city route via Adelaide Road and Cambridge and Kent Terraces. These bike lanes are working. Data showed a 140 percent increase in usage before and after with trips growing from 4,500 in February 2023 to 10,900 in February 2024. Bike lanes have also been put in place on Brooklyn hill, Ngaio Gorge and Aro St. Bike lanes and improved pedestrian crossings have been delivered in Kilbirnie and are underway in Thorndon. A route all the way around the harbour is being delivered piece by piece, with safe routes already in place past Oriental Bay towards Evans Bay and along Cobham Drive. A core element of the wider Wellington transport plan is to put in place North-South and East-West city busways that use a new waterfront bus lane, in addition to the existing public transport spine from Courtenay Place to Lambton Quay. In time, these city busways can be upgraded to higher capacity mass rapid transit, such as light rail. • Regenerative ecology • Connected communities Wellington’s transitional walk, bus and bike lanes Getting the city moving better “ Given the urgency required to transition to more sustainable urban mobility, cities around the world have been using new ‘quick-build’ ways of installing interim, connected bike networks and other improvements that invite more people to walk, bike or use public transport much sooner than otherwise planned.” Paneke Pōneke – Bike Network Plan, adopted 10 March 2022 34 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 35 Meanwhile, parking management has been critical to this reallocation of public road space to maximise public benefit, with Wellington City Council’s 2020 Parking Policy providing the foundations for this work. Making changes to car parking is one of the more challenging political tasks, but smart management of car parking that incentivises public and active transport increases the efficiency of the overall transport system and makes economic and environmental sense. Transport solutions create more affordable housing Very importantly, these road space reallocation works not only improve transport outcomes, they also allow for more housing to be developed along the transport routes where people can live without needing to rely on a car. This reduces overall transport costs, increases city safety and vibrancy, makes the city cleaner and allows people to get around more efficiently. The IPCC has identified transport and urban form policies as amongst the best value for money interventions that can be made to reduce emissions. Transitioning to zero carbon transport What are the transitions takeways from Wellington’s transitional bus and bike lanes? All over Aotearoa New Zealand, our large cities could become denser by funding and undertaking road space reallocation in ways that creates safe spaces for people to bike and dedicated lanes for buses to move people through the city. By councils and central Government coming together, more policy and planning decisions can be made to facilitate road space reallocation. Alongside policy decisions lies better coordination between agencies around transport and housing to clearly communicate the relationship between different policies and investments and the economic benefits to people when public agencies get these policies and investments right. All of this can help transition our built environments to safer spaces that support zero carbon transport solutions. How can you support local communities making this change? Advocate for parking management measures that allow for the re-allocation of road space and contribute to more efficient and more equitable transport outcomes. Support those decision makers who campaign for a transition to public road space that benefits the greatest number of people. Catch public transport and consider if you can safely ride a bike from your home to your work. Find out more www.transportprojects.org.nz/current/ www.transportprojects.org.nz/assets/Modules/ DocumentGrid/Bike-Network-Plan-Final-June-2022. pdf https://thespinoff.co.nz/wellington/23-11-2023/ wellingtons-massive-cycling-upgrade-is-ambitious- fast-and-surprisingly-cheap Research evidence For evidence behind the Innovating Streets for People programme, see: Blewden, M. et al. (2022). ‘Streets for tomorrow...Today’. Journal of Road Safety, 33(4), 25–31. For understanding public acceptance and reaction to Innovating Streets for People, see: Sargisson, R.J. et al. (2022). Citizen Responses to Tactical Urbanism Initiatives in Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4144180 For a media analysis of coverage of such programmes, see: Nello-Deakin, S. (2023). “They are deconstructing the city”: a typology of media narratives on tactical urbanism. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549175.2023.2257197 https://www.transportprojects.org.nz/current/ https://www.transportprojects.org.nz/assets/Modules/DocumentGrid/Bike-Network-Plan-Final-June-2022.pdf https://www.transportprojects.org.nz/assets/Modules/DocumentGrid/Bike-Network-Plan-Final-June-2022.pdf https://www.transportprojects.org.nz/assets/Modules/DocumentGrid/Bike-Network-Plan-Final-June-2022.pdf https://thespinoff.co.nz/wellington/23-11-2023/wellingtons-massive-cycling-upgrade-is-ambitious-fast-and-surprisingly-cheap https://thespinoff.co.nz/wellington/23-11-2023/wellingtons-massive-cycling-upgrade-is-ambitious-fast-and-surprisingly-cheap https://thespinoff.co.nz/wellington/23-11-2023/wellingtons-massive-cycling-upgrade-is-ambitious-fast-and-surprisingly-cheap https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4144180 36 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 37 two/fiftyseven Recycling building materials to support creative communities • Zero carbon energy • Connected communities • Regenerative circular economy • Regenerative buildings Transitions at a glance two/fiftyseven is a co-working and events space on Willis Street in Wellington. It was opened by Ash Holwell in 2019 and is now a fixture of Wellington’s progressive and creative communities. It has had a focus on honouring the Indigenous land on which it stands, including by providing space for use by mana whenua and Māori. The business has been carbon positive in both its development and its ongoing operations. When the office was fitted out, every material that could be was salvaged, recycled or reused. For example, the doors and timber from the old conventional office layout were converted by a local furniture maker into desks, and the carpet tiles, wiring, sockets and sprinkler pipe were all reused. two/fiftyseven shows how a regenerative building can be developed in ways that connect communities. Taking care of community The space has hosted hundreds of events since opening and many of these events have either been free of charge or at a heavily discounted rate. This event hosting support has been explicitly provided as a contribution towards building community and supporting like-minded work and projects, often for groups experiencing structural injustice. The space also hosted New Zealand’s first mental health gym, The Well. This initiative was the first anchor tenant in the space and provided services to other users and people in wider Wellington. Challenging the commercial property model two/fiftyseven has also consciously worked to supersede the prevailing model of commercial property, which has tended to be based on extracting maximum profit for owners and shareholders. Instead, it is a privately owned commercial property, whose objectives are to promote community outcomes. This is a core part of its reason for being. As a result, the space is used at all hours. Since its opening three years ago, two/fiftyseven has provided space for over 225,000 hours of work and play, for over 500 organisations and hosted nearly 1,000 events and hui. “ We are creating an inclusive space, based on an understanding of equity in an unequal world. When, in many parts of this world, there are minorities who are unsafe, oppressed or colonised, it is our role to keep creating a space in which those people who are unsafe elsewhere, are included here, are safe here. It is this safe space that not only allows us to care for each other, it is this safety that enables us to go out into the world and fight for what we believe in. To do dangerous things.” Ash Holwell, two/fiftyseven Founder 38 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 39 Supporting regenerative building transitions two/fiftyseven is an example of how we can create regenerative buildings that support just transitions and more deeply connected communities. What is the transition takeaway for your city? Explore the potential to incentivise commercial properties that are explicitly delivering community, social and environmental outcomes through a council rate rebate. Any incentives (such as a rates rebate) would need to be independently measurable and administered in a way that does not compromise council revenue overall. How can you support local communities making change? If you have a co-working space in your area, why not opt to work there a few days a month, if you have the option of remote or hybrid working, as part of your job. If you are hosting an event, think about venue selection and choose value-led providers, such as two/fifty seven, who are supporting people who are unsafe, oppressed or colonised. Find out more www.twofiftyseven.co www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate- news/126506482/removable-walls-and- secondhand-finds-a-coworking-and-events-space- making-a-positive-climate-difference https://bestawards.co.nz/spatial/workplace- environments/spacelamp/two-fiftyseven/ https://bestawards.co.nz/spatial/repurposed- spaces-adaptive-reuse/spacelamp/two-fiftyseven-1/ Research evidence For more on coworking in Aotearoa, see: Methorst, J. J. (2023). Coworking Spaces in Aotearoa New Zealand: Embodied Geographies of Care in Pandemic Times. In J. Merkel, D. Pettas, & V. Avdikos (Eds.), Coworking Spaces: Alternative Topologies and Transformative Potentials (pp. 97-109). Springer International Publishing. For more on the transformative potential of co-working spaces, see: Merkel, J., Avdikos, V., & Pettas, D. (2023). Coworking Spaces: Alternative Topologies and Transformative Potentials. In J. Merkel, D. Pettas, & V. Avdikos (Eds.), Coworking Spaces: Alternative Topologies and Transformative Potentials (pp. 1-14). Springer International Publishing. For more on what it’s like to work in a coworking space, see: Dandoy, A. (2021). Community Management Practices in Coworking Spaces: Being the ‘Catalyst’. In N. Mitev, J. Aroles, K. A. Stephenson, & J. Malaurent (Eds.), New Ways of Working: Organizations and Organizing in the Digital Age (pp. 401-427). Springer International Publishing. https://www.twofiftyseven.co/ https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/126506482/removable-walls-and-secondhand-finds-a-coworking-and-events-space-making-a-positive-climate-difference https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/126506482/removable-walls-and-secondhand-finds-a-coworking-and-events-space-making-a-positive-climate-difference https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/126506482/removable-walls-and-secondhand-finds-a-coworking-and-events-space-making-a-positive-climate-difference https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/126506482/removable-walls-and-secondhand-finds-a-coworking-and-events-space-making-a-positive-climate-difference https://bestawards.co.nz/spatial/workplace-environments/spacelamp/two-fiftyseven/ https://bestawards.co.nz/spatial/workplace-environments/spacelamp/two-fiftyseven/ https://bestawards.co.nz/spatial/repurposed-spaces-adaptive-reuse/spacelamp/two-fiftyseven-1/ https://bestawards.co.nz/spatial/repurposed-spaces-adaptive-reuse/spacelamp/two-fiftyseven-1/ 40 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 41 Transitions at a glance EkeRua ReBicycle refurbishes and redistributes donated bikes to those in need – along with essential gear such as helmets, locks, and lights. They provide this service in exchange for koha – and provide free bikes to those unable to donate. By innovating in this way, EkeRua ReBicycle is helping the transition towards a zero-carbon transport system, a healthier environment and a more connected community. The barriers to cycling in Aotearoa Cycling offers many benefits. Research shows cycling provides many great outcomes, such as boosting health and well-being, saving money and protecting the environment. Imagine the thrill of cruising down a path built just for cyclists! Yet, despite 81 percent of New Zealanders knowing how to ride a bike, only half have access to one. This limited access, coupled with safety concerns and inadequate cycling infrastructure, poses significant barriers to cycling in Aotearoa New Zealand. EkeRua ReBicycle: empowering communities with bikes and bike gear EkeRua ReBicycle, a charitable trust in Newtown, Wellington, refurbishes and redistributes donated bikes to those in need. Along with bikes, EkeRua provides essential gear such as helmets, locks, and lights. EkeRua ReBicycle Making cycling accessible for all Until 2024, EkeRua offered these services for free, relying on volunteer bike mechanics. However, to address rising costs and growing demand, EkeRua now offer repaired bikes and gear for koha from their workshop. Despite this change, EkeRua remains not-for-profit and will continue to provide free bikes to those unable to donate. EkeRua redistributes about 75 percent of donated bikes, using the rest for parts or selling them to fund their work. Focused on equity, EkeRua ensures access to bikes for transportation and recreation for those who otherwise couldn’t afford it in Wellington. They also work to remove barriers to cycling, spreading the physical and mental health benefits, economic savings, and sheer joy of biking to more people. “ A future where everyone in Te Upoko o Te Ika (Wellington) has access to a safe, working bike, and the skills to ride and maintain it, for transport, health or fun”. www.ekerua.com/about-ekerua • Regenerative ecology • Zero carbon energy • Connected communities 42 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 43 Supporting transport transitions What is the transitions takeaway for EkeRua ReBicycle? EkeRua has redistributed over 2,500 bikes and hosted more than 500 fix-up bike events, teaching people how to maintain and repair their own bikes. EkeRua ReBicycle know the secret to getting people out of their cars and moving their bodies is to make bikes more accessible. It’s why in 2021, EkeRua and its partners received a three-year grant from the Wellington Community Trust’s climate action fund. This funding aims to increase Wellingtonians’ access to safe bikes that work, boost community resilience, and reduce carbon emissions. The grant supports regional bike hubs which support initiatives such as bike libraries, workshops, and bulk purchasing of helmets, locks, and parts. EkeRua also acquired an electric bike-fix-up van, equipped with tools and parts in a mobile workshop to reach areas lacking bike services. Also, partner organization USO Bike Ride launched the Motuhenga Community Cycle Hub (a bike library and workshop) in Eastern Porirua. Through these efforts, EkeRua continues to empower communities, promote sustainable transportation, and foster a love for cycling. How can you support local communities making this change? Support funding and design proposals for safer bike paths in your community. Safer cycling infrastructure encourages more people to ride and enjoy the benefits of cycling. Give your old bike and gear to EkeRua or similar charitable trusts across Aotearoa New Zealand. Get your next bike from an organisation such as EkeRua instead of buying new. Find out more www.ekerua.com Research evidence For more on the kind of support cycling and walking need, see: www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/understanding- attitudes-and-perceptions-of-cycling-and-walking/ Waka-Kotahi-Attitudes-to-cycling-and-walking-final- report-2023.pdf To find out about women’s cycling needs, see: Russell, M. et al. (2021). Pedalling towards equity: Exploring women’s cycling in a New Zealand city. Journal of Transport Geography, 91, 102987. Smith, M. (2016). Cycling on the verge: The discursive marginalisation of cycling in contemporary New Zealand transport policy. Energy Research & Social Science, 18, 151-161. https://www.ekerua.com/about-ekerua 44 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 45 “ We are not after making a profit – we want to be part of the zero-waste conversation and provide a service to Wellington customers and community.” Francine Corhumel, Hopper Refill store manager Transition at a glance Hopper Refill was a zero-waste store that helped people to cut down on single-use packaging. Located in the heart of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington’s CBD, people could buy a wide selection of bulk foods and products and take them home in reused jars, containers, or bags. Hopper Refill also educated the local community on how to practice zero waste. Sadly, the retail store closed its doors on 7 July 2024 as it was no longer financially viable to remain open under the current constraints. However, Hopper Refill worked out some of the details of how to transition to zero-waste retail, which will be useful as other businesses take up the challenge of supporting a transition to a circular economy and more connected communities. The plastic predicament and a path forward Petrochemical plastic waste poses a critical challenge worldwide, impacting environmental and human health, as well as driving an ever-growing demand for fossil fuels. Remarkably, 36 percent of all plastic produced globally is packaging, predominantly single-use and aimed at consumers. Plastic has woven itself deeply into the fabric of daily commerce, making it a formidable task for businesses and communities to cut back. Often, they are trapped by inflexible infrastructures and financial commitments that discourage a transition to zero waste – the closure of this refillery being a case in point. Buying bulk to reduce food waste Hopper Refill offered a selection of bulk foods – ranging from pasta and spices to grains and rice – alongside eco-friendly cleaning supplies and personal care products. Shoppers could also find fresh, affordable essentials, such as eggs, lemons, bread, tofu, and creatively upcycled items. The store sourced most products in bulk, transferring them into bins and containers from which customers could conveniently refill their own jars or bags. This cut down on packaging waste and promoted a culture of reuse. Hopper Refill Supporting the unpackaged movement • Regenerative circular economy • Connected communities 46 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 47 Hopper also worked closely with suppliers to return containers that their products arrived in so the suppliers could refill and reuse also. While paper bags were available, the store championed a bring-your-own approach, offering a free jar library to ensure everyone could shop, regardless of whether they brought containers. Affordability was key. One advantage of being able to choose the items you buy is that people on tight budgets can purchase the exact quantity they need, which also creates less food waste. Supporting a plastic-free shopping experience In its mission to eliminate plastic waste, Hopper Refill was confronting a wider waste-based system. Many producers and retailers offload Because Hopper Refill was not a large supermarket, it could not compete with pricing, due to its smaller order volumes. For other smaller retailers supporting zero-waste and locally sourced products, the challenge is the same. Transitioning to saying yes to plastic-free models An organisation, such as Hopper Refill, exemplifies how viable alternatives to single-use plastics can exist, albeit with different investments and accommodations from shoppers. These types of retailers support the transition to a more regenerative, circular economy. What is the transitions takeaway for the change Hopper Refill was leading? When standalone retailers compete against overseas-owned supermarkets, they struggle to survive financially. That is why more support is needed for any business modelling change towards more holisitic, ecological systems. Hopper’s approach proves that with collective rethinking and a shift in retail systems and consumer habits, we can start to transition away from petrochemical plastics. How can you support local communities making change? Give more visibility and support to ecological systems change business models. They will only thrive if people are more encouraged to vote with their wallet. Yet with the cost of living that can be a difficult ask. It’s why help needs to come in the form of law reform around single-use plastic. Help people in your community learn how to substitute single-use plastic packaging with alternatives. Get behind global, national, and local initiatives that are attempting to reduce plastic waste or expand reuse schemes. Find out more www.hopper.nz Research evidence For more on reducing packaging in New Zealand, see: Diprose, G. et al. (2022). ‘Reducing single use packaging and moving up the waste hierarchy’. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 18(3): 268-289. For more on the importance of policy and law shifts, see: Blumhardt, H., & Prince, L. (2022). ‘From lines to circles: reshaping waste policy’. Policy Quarterly, 18(2): 71–80. For evidence on reusable packaging and environmental impacts of single-use packaging, see: Coelho, P.M., Corona, B., & Worrell, E. (2020b). Reusable vs single-use packaging: a review of environmental impacts. Zero Waste Europe. Retrieved from https:// zerowasteeurope.eu/library/reusable-vs-single-use- packaging-a-review-of-environmentalimpact/. For more on how NZ could response in policy and law, see: Farrelly, T., & Green, L. (2020). ‘The global plastic pollution crisis: how should New Zealand respond?’ Policy Quarterly, 16(2):67–75. the clean-up costs of their products onto communities and local governments, which manage waste through tax-funded rubbish collection and recycling. This means the producer and retailer do not pay for the full cost of the life cycle of their product and packaging. By using refill and reuse packaging, Hopper Refill and other organisations transition away from a waste model to a circular, local approach that supports customers to bring their own vessels or use paper bags. Shopping at Hopper Refill required a more active consumer role. Customers measured out their purchases, filled containers, and brought reusable bags/containers. Compared to buying products with single-use plastic packaging, shopping at Hopper took more time – but customers seemed to enjoy the process and the ability to control the amount of product bought. 48 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 49 Transitions at a glance Innermost Gardens in Wellington’s Town Belt on Mt. Victoria is a community garden, offering a range of spaces for cultivating plants and trees. Its composting service also fills a vital gap for local waste management. Functioning as a dynamic community hub, the gardens play host to events and activities that foster strong community ties and promote environmental stewardship. Innermost Gardens is helping build a regenerative, circular economy and a more connected community. Wellbeing through gardening In Aotearoa New Zealand, urban gardening has woven a vibrant tapestry of food, biodiversity, and beauty throughout the nation’s history. Yet its popularity ebbs and flows socially, politically, and aesthetically. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has sharply highlighted food security issues – particularly in urban areas – and refocused attention to how inner-city community gardens can bring resilience and diverse wellbeing. There is now a widespread revival of urban gardening throughout Aotearoa New Zealand with gardens connecting people socially, lowering the impact of rising food costs, and reducing the environmental impacts of mainstream food production. The rise of community gardens A relatively, well-known approach to collective urban gardening, community gardens are Innermost Gardens Fostering a green, thriving community thriving across Aotearoa. Research shows there were 204 vibrant hubs of cultivation dotting the landscape in 2020 (https://villagegarden. info/aotearoa-community-gardens/). These gardens bring communities together through two main models of cooperation. In one, a group collectively uses a piece of land to grow, harvest, and share their food. In the other, the land is divided up and individuals manage their smaller plots, growing and harvesting their own crops. An essential composting service Established in 2006, Innermost Gardens is a hub of community, sustainability, and growth in Wellington’s Town Belt on Mt. Victoria. Driven by the mission to “grow community through hands in the soil,” it offers individual plots and shared spaces where gardeners cultivate everything from vegetables to native shrubs. Importantly, Innermost Gardens tackles a critical gap in Wellington’s waste management by providing essential composting services for gardeners and surrounding residents. With no municipal organic waste collection and processing available, the garden’s composting initiative prevents food waste from ending up in landfills, where it would release climate-warming methane. Meanwhile, the gardens serve as a vibrant gathering place, hosting community events, weekly working bees, and various social gardening activities. This strengthens community connections – fostering a green, thriving community. • Regenerative ecology • Regenerative circular economy • Connected communities “ It’s not just about gardening, it’s connecting with nature, especially for people who don’t have gardens in their homes. We have compost heaps – the heart of any community garden is the compost because we’re trying to build soil.” Innermost Gardens introduction video. https://villagegarden.info/aotearoa-community-gardens/ https://villagegarden.info/aotearoa-community-gardens/ 50 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 51 Diverting over 7,000kg of kitchen green waste from landfill In 2019-2020, Innermost Gardens partnered with Wellington City Council and Victoria University researchers to demonstrate the benefits of the garden. The team delved deep into its profound impact on community and environment, looking well beyond traditional metrics such as ‘food waste diverted from landfill’ and ‘kgs of produce grown’. The research revealed impressive outcomes: 1. The on-site composting facility saw an estimated 850 drop-offs of kitchen green waste, successfully diverting 7,477 kg of waste from landfill. 2. The composting efforts potentially captured around 26,822 kg of CO2, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). 3. An encouraging 80 percent of compost contributors walked to the site, integrating this green practice into their daily exercise routines. 4. The garden provided enriching volunteer and personal development opportunities to 620 individuals. 5. Activities in the garden’s hall, including homeschooling, meditation, dance classes, and community dinners, reached over 4,710 people. 6. Remarkably, all these benefits were driven 100 percent by volunteer effort, showcasing the power and dedication of the community. Supporting community gardens What is the transitions takeaway for Innermost Gardens? Innermost Gardens brilliantly demonstrates how council land can be collectively managed to benefit both people and nature. Despite challenges such as funding constraints, reliance on volunteers, land access issues, and occasional food theft, these community gardens serve as important green spaces, especially for apartment dwellers without their own gardens. The impact research shows the significant role these urban oases can play in enhancing city life, offering a solution for sustainable urban planning and community engagement. How can you support local communities making this change? Get involved with your local community garden, urban restoration project, or composting initiative. Advocate for local government policies that promote community gardens on public land. Support localised organic waste processing systems that keep community gardens at the heart of a city’s sustainability efforts. Contribute to the cycle: Separate your organic waste, including garden trimmings, and deliver it to nearby collection points. Find out more www.innermostgardens.org.nz https://villagegarden.info/innermost-gardens Research evidence For more on community gardens in Aotearoa, see: Graetz, G. (2019-2020). Social, Health and Environmental Impacts of Community Gardens. Masters of Landscape Architecture, Victoria University. Report retrieved from https://green-kpis.villagegarden.info/wp-content/uploads /2020/12/VillageGardenProjectReport_Bliss_Graetz.pdf Morris, M. (2020). Common Ground, Garden Histories of Aotearoa. Otago University Press: Dunedin. For research on the importance of small-scale food production, see: Nicholls, E. et al. (2020). ‘The contribution of small-scale food production in urban areas to the sustainable development goals: a review and case study’. Sustainability Science, 15: 1585-1599. For a set of indicators to help monitor the contributions of community gardens, see: Beilin, R., & Hunter, A. (2011). ‘Co-constructing the sustainable city: how indicators help us ‘grow’ more than just food in community gardens’. Local Environment, 16(6): 523-538. https://www.innermostgardens.org.nz/Home https://villagegarden.info/innermost-gardens/ https://green-kpis.villagegarden.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/VillageGardenProjectReport_Bliss_Graetz.pdf https://green-kpis.villagegarden.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/VillageGardenProjectReport_Bliss_Graetz.pdf 52 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 53 Mevo car sharing Embracing a car-light lifestyle Transitions at a glance Mevo is a car sharing company, offering short term car rental (hourly and day rates) to customers in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Kirikiriroa Hamilton. Their goal is to help people reduce their transport emissions – and get cars out of urban areas to create more liveable towns and cities in Aotearoa. In Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the car sharing service is supporting a transition to better mobility opportunities and more efficient and more zero-carbon energy systems. The challenge of car-dominated cities Mevo’s vision goes beyond merely offering a car sharing service with EV option. Their mission is to forge more beautiful, liveable cities by presenting a superior alternative to private car ownership. In Aotearoa New Zealand, urban and transport planning hinges on private cars, leading to redundancy, inefficiency, poor use of urban space and congested cities. Changing individual behaviour isn’t enough; we need transformative urban mobility infrastructures to support a transition away from car ownership and towards zero-carbon mobility. Cutting emissions and enhancing liveability Mevo challenges the status quo by providing a car sharing service that significantly reduces the number of vehicles in urban areas, thereby cutting transport emissions and enhancing city • Zero carbon energy • Regenerative circular economy liveability. Mevo offers both ‘flex’ and round-trip sharing options through a user-friendly app that allows customers to locate and unlock vehicles easily. The ‘flex’ model enables parking in thousands of pre-approved spots citywide. Strategic partnerships and sustainable practices Founded in 2014, Mevo’s successful growth was made possible by strategic collaborations with city councils to navigate parking policies. This has proved crucial for scaling the service beyond a niche market and to start shifting norms. Mevo isn’t just about profit; they’re a living wage employer committed to being fully lifecycle carbon negative. They meticulously measure all emissions, from manufacturing to disposal, and offset these by 120-200 percent using permanent rainforest credits. Without traditional advertising, Mevo relies on peer referrals and word-of-mouth to grow their customer base. They now have over 30,000 users – from individuals to corporate and government clients – across three cities, expanding annually by 100-200 percent. Their diverse customer base has varying motivations for car sharing, ranging from environmental (reducing emissions and using multiple transport modes) through to financial and practical (the expense of owning and storing a car).  54 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 55 Transitioning car ownership What is the transitions takeaway for Mevo car sharing? Mevo wants sustainable transport to be achievable for as many people as possible. This concern extends to making the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) accessible for all. As co-founder Erik Zydervelt points out – ‘not everyone can afford to buy an EV, but more people can afford to hire one short-term’. Car sharing can grow by expanding into additional urban and rural areas – an initiative Mevo is currently focused on. This supports mobility and connection for communities, while enhancing the liveability of our built environment and reducing transport carbon emissions. How can you support local communities making this change? To help your community embrace shared urban mobility, it’s important to get buy-in from local government. In Wellington, Mevo users benefit from being able to park in any legal council spot. Improve public transport through better urban planning. Public transportation and urban planning enhances the viability of car sharing. Use business partnerships to link car sharing with other sustainable options (such as cargo or family e-bikes). This can accelerate the shift towards shared urban mobility. Find out more https://mevo.co.nz/ https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/ev/mevo https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/14-03-2018/the- primer-the-car-sharing-service-putting-electric- vehicles-on-wellingtons-roads Research evidence See the below references for research evidence on car sharing: Sobiecki, L., & Chapman, R. (2020). Car sharing in a compact city: Pinning down the benefits and barriers. Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences Research, 2(3), 1-8. Nijland, H., & van Meerkerk, J. (2017). Mobility and environmental impacts of car sharing in the Netherlands. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 23, 84-91. Standing, C., Standing, S., & Biermann, S. (2019). The implications of the sharing economy for transport. Transport Reviews, 39(2), 226-242. Ferrero, F. et al. (2018). Car-sharing services: An annotated review. Sustainable Cities and Society, 37, 501-518. “ A [workplace] fleet owner in New Zealand has 16,000 cars. Those aren’t used nights or weekends. People drive their private car to work, get out, leave their private car to sit there all day, get in a fleet car, drive it somewhere and park it to sit. Now you have two cars sitting around. We just bring those use cases closer together and make our cars as seamlessly available and easy to use as private cars but with better cost, convenience, quality and emissions. If you have a decently dense network, it works. We are also seeing people go from a two- car family to a one-car family. Or they live in the CBD and they can choose not to own a car. The idea is to really support what we call, ‘the car light lifestyle’.” Erik Zydervelt, Mevo Co-Founder. https://mevo.co.nz/ https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/ev/mevo https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/14-03-2018/the-primer-the-car-sharing-service-putting-electric-vehicles-on-wellingtons-roads https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/14-03-2018/the-primer-the-car-sharing-service-putting-electric-vehicles-on-wellingtons-roads https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/14-03-2018/the-primer-the-car-sharing-service-putting-electric-vehicles-on-wellingtons-roads 56 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 57 Waitangi Park Creating wider wellbeing through ecological urban design Transitions at a glance Waitangi Park is an important and well-loved public landscape on the edge of Wellington Harbour. With a functional wetland that wraps around the perimeter of the park, the park is an excellent example of how to create ecologically restorative public spaces. The park recognises the importance of this landscape to mana whenua, enhancing cultural and ecological wellbeing as the presence, mana and vitality of Waitangi stream is restored. The wetland demonstrates how cities can become ‘spongey’ with ecological infrastructures enhancing resilience and regeneration as urban water flows are slowed and cleaned, carbon is sequestered, biodiversity enhanced and human wellbeing improved. Replacing grey ‘pipes in the ground’ infrastructures with blue-green ecological infrastructures like these supports a transition to resilient and regenerative urban ecosystems. Self-cleaning streams The Waitangi stream is daylighted and streamed through a series of landscaped wetlands in this project. Water entering from the Waitangi stream culvert system can contain biological (sewage) contaminants, as well as chemical contaminants. The design cleans stream water as it passes through the system. It also provides a source of irrigation for the park landscaping. Water is passed through gravel and UV filtration to remove coarse sediments and bacterial contaminants. Subsequent wetlands filter further, as the water passes through native reeds, including Oi Oi and sea rush. Clean water streams from ‘End Weir’ down onto the Waka Landing Beach or via a performative ‘whoosh’ bucket at Clyde Quay. The porous landscape that comprises the wetland and associated parkland is able to slow and manage extreme flood events with more resilience than traditional grey stormwater systems. As extreme flood events happen with climate change such resilient urban landscapes will become increasingly valuable. A rain garden planted with hydrophytic species and bio-retention tree pits also slows, contains and filters water run-off from adjacent hard paving. Micro-organisms in the soil medium consume contaminants. Together the wetlands, rain-garden and associated plantings provide habitat for coastal birds, such as southern gulls and cormorants. The park is also widely used by walkers, picnickers and for urban events. Wider wellbeings Waitangi Park is a source of wider mauri ora (social, cultural and ecological wellbeing) in addition to the remediation of polluted urban stream water. Blue-green ecosystems like these can sequester atmospheric carbon. When designed as an integrated urban ecological system – with forests, wetlands, swales, rain gardens, street trees, green roofs and walls – cities can become large scale carbon sinks. Urban green and blue space also has important “ Almost 20 years on Waitangi Park continues to afford ecological richness at Wellington’s highly valued recreational waterfront. Ecological functionality is subtly, but inextricably, linked to the Park’s distinctive landscape character of crafted urban spaces that draw on the heritage of Wellington’s natural and cultural histories.” Nicole Thompson, Wraight & Associates Ltd. • Regenerative ecology • Regenerative circular economy 58 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 59 cooling effects. Contemporary cityscapes cause a significant urban heat island effect. Changing to an ecological approach in the design of urban infrastructures and buildings so that natural green and blue systems are incorporated can significantly reduce urban overheating. As climate change drives temperature increases and extreme heat events such cooling strategies will become increasingly important. A further key co-benefit of ecological infrastructures like those in Waitangi Park is their contribution to local biodiversity. As well as remediating water, the new ecosystems provide habitat and food for a whole host of local wildlife. Access to such biodiverse natural environments also bring wellbeing to people with evidenced stress-reduction, healing, improved cognition and physical health benefits. Transitioning to a resilient ecological urbanism Waitangi Park is an important early example of how integrated urban ecological systems can bring multiple co-benefits that enhance the mauri or vitality of place and people. What is the transitions takeaway for you and your city? Waitangi Park is an example not only of how blue-green infrastructures can be designed and implemented but also how they can be envisioned, managed, monitored and maintained. As living systems, they require a vision for ecological change and an ongoing management plan that necessitates collaboration between Council urban, infrastructure and ecology teams that might not otherwise overlap. There are important lessons to be learnt in this innovative park project about how to design and also manage and maintain living systems for a more ecologically resilient and regenerative city. Find out more https://landezine.com/waitangi2 Research evidence For more on urban blue-green infrastructures see: Bell, S., Fleming, L. E., Grellier, J., Kuhlmann, F., Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., & White, M. P. (2021). Urban blue spaces: Planning and design for water, health and well- being. Routledge. Andersson, E. et al. (2019). Enabling Green and Blue Infrastructure to Improve Contributions to Human Well- Being and Equity in Urban Systems. BioScience, 69(7), 566-574. Puppim de Oliveira, J. A. et al. (2022). Innovations in Urban Green and Blue Infrastructure: Tackling local and global challenges in cities. Journal of Cleaner Production, 362, 132355. For ecological infrastructures and heat island effect see: Leal Filho, W. et al. (2021). Addressing the Urban Heat Islands Effect: A Cross-Country Assessment of the Role of Green Infrastructure. Sustainability, 13(2), 753. For more on how urban nature improves human wellbeing see: Reyes-Riveros, R. et al. (2021). Linking public urban green spaces and human well-being: A systematic review. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 61, 127105. https://landezine.com/waitangi2/ 60 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 61 Dwell Pioneering community housing solutions Transitions at a glance More people in Aotearoa New Zealand are experiencing housing insecurity and the vulnerabilities that come without having a secure place to call home. Dwell is a housing provider in the Te Whanganui-a-Tara region providing a broad range of housing services. Some of these services include managing an inner-city papakāinga, supporting those transitioning from our mental health system to find a safe place to live, and supporting families into home ownership. Dwell’s mahi makes sure housing delivers wellbeing and creates community connections. Housing for community wellbeing Dwell is more than just a housing provider – it aims to enable community wellbeing and security. Offering social rental housing and shared living services, the organisation caters particularly to those transitioning from the mental health system. It also embraces innovative housing models, such as shared home ownership and helping first-time buyers achieve homeownership. Managing the inaugural city papakāinga Dwell manages Wellington’s inaugural city papakāinga for the Te Aro Pā Whenua Trust, a modern take on traditional intergenerational housing developments on ancestral Māori land. The Te Aro Pā project is a partnership with the land’s collective owners, referencing the original Te Aro Pā in what is now central Wellington. It features 14 homes designed to nurture community among young families, professionals, and kaumātua (elders), linked to the Ngāti Ruanui and Taranaki iwi of Te Aro Pā. Creating community connections Today, housing insecurity transcends economic barriers, affecting not just the traditionally vulnerable but also the working poor, younger generations, and those nearing retirement. Dwell confronts this challenge head-on by introducing housing models reminiscent of Europe’s long-term stabilised rents. This allows families and communities to establish and maintain deep community ties. • Connected communities • Regenerative buildings “ We see housing as a fundamental right and an investment in our mokopuna and future generations.” Dwell staff member 62 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 63 Transitioning to building for regeneration and community What is the transitions takeaway from Dwell? Dwell’s commitment is not only economic. They want their housing to be a pathway to wellbeing and to support sustainable building methods. Increasingly, the organisation is using eco-friendly materials and designs, such as passive heating, cooling, and flood resilience. Taking this approach ensures its buildings are not only ecologically friendly but also support social connectivity and community wellness. The various initiatives Dwell supports – from social housing and shared homeownership to intergenerational papakāinga – are revolutionary. They provide more than just shelter; they offer a long-term home base and a sense of belonging within a supportive community framework. How can you support local communities making this change? Consider other models than housing-for-profit, such as build-to-rent or cooperative housing models. Build-to-rent supports long-term stable renting, while in cooperatives owners pay for a share rather than a specific unit. This can increase affordability. Use Papakāinga or co-housing-type strategies that include shared spaces, such as whare kai (kitchens), kai mara (vegetable gardens), and laundries. These types of facilities build community connections. Plan for, or select, sites that have urban infrastructures that support social and ecological connection. For example, local nature spaces, walk and bikeways, public transport, and access to healthy food. Find out more www.dwell.org.nz/tearopatrust www.rnz.co.nz/news/regional/299330/ papakainga-provides-affordable-city-living Research evidence For more on discriminatory policies and how contemporary papakainga are tackling it, see: Kake, J. (2019). Rebuilding the Kāinga: Lessons from Te Ao Hurihuri. Bridget Williams Books. For more on institutional racism and housing ownership, see: Houkamau, C. & Sibly, C. (2015). ‘Looking Māori Predicts Decreased Rates of Home Ownership: Institutional Racism in Housing Based on Perceived Appearance’. PLoS One, 19(3): e0118540. For up to date statistics on housing and Māori wellbeing, see: Stats NZ. (2021). Te Pā Harakeke: Māori housing and wellbeing 2021. https://www.stats.govt.nz/reports/te-pa- harakeke-maori-housing-and-wellbeing-2021/ https://www.dwell.org.nz/tearopatrust https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/regional/299330/papakainga-provides-affordable-city-living https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/regional/299330/papakainga-provides-affordable-city-living https://www.stats.govt.nz/reports/te-pa-harakeke-maori-housing-and-wellbeing-2021/ https://www.stats.govt.nz/reports/te-pa-harakeke-maori-housing-and-wellbeing-2021/ 64 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 65 Transitions at a glance Wellington’s CentrePort is the key hub for freight and transport in central Aotearoa. But unlike other ports around the world, this one doesn’t run on fossil fuels alone. Using a range of initiatives, the port is attempting to achieve net zero carbon by 2040. Since 2019, they have cut emissions by 37 percent. One way they have done this is by reinstating rail transport for moving large volumes of cargo. Their next step is to generate onsite, renewable electricity. CentrePort shows a transition towards zero-carbon transport and energy systems. Decarbonising operations While ports have existed for centuries, the 20th century saw them become heavily dependent on fossil fuels, contributing around 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions from the shipping industry is crucial. As essential hubs and significant emission sources, ports play a pivotal role in the broader effort to decarbonise transport. CentrePort is working to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, with an interim goal of reducing emissions by 30 percent by 2030. They are doing this by investing in EVs, upgrading to LEDs and investing in more rail transport. Collaborations to lower carbon When the port’s grounds were affected by the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake it made diesel-powered straddle carriers unsafe. This provided an opportunity for the port to acquire lower emission vehicles and machinery. Whenever infrastructure comes to the end of its life, it is now replaced with a low emissions alternative. When they can’t find a solution that works, CentrePort will partner with other providers. For example, they replaced their unsafe straddle carriers with a different mode of container transport called IMVs (tractor and trailer). Finding only one global provider offering a 100 percent electric option, they integrated a trickle charge feature, allowing units to charge when idle and only swap batteries when necessary. CentrePort became the third port CentrePort Driving zero-carbon transport and energy • Zero carbon energy “ We have a culture of you’ve just got to go, you’ve got to start stuff. You could try and create the ultimate plan that’s staged in 15 different ways and designed to achieve a great outcome, but you may never start it. Where as for us, we think, ‘Right we’ve got these discreet things, let’s figure out how we’re going to do it and then we just do it.” Andrew Steele, CentrePort general manager (strategy and stakeholder relations). 66 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 67 worldwide and the first in Aotearoa to use these electric IMVs. The shift to lower emissions has reaped multiple benefits: quieter operations due to electric cranes and IMVs, improved air quality, efficient and reliable LED lighting – and even better health and safety (as staff and contractors spend less time changing bulbs at great heights). Upcoming projects include installing microgrids and solar panels to provide shore power for ships, paired with a 1-megawatt battery. This initiative aims to supplement the energy produced on-site with connections to the country’s main energy grid. Transitioning to zero-carbon transport What is the transitions takeaway from Centreport? CentrePort’s decarbonisation process changed their approach to operations and future planning and has created a far more sustainable maritime operation. It’s a system that other ports, who may be considering transitioning from diesel to electric, can follow. Interestingly, there are unintended yet important consequences to such a transition. For example, the introduction of IMVs required staff to learn new skills and adopt new routines for battery management tasks, as well as changes to site planning. Meanwhile, to charge the IMV batteries, CentrePort had to create dedicated charging spaces, meaning investment in new energy infrastructure. Choosing a suitable site that could withstand bad weather and support port operations was crucial. The vision is that by 2040, CentrePort will be an example for how other ports can make a transition to decarbonise and become more sustainable. Find out more www.centreport.co.nz/environment/sustainability Research evidence For more on the carbon emissions of ports, see: Wang, B. et al. (2023). ‘A review of the port carbon emission sources and related emission reduction technical measures’. Environmental Pollution, 320, 121000. For research on port pollutants, see: Barberi, S. et al (2021). ‘Pollutant emissions in ports: A comprehensive review’. Infrastructures, 6(8), 114. For more on the importance of ports in decarbonisation strategies, see: Chalouhi, J. (2023). The influential role of ports in pursuing decarbonisation. GHD Insights. Retrieved from www.ghd. com/en/insights/the-influential-role-of-ports-in-pursuing- decarbonisation https://www.centreport.co.nz/environment/sustainability/ https://www.ghd.com/en/insights/the-influential-role-of-ports-in-pursuing-decarbonisation https://www.ghd.com/en/insights/the-influential-role-of-ports-in-pursuing-decarbonisation https://www.ghd.com/en/insights/the-influential-role-of-ports-in-pursuing-decarbonisation 68 Transitions in Action Transitions in Action 69 RepairED programme Mending to divert waste from landfill Transitions at a glance RepairED i