There is still some confusion over the health of the bee population in New Zealand. Some argue that bee populations are stable or increasing, while others suggest that bee populations are rapidly declining. The short answer is that wild bee populations are declining, and while managed hive numbers are increasing, honey yield isn’t. This is a clear example of diminishing returns (increased inputs...
In the first in a series of articles of New Zealanders championing organic farming, Pure Advantage talks to New Plymouth based IncaFe founding director Joop Verbeek about the importance of growing organic coffee the natural way. Joop believes that “for nature to work best we should respect the soil, its water and all that lives in it. For the land to produce best we should respect the hands that...
“Schools close as tummy bug spreads” “Animal faeces in water supply” “Tap water in NZ town causes hundreds to fall ill” “Poisoning the wells – infected drinking water in Canterbury.” According to Canterbury District Health Board figures, the region now has the highest rate of campylobacter infections in the world, along with 17,000 notified...
In this Q&A find out how Dr Ann Smith, thinks we can create a greener, wealthier New Zealand. As the Chief Executive Officer of Enviro-Mark Solutions Limited, Ann passionately leads an organization which is home to the carboNZero, CEMARS, Enviro-Mark and Energy-Mark certification programmes. Smith’s vision describes the opportunities and challenges that our country faces on the path to...
Although being good looking and tasty, the banana hasn’t had sex in thousands of years. Nearly all commercial bananas (Cavendish) are sterile clones, making them susceptible to disease due to the lack of genetic diversity. Right now, the fungal disease Black Sigatoka is stalking the defenseless Cavendish banana, threatening it with extinction. The increasing standardization of food crops is...
As New Zealand fosters more green entrepreneurs and attracts diverse, sustainable-minded people there is a question… Will there be green cities and towns they can live in, with green schools for their children? The Motueka Rudolf Steiner School is developing an integrated school and biodynamic organic farm on 13.6 hectares close to town. The plan is to shift from being a small town school to...
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