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Aotearoa New Zealand
Our land and sea are unique and very special, having evolved so distinctly and separately from the rest of the world. From the time our ancestors first stepped onto its shores, the land of the long white cloud has provided nourishment, protection, and resources to its inhabitants. People have become part of the environment and shaped it, modifying the land to grow food, building houses, and establishing settlements, roads, and infrastructure.
The relationship and connection New Zealanders have with the environment goes well beyond the goods and services we receive from it, like food, fuel, and clean water. Our environment is where we stand, our tūrangawaewae – where we live, learn, work and earn a living, play, and socialise. It is our home and our identity, and the foundation of our national culture and tradition.
For Māori as tangata whenua – people of the land – that connection is indivisible from the health of Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother.
Te ao Māori (the Māori world view) has an important place in environmental reporting in New Zealand. It ensures the unique connection of tangata whenua is respected and brings a way of thinking that helps us all see ourselves as a part of, not apart from, the environment.
The changes we have made (and continue to make) to this rich landscape are having profound effects on our environment. Some parts of our environment are in good shape, others less so. How we go forward from here is up to us all.
About this summary report
This summary is an overview of Environment Aotearoa 2019, which is part of the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ's legislated environmental reporting programme. Every six months we produce a report focused on a different 'domain' – air, freshwater, marine, atmosphere and climate, and land. Every three years we produce a 'synthesis' report – bringing together the data and findings from across the domain reports to help us step inside and view our environment as a whole, in all its complexity.
Environment Aotearoa 2019 uses five themes to look into nine priority issues – those that matter most to the current state of our environment.An 'issue' is a change in the state of the environment that is (partly) caused by human activities (pressures) and has consequences (impacts). Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
While not suggesting any responses (which are out of scope under the report's governing legislation), Environment Aotearoa 2019 provides evidence to enable an open and honest conversation about what we have, what we are at risk of losing, and where we can make changes.
For the full picture on the health of our environment and more detail on each issue, see Environment Aotearoa 2019.
Throughout this summary report, you'll see references and links to various environmental indicators. These are metrics that help us assess the state of the environment. Each indicator that appears in Environment Aotearoa 2019 has an accompanying web page and a dataset that is free to access.
A focus on what matters
Environment Aotearoa 2019 presents the most important issues that affect the health of our environment today.
Four criteria were established to help describe the sense of significance and urgency of the issue:
- Spatial extent and scale - how much of New Zealand is affected by the issue?
- Magnitude of change - is the issue increasing in scale and/or distribution, or accelerating?
- Irreversibility and lasting effects of change - how hard is it to fix?
- Scale of effect on culture, recreation, health, and economy - how much does it affect the things we value?
An independent panel of scientists verified the selection process to ensure the criteria were appropriately applied to the issues. The relevance of the nine issues to mātauranga Māori, kaitiakitanga, and other cultural values was also considered by Māori researchers and practitioners.
The priority issues presented here are not an exhaustive list of all the pressures our environment faces. Some have an impact on the environment but are not featured here as they do not rank as highly against the criteria as other issues. Mining for example, is not included because of its localised nature.
As an issue is defined as a change in the state of the environment, some environmental problems are not included such as plastic waste which is considered as a pressure.
The biodiversity of Aotearoa New Zealand is essential to our culture, identity, and well-being. The whole variety of native plants, animals, microorganisms, and the ecosystems they create, is unique to New Zealand and irreplaceable.
Our native plants and animals are under pressure from all the issues identified in Environment Aotearoa 2019, including climate change, sedimentation, and urban development. When combined with the significant pressure from introduced species, this forms a set of 'compounding pressures' that can intensify the effects of individual pressures on animal and plant communities.
In this theme, we report on the state of our biodiversity, considering the loss and risk to species and ecosystems across land, freshwater, and marine environments.
Issue 1: Our native plants, animals, and ecosystems are under threatOur unique native biodiversity is under significant pressure from introduced species, pollution, physical changes to our landscapes and coast, harvesting of wild species, and other factors. Almost 4,000 of our native species are currently threatened with or at risk of extinction.
What is happening?
The biodiversity of Aotearoa New Zealand is unique and vulnerable to changes we make to the environment. Many of the species found here are found nowhere else in the world.
Our biodiversity has declined significantly. At least 75 animal and plant species have become extinct since humans arrived in New Zealand. Marine, freshwater, and land ecosystems all have species at risk: 90 percent of seabirds, 76 percent of freshwater fish, 84 percent of reptiles, and 46 percent of vascular plants are currently threatened with or at risk of extinction.
The extinction risk has worsened for 86 species in the past 15 years. The conservation status has improved for 26 species in the past 10 years, but more than half require active management to stay that way. Kākāpō is one example.
For a small country, we have a very diverse range of unique ecosystems. Some are naturally rare (there were only a few even before people arrived, like volcanic dunes) and others are also uncommon internationally (like braided rivers). Many of our native ecosystems have been cleared or extensively altered, and this trend continues today.
Why is it like this?
People have changed the landscape and introduced new species. Farming and urban expansion have caused forests to be cleared and wetlands to be drained. In the process, habitats and species have been lost. Farming and urban expansion also create pollution, such as excess nutrients (like nitrogen) and sediment, which can degrade ecosystems and harm organisms. Taking water degrades our freshwater ecosystems (see Issue 6), while commercial fishing alters marine ecosystems and can accidentally kill threatened species (see Issue 7).
Introduced species threaten our native species through competition, predation, and diseases. Non-native plant species now outnumber natives here, and stoats, possums, and rats were present on more than 94 percent of New Zealand land in 2014.
New diseases also pose threats: myrtle rust, a disease that kills native plants like mānuka, pōhutukawa, and rātā, made it to our shores in 2017.
Climate change is already impacting some species by changing where they are found or creating conditions where invasive pests like wasps can live (see Issue 9).
What are the consequences?
Healthy ecosystems provide important functions that benefit us and our society. Native forests, for example, regulate the climate (by storing carbon), prevent erosion, and create nectar for honey production. Natural wetlands also provide important ecosystem services (benefits we receive from nature) such as purifying water by filtering out nutrients and sediments, regulating water flow during storms, and storing carbon as peat. Degraded habitats and a loss of species can make ecosystems less resilient to other changes and lead to further declines in biodiversity.
Degradation of our ecosystems and a loss of biodiversity can also impact our ability to connect with and use the environment. Native biodiversity provides mahinga kai (food provisioning) and materials for other purposes like raranga (weaving) and rongoā (medicinal uses). It also provides important indicators (like the timing and intensity of flowering) for kaitiaki, as well as being essential for maintaining and passing knowledge from one generation to another.
Losing biodiversity affects our sense of belonging and connection. We call ourselves 'Kiwis' and proudly use the silver fern (ponga) as a national symbol, so our identity suffers when we experience damaged or lost native species and ecosystems. Recreation opportunities and the connections we have to nature are also affected.
Our ecosystems and biodiversity data indicators
New/updated indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Existing indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
The changes we have made to our land have significantly altered the wider environment. This theme highlights two specific types of physical changes we humans have made to the world around us:
What we have removed: Cutting down native forests, draining wetlands, and clearing land for farming and development have accelerated our naturally high rates of soil loss. They have also degraded a range of ecosystem services provided by native vegetation.
What we have built: Human-made structures and hard surfaces affect the natural systems we rely on. There is a particular focus in this issue on the spread of urban areas over versatile land (which can be used for many purposes, including farming) and scarce high-class soils.
Issue 2: Changes to the vegetation on our land are degrading the soil and waterLogging native forests, draining wetlands, and clearing land have degraded a range of benefits provided by native vegetation, accelerated our naturally high rates of soil loss, and affected our waterways.
What is happening?
Since human arrival in New Zealand we've shaped our physical surroundings. Native vegetation has been extensively cleared so that the native forests that once covered about 80 percent of the country, now only cover a little over one quarter of New Zealand. Ten percent of New Zealand was once covered by wetlands – 90 percent of these original wetlands have now been drained.
In 2012, just over half of our land had a modified land cover like urban areas and non-native (exotic) vegetation. Exotic grassland (pasture) is now the largest single type of land cover and accounts for about 40 percent of our total land area. Exotic (plantation) forest covers about 8 percent of the country, concentrated in the central North Island.
The loss of native vegetation has continued in recent years, with more than 70,000 hectares lost between 1996 and 2012 through conversion to pasture, plantation forestry, and urban areas. Wetland areas have also continued to shrink, with at least 1,247 hectares lost between 2001 and 2016.
Why is it like this?
The conversion of native vegetation to pasture and plantation forestry has supported the way we live and provided our livelihoods. In 2016, agriculture contributed 4.2 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP) and employed more than 122,000 people, while forestry contributed over $1.7 billion to our economy and employed over 6,000 people. Our growing population also drives urban expansion.
What are the consequences?
When native forests, shrublands, and wetlands are lost, we lose the wide range of benefits (ecosystem services) they provide. These benefits include regulating the flow of water in rivers and streams, recreation, storing carbon, purifying water, and providing habitats for native species. The benefits we get from simply being in nature, though not measured or quantified, could also be lost.
Loss of native vegetation has accelerated New Zealand's naturally high rates of erosion and soil loss. A model of soil erosion shows that 44 percent of the soil that enters our rivers each year is likely to come from land covered in pasture. Once they are established, plantation forests retain soil in the same way as native forests, but harvesting by clear-felling exposes and disturbs the soil, which can then be vulnerable to erosion for up to six years after harvest.
The economic losses associated with soil erosion and landslides are estimated to be at least $250–300 million a year. Increased erosion and soil loss can also increase sediment in our rivers, lakes, and coastal environments. Too much sediment can smother freshwater and marine habitats, inhibit the growth of aquatic plants and animals, and increase the risk of flooding in towns and cities.
When ecosystems and biodiversity have been degraded, there is a corresponding effect on the extent, quality, and access to customary resources, like kaimoana.
Changes to vegetation data indicators
Updated indicator used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Existing indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Issue 3: Urban growth is reducing versatile land and native biodiversityGrowth of urban centres has led to land fragmentation and threatens the limited supply of versatile land near Auckland and other regional centres.
What is happening?
Most New Zealanders live in cities. According to 2018 population estimates, 86 percent of us live in urban areas. Urban areas make up a small proportion of our total land area, only about 0.85 percent (approximately 228,000 hectares) in 2012. Most urban centres have developed on our best land – often fertile floodplains near the coast – with native forests being cut down and wetlands drained (see Issue 2).
Our urban areas are spreading – the area of urban land increased by 10 percent between 1996 and 2012, especially around Auckland, Waikato, and Canterbury. Between 1990 and 2008, 29 percent of new urban areas were on 'versatile' land. This type of land often has the best, or 'high-class', soils and has many agricultural uses (like growing food), but represents just over 5 percent of New Zealand's land.
The fringes of our urban areas are increasingly being fragmented – broken into smaller land parcels – and sold as lifestyle blocks. The number of lifestyle blocks has increased sharply in recent decades, with an average of 5,800 new blocks a year since 1998. A 2013 study found that 35 percent of Auckland's versatile land was used as lifestyle blocks.
Why is it like this?
Urban expansion is mostly driven by population growth. Between 2008 and 2018 our population increased by 14.7 percent. Growth is expected to continue, with the highest rates in Tauranga, Auckland, and Hamilton, and lower rates in Wellington and Dunedin.
What are the consequences?
Our versatile land and high-class soils are gradually being lost to urban growth, making them unavailable for growing food.
The loss of versatile land is happening at the same time as our food production system is under pressure to increase production without increasing its effect on the environment. This loss can force growers onto more marginal land that is naturally less productive and requires more inputs, like fertiliser.
Urban growth changes the land cover dramatically – and often reduces native habitats and biodiversity. In New Zealand, native land cover accounts for less than 2 percent of land in urban centres and only 10 percent on the urban-rural boundary.
Also, many of the plants and animals people bring with them to cities can be harmful to native biodiversity. For example, cats can hunt native animals, and non-native plants in gardens and urban plantings can become problematic weeds if they spread to native areas.
Urban growth data indicator
Existing indicator used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Our environment is polluted when substances or kinds of energy (noise, light, heat) enter it and cause harm.
Some pollutants directly affect our health. Pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms like the bacteria Campylobacter) in drinking water can cause illness, and very fine particles in the air can cause lung and heart problems. Other pollutants pose threats to the health of plants, animals, and ecosystems, like plastic waste in the ocean or excess nutrients in our waterways.
Pollution also affects our connections to nature. Artificial light from towns and cities reduces our view of the night sky, and murky streams spoil our enjoyment of these environments.
Most pollution comes from human activities, such as industry, agriculture, power generation, home heating, and transport, but some comes from natural events like volcanic eruptions. Often pollution has a mix of sources. Waterways, for example, can contain disease-causing bacteria from human or animal faeces, nutrients from farm run-off and urban areas, and heavy metals from vehicle wear (copper from brake pads and zinc from tyres).
This theme focuses on two kinds of pollution – pollution of waterways from farming and pollution in urban areas.
Issue 4: Our waterways are polluted in farming areasWaterways in farming areas are polluted by excess nutrients, pathogens, and sediment. This threatens our freshwater ecosystems and cultural values, and may make our water unsafe for drinking and recreation.
What is happening?
In farming areas, water pollution affects almost all rivers and many aquifers. Some lakes and estuaries may also be affected. Compared to catchments dominated by native vegetation, waterways in areas of pastoral farming have markedly higher levels of pollution by excess nutrients (like nitrogen), sediment, and pathogens.
Recent measurements show that water quality has been improving at some places, but worsening at others. It can be difficult to understand exactly what is causing the changes in water quality because water catchments can contain a mix of different types of farms and land uses, and the effects of natural variations in climate and the connections between rivers and groundwater are also poorly understood.
Why is it like this?
In less than 1,000 years New Zealand has changed from an unpopulated group of islands covered with dense forest, to an intensely farmed country. Setting up our farms involved clearing native vegetation and draining wetlands, which have dramatically affected how our soils and water function.
More recently there has been a significant shift from sheep and beef farming into dairy farming, most notably in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. The national dairy herd increased by 70 percent between 1994 and 2017, while numbers of sheep and beef cattle declined. This shift is important because cattle excrete more nitrogen per animal than sheep (cows produce more urine and the urine has a higher nitrogen concentration).
We are also using our farmland more intensively now than a few decades ago. The number of cattle per hectare has increased in some parts of the country, a change that can make it more likely that pollutants will leach into waterways. The amount of nitrogen applied in fertiliser has also increased more than six-fold across the country since 1990.
What are the consequences?
Our ecosystems can be seriously impacted by water pollution. For 2013–17, 71 percent of river length in pastoral farming areas had modelled nitrogen levels that could affect the growth of sensitive aquatic species. Higher nutrient levels may also cause excess algal growth (or blooms), which degrades the ecosystems and can make waterways and coastal environments unfit for recreational and cultural uses.
Water pollution by pathogens from livestock dung also has risks to human health, including gastrointestinal illness. Computer models estimate that 82 percent of the river length in pastoral farming areas was not suitable for activities such as swimming, based on the predicted average Campylobacter infection risk during the period 2013–17.
Water pollution degrades cultural values such as mauri and wairua of waterways, and impacts the customary practices associated with mahinga kai and kaitiakitanga (guardianship). When waterways are polluted it can also affect the mana (prestige) associated with an iwi or hapū.
Waterways and farming data indicators
New/updated indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
- Coastal and estuarine water quality
- Groundwater quality
- Lake water quality
- Livestock numbers
- Nitrate leaching from livestock
- Nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilisers
- River water quality: clarity and turbidity
- River water quality: Escherichia coli
- River water quality: macroinvertebrate community index
- River water quality: nitrogen
- River water quality: phosphorus
Existing indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Issue 5: Our environment is polluted in urban areasSome of our cities and towns have polluted air, land, and water. This comes from home heating, vehicle use, industry, and disposal of waste, wastewater, and stormwater. Pollution affects ecosystems, health, and use of nature.
What is happening?
Many different pollutants are produced in urban centres where most (86 percent) New Zealanders live (see Issue 3). The pollutants vary in type and amount, from place to place, and over time.
Our air quality is good in most places and at most times of the year. However, levels of tiny particles in the air that are bad for our health can exceed air quality standards, especially in cooler months because of emissions from home heating.
Urban waterways contain many of the same pollutants found in farming areas – excess nutrients (such as nitrogen), sediment, and pathogens – but their levels are typically even higher in our cities and towns. Urban waterways can also contain other pollutants, like heavy metals.
Recent measurements show that urban pollution has lessened in many places. Air particulate matter (PM10) levels decreased in 17 of 39 monitored areas in winter between 2007 and 2016. Where changes in water quality could be detected between 2008 and 2017, the majority of urban river water monitoring sites had improving trends for nutrients and sediment. The trends for E. coli were mixed, with some sites getting better and some getting worse.
Less information is available about other types of urban pollution. Monitoring networks do not yet cover all our cities and towns. Data is not available to assess trends in light pollution, noise pollution, odours, or pollution in urban soil, land, or coastal waters.
Why is it like this?
In urban areas, burning wood and coal for home heating in winter are the main sources of particulate matter in the air. Emissions from vehicles and industry also contribute to air pollution in some places. This includes particulate matter and carbon dioxide from cars, and nitrogen oxides and other gases from industries.
Pollutants enter urban waterways through the stormwater and wastewater networks. Stormwater is rainwater plus any pollutants it picks up on the land surface, like nutrients, pathogens, sediment, or heavy metals from the wear of road surfaces, tyres, and brake pads. Wastewater is the water that has been used in houses and businesses, which can contain nutrients, pathogens, and many chemicals used in industrial and domestic activities.
What are the consequences?
Air pollution can have health impacts including shortness of breath, asthma, heart attack, stroke, and even premature death.
Water pollution can affect both human and ecosystem health. Computer models estimate that 94 percent of the river length in urban areas is not suitable for activities such as swimming, based on the predicted average Campylobacter infection risk between 2013 and 2017.
The models also show that 94 percent of river length in urban areas has nitrogen levels that may affect the growth of sensitive aquatic species. The elevated levels of nutrients in urban streams also increase the likelihood of excessive algal growth.
Pollution in urban areas impacts the mauri of ecosystems and affects values like the condition of mahinga kai and kaimoana (traditional foods), recreation (swimming, waka ama), and oranga (health and well-being) of Māori.
Limited knowledge of the full range of pollutants, their extent, and their cumulative effects, makes it challenging to fully understand the impacts of urban pollution.
Urban pollution data indicators
New/updated indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Existing indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Natural resources are essential for our modern way of life and we use them in an astounding number of ways. Some resources regenerate naturally but others, like fossil fuels, are not easily replaced. If we take too much from the environment, the use of a resource becomes unsustainable. This can affect natural systems and deny future generations the same opportunities and benefits from nature that we enjoy today.
This theme examines two activities where our use of a natural resource is affecting how the environment functions, and changing our relationship with it:
- Taking water from rivers, lakes, and aquifers: Using water for agriculture, hydroelectric generation, and domestic purposes can have significant effects on our waterways. Here, we look at how taking water is affecting our waterways and our relationships with them.
- Fishing: We fish for commercial gain, for food, recreation, and as part of our culture in te ao Māori. Fishing and gathering seafood are widespread in coastal areas and in our exclusive economic zone, and can have long-lasting effects.
Issue 6: Taking water changes flows which affects our freshwater ecosystemsUsing freshwater for hydroelectric generation, irrigation, domestic, and other purposes changes the water flows in rivers and aquifers. This affects freshwater ecosystems and the ways we relate to and use our waterways.
What is happening?
The use of freshwater supports our economy and way of life. We rely on surface water and groundwater (taken from aquifers) for drinking, domestic, and industrial uses, and irrigation from these sources is vital for farming. Although New Zealand has plenty of fresh water, we are also heavy users. In 2014, New Zealand's consented water allocation per person was 2,162 cubic metres.
Consents (permits) to take water are managed by regional authorities, which allocate water for particular uses. Individual consents to take water have specified conditions, such as how much water can be taken, from where, at what rate, and at what times.
Nationally, aside from hydroelectricity (which generally doesn't consume water but does alter river flows), most of the consented water allocation was for irrigation (51 percent in the 2013/14 year). Household consumption made up 14 percent, and industrial use made up 13 percent. Taking water for irrigation happens nationwide but on a large scale mainly in Canterbury and Otago. About 100 hydropower sites nationwide provided 55–60 percent of our electricity in 2017, lessening our dependence on fossil fuels.
Why is it like this?
The demand for freshwater for irrigation has increased markedly. This has been driven by a near doubling of New Zealand's irrigated agricultural land area between 2002 and 2017, most notably in Canterbury. This reflects a nationwide shift from sheep and beef farming to dairy farming, and an increase in the number of animals per hectare in some parts of the country (see Issue 4).
What are the consequences?
The consequences of taking water are mainly related to changes in river flows. Low river flows reduce the habitat for freshwater fish and other species that provide food for other species and for people. Native fish such as the taonga whitebait species inanga and tuna (eels) are vulnerable because they need to move between the sea and fresh water during their lifecycle and dams and culverts can block these migration. Taking water can also reduce the flows and number of channels in braided rivers, which affects some threatened birds like wrybill and kakī.
With reduced or less variable flows, the temperature and the concentration of nutrients and pathogens in a waterway can also increase and make them more susceptible to algal blooms. These changes can degrade freshwater ecosystems and make waterways unfit for recreational and cultural uses.
Water usage data indicators
Updated indicator used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Existing indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Issue 7: The way we fish is affecting the health of our ocean environmentHarvesting marine species affects the health of the marine environment and its social, cultural, and economic value to us. Fishing could change the relationship that future generations have with the sea and how they use its resources.
What is happening?
As befitting an island country, many New Zealanders have a strong connection to the sea. For many, that connection is through fishing – for employment, enjoyment, or cultural connections.
Commercial fishing and the pressures associated with it have reduced in the last decade, and most (97 percent) commercially caught fish come from stocks that are considered to be managed sustainably. In 2017 16 percent of routinely assessed stocks were overfished and 10 stocks are considered collapsed.
Animals that are caught unintentionally are called bycatch. Bycatch of protected species like Hector's and Māui dolphins, fur seals, sea lions, and seabirds has reduced, but still has a serious effect because many of these species are already threatened.
Trawling the sea floor with large nets or dredges to catch fish and species like scallops and oysters are the most destructive fishing methods and cause damage to the seabed. The area trawled and the number of tows have decreased over the past 15 to 20 years, but still cover a large area, and some areas have been trawled every year for the past 27 years. Between 1990 and 2016 trawling occurred over approximately 28 percent of the seabed where the water depth was less than 200 meters, and 40 percent where depth was 200–400 meters.
Why is it like this?
Fishing vessels are now larger and more powerful, and use wider trawls and longer lines than when trawling first started more than 100 years ago. A small number of boats today can have the same impact as a larger fleet would have had in previous decades.
Past activities, like hunting seals, are still having an effect on marine mammals, seabirds, and other species. Some species, particularly those with long lifespans or low fertility, recover slowly from disturbance.
Other environmental pressures interact with fishing to increase our impact on the marine environment. Excess sediment and nutrients from rivers, urban pollution including heavy metals, plastic pollution, introduced predators, loss of habitats, and a warming and acidifying ocean all combine to put pressure on the marine environment. When combined and acting simultaneously, these pressures may have more serious impacts that are complex and hard to predict.
What are the consequences?
Fishing affects the whole marine ecosystem. Fish stocks are managed individually and do not account for interactions between different stocks or the broader marine environment. Because we don't know the cumulative effects of fishing on the marine environment, it is unclear if the current levels of fishing are sustainable or where the tipping points are.
Removing fish also changes food chains, affecting species that depend on fish for food (like seabirds and marine mammals), or that are eaten by them.
Seabed trawling changes the physical structure of the seabed and we don't know how long it takes to fully recover.
Any accidental capture of a protected species is an issue. For example, the number of Māui dolphins caught has declined in recent years, but this is a critically endangered animal and in 2015/16 there are only an estimated 63 animals left.
Overfishing can lead to loss of livelihoods. For commercial fishers, depleted fish stocks could mean catching less or having to go out further to catch fish.
Overfishing removes opportunities to harvest kaimoana. The loss of biodiversity erodes the mauri of the marine environment and impacts key values such as ahikāroa, mana, manaakitanga (acts of giving and caring for), and whanaungatanga (community relationships and networks).
New Zealand's marine environment faces increasing pressures from activities besides fishing. This includes the effects of excess sediment and nutrients from rivers, plastic pollution, loss of habitats, and climate change. These multiple and simultaneous pressures may have far-reaching and hard-to-predict effects on marine species and habitats.
Fishing data indicators
Existing indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Greenhouse gas emissions are causing significant changes to Earth's oceans, atmosphere, and climate. We expect these changes to be very long-lasting – some will be irreversible.
We are already seeing changes in our climate and marine environment, and these are expected to become more severe. These changes reach across the length and breadth of Aotearoa New Zealand, with some regional differences. As an island nation with a large marine zone, long coastline, and an economy based mainly on primary production and international tourism, we are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
This theme looks at two climate change issues:
- How our activities in New Zealand are contributing to global increases in greenhouse gases.
- How changes in the climate are already affecting our environment, and how they will affect our lives now and into the future.
Issue 8: New Zealand has high greenhouse gas emissions per personOur per-person rate of greenhouse gas emissions is one of the highest for an industrialised country. Most of our emissions in 2016 came from livestock and road transport.
What is happening?
Global greenhouse gas emissions have increased dramatically and are at a record high. As a consequence, global temperatures have already increased by about 1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Such rates of change far exceed any past natural rates of change.
New Zealand makes a small contribution to global emissions, but we have high emissions per person when compared internationally. In 2015, New Zealand emitted 17.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gases per person, which was higher than all but five of the 43 Annex I (industrialised) countries. Agriculture is responsible for nearly half of our gross greenhouse gas emissions, which reflects agriculture's economic importance, followed by road transport, which enables movement of goods and services on our roads.
Although our global contribution is small (0.17 percent of gross global greenhouse gas emissions in 2013), the contribution of small nations like New Zealand is important. Our gross greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 20 percent since 1990, but have been relatively steady in the past decade, despite increases in population and GDP. This means our emissions per person are lower now than 10 years ago. Similarly, our emissions per unit of gross domestic product since 1990 are 43 percent lower, but still high internationally – the fourth highest in the OECD in 2016.
Our larger cities tend to have high levels of black carbon (also known as soot), one of the most important contributors to global warming.
According to the International Panel on Climate Change, our emissions are reversible if we make that choice as a society. Even small reductions in greenhouse gas concentrations will reduce the changes that our grandchildren and their descendants will experience.
Why is it like this?
Our high emissions per person are partly due to the large proportion of methane and nitrous oxide from agriculture. These gases warm our atmosphere more strongly than carbon dioxide (CO2), and increase our per-person CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.
Road vehicles are our main source of CO2 emissions. Road vehicles are our main source of CO2 emissions. We have the highest rate of car ownership in the OECD, which, combined with relatively high CO2 emissions per kilometre of newly registered vehicles, means that New Zealand is among the highest OECD countries for emissions of CO2 per capita from on-road transport. This raises per-person emissions because older cars tend to use more fuel for each kilometre travelled and emit more black carbon.
What are the consequences?
The rate of warming is unprecedented, and may be faster than some organisms and ecosystems can adapt to. The impacts of these changes are already being felt globally, for example ice sheets and Arctic sea ice are shrinking. Climate change is already affecting Aotearoa New Zealand (see Issue 9).
The issues described in the report are made worse in some way by climate change. Climate change will add another layer of stress on our ecosystems, making it harder for them to recover from other impacts like pollution or seabed trawling. In turn, this will decrease the benefits we get from nature and undermine our connection to the natural environment.
Our high rate of per-person emissions compared with other industrialised countries also carries a reputational risk because international trade and tourism are strongly linked to our environmental credentials.
Greenhouse gas data indicators
Updated indicator used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Existing indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Issue 9: Climate change is already affecting Aotearoa New ZealandChanges to our climate are already being felt in our land, freshwater, and marine environments. We can expect further wide-ranging consequences for our culture, economy, infrastructure, coasts, and native species.
What is happening?
New Zealand is already being affected by climate change and many significant changes in our climate are being seen across the country.
These include higher land and sea temperatures, sealevel rise (14–22 centimetres in the last century), ocean acidification, more sunshine, and melting glaciers (our glaciers have lost 25 percent of their ice in the past 40 years). Some locations are experiencing drier soils, altered precipitation patterns, fewer frost days, and more warm days. Extreme wind has decreased at some locations. Most places have seen no change in extreme rainfall since 1960, but studies indicate that because of climate change, some flood and drought events were worse than they would have been or had a higher likelihood of happening.
Many of the impacts of climate change are irreversible on a human timescale, and some impacts, like erosion from extreme rainfall or species extinction, cannot be reversed at all. Stopping further emissions will not return us to a normal climate because carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for centuries to millennia. As long as greenhouse gas concentrations remain elevated, the risk from extreme events like heat waves, droughts, and storms will be elevated.
Why is it like this?
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are building up in the atmosphere and causing changes to the global climate.
New Zealand makes a small contribution to global emissions, but we have high emissions per person because of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture, our high rate of car ownership, and our aging vehicle fleet (see Issue 8).
What are the consequences?
The effects that are already being felt in New Zealand are expected to intensify in the coming decades. Although good information on the cumulative and cascading effects that climate change will have on our economic, social, and cultural well-being is still lacking, we can be sure that nearly all aspects of life in New Zealand will be affected.
Climate change will affect the things we value. Many culturally important sites such as early Māori and European archaeological sites, as well as marae and urupā (burial sites), are located in areas that are vulnerable to flooding or erosion. As sites are lost, so is the intergenerational connection to these places, along with the knowledge and understanding of those connections. Also, changing environmental conditions may cause some species to move to other areas, while others may be lost.
Climate change will affect where we live. Sea-level rise will put property at risk, and some places may become uninsurable. Flooding and heat waves could impact our infrastructure, including the transportation, communication, and power networks that our modern life relies on.
Climate change will affect how we live. It will affect what we grow and where, through warmer temperatures, changed precipitation patterns, more intense and frequent droughts, and intense rainfall, but also more growing days. A warming and acidifying ocean will affect the fish we catch and harvest, while more extreme fire conditions and pests could change the landscape and how we use it.
Climate change data indicators
Existing indicators used in Environment Aotearoa 2019:
Our environment is complex and multi-dimensional, and changes in the environment can have multiple causes and happen at different rates. The time it takes for the effects of a change to show can also be significant, which makes establishing a cause harder.
Each place is also distinct because of the environmental conditions and the people who live there – what they do, how they make a living, what they value, and what they want to achieve. All of these are important and have effects on the health of their local environment.
Good progress has been made on understanding particular aspects of our environment but many significant gaps in our knowledge remain. These are highlighted throughout Environment Aotearoa 2019 and include how the environment functions as a whole system, the cumulative impacts of multiple pressures, regional variations, and where tipping points (when change becomes irreversible) may exist. More work is needed to address these challenges.
Environmental data and knowledge currently come from many sources, including scientific data, computer models, monitoring data, cultural monitoring systems, and citizen science. Finding good ways to draw on all of these sources will provide the richest picture of our environment.
Collecting and analysing data, and exploring scientific knowledge, take time and money. Taking opportunities to align our efforts across the knowledge and reporting system would enable New Zealand to be better equipped to understand the effect our actions are having on the environment, as well as deciding what our response to that understanding should be.


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May 27th My Jesus, My Saviour!
Reading: Proverbs 27:1-29
The proverb that captures my heart today is verse 20. "Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man." There are two deep truths here…
First, all things are rapidly moving towards atrophy and chaos, things around us, including ourselves, are rusting and decaying; whether we care to ponder it or not, everything we have and everybody we know will one day be either broken or dead. Second, ironically, we chase after these temporary things and are never satisfied. They just don't fill that void-they just don't bring the satisfaction we are looking for.
It is odd that though we know these two statements to be true, we still live as if we are going to live forever, and are suckered into a consumerism that, in Mark Greene's words, has made us:
ashamed of our mobile,
ashamed of our profile,
ashamed of our thin lips,
ashamed of our thick hips,
ashamed of our smallish breasts,
ashamed of our hairless chests,
ashamed of our specs,
ashamed of our pecs,
ashamed of our multi-fold belly
ashamed of our narrow-screen telly.
What is the answer? Where is the hope? What does wisdom say? Solomon has repeatedly said that real wisdom is to know God. Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes that apart from knowing God- everything is meaningless. (Ecc 12:1,9-14). My experience, my learning and the Bible, tells me that knowing God in Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit is the only way I can know peace. So why then, in our busy worlds, is it easy to ditch Jesus and so easy to fixate on the temporal?
Maybe today there is a need to come back to the cross. There, Jesus defeated death, meaninglessness and destruction, by swallowing it up into his own body on the cross, drawing death out of the universe like poison being sucked from a wound. When he died, death died with him. When he died, he also bore our falseness and fallen-ness. In doing so, he opened a way into the very presence of the Father. Now, he is risen, calling any who would come, to him.
I'm 46 years old. I've had my fair share of ups and downs, good times, successes, laughter and achievements; I've known heartache, disappointment, loss and depression and there have have been times when I have felt so hopeless that I have despaired of live itself. But, along with my family, Jesus has always held me, always been near always been the most gentle saviour.
In the final words, of what would be his final sermon, Spurgeon said,
How greatly I desire that you who are not yet enlisted in my Lord's band would come to him because you see what a kind and gracious Lord he is! Young men, if you could see our Captain, you would get down on your knees and beg him to let you enter the ranks of those who follow him. It is heaven to serve Jesus … Every man must serve somebody: we have no choice as to that fact. Those who have no master are slaves to themselves. Depend upon it, you will either serve Satan or Christ, either self or the saviour. You will find sin, self, Satan, and the world to be hard masters; but if you wear the livery of Christ, you will find him so meek and lowly of heart that you will find rest unto your souls. He is the most magnanimous of captains. There never was his like among the choicest of princes. He is always to be found in the thickest part of the battle. When the wind blows cold he always takes the bleak side of the hill. The heaviest end of the cross lies ever on his shoulders. If he bids us carry a burden, he carries it also. If there is anything that is gracious, generous, kind, and tender, yea lavish and super abundant in love, you always find it in him. These forty years and more have I served him, blessed be his name! and I have had nothing but love from him. I would be glad to continue yet another forty years in the same dear service here below if so it pleased him. His service is life, peace, joy. Oh, that you would enter on it at once! God help you to enlist under the banner of Jesus even this day! Amen.
Jesus says,
"I have come that you might have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10)
For Memorisation:
"Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of a person" (Proverbs 27:20)
Father, today I bow the knee to Jesus! May he be my prized possession, my deepest joy, the love of my life. In the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Praise God. It is a blessing for me to visit you here.
I am covered over with the robe of righteousness that Jesus gives to me.
I am covered over with the precious blood of Jesus and He lives in me.
What a joy it is to know
My heavenly Father loves me so and gives to me – my Jesus.
And when He looks at me, He sees not what I used to be,
But He sees JESUS.
After reading todays study, this song keeps coming to my mind.
When God had finished creating, He said 'It is good'
God.undrstands satisfaction, we seem to be constantly dissatisfied. Many years ago when I ran a 10 week course for children who were struggling with various issues, I used art and creative activities. It wasn't about being great artists, it was about enjoying the activity. I would always ask the children at the end of an activity if they were satisfied with what they had done. One boy was never satisfied and would then destroy what he had created.
I think there is a parallel with us. God was satisfied. 'It is good' He said. Our actions destroy what is good and has been created.
At the end of the 10 week course, the boy went away sad, all the other children went away carrying their 'works of art', their creations.
I am going in the garden now to marvel at God's creation, and remind myself of His goodness.
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subset: commoncrawl


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I have never liked the coleslaw from the store, it is just so sweet and you really don't need a sweet coleslaw!
My daughter is the same, she has never eaten coleslaw anywhere else but at home. She likes mine but not any of the others.
So I've got a homemade easy coleslaw recipe that I'd like to share with you today and it's even made with a homemade mayonnaise. You may think that making maynonnaise would be difficult and take a long time, but it takes just 5-10 minutes and then you know you're eating something super healthy.
- 1/4 white cabbage
- 1.5 large carrots
- 1 red bell pepper (capsicum)
- 3 spring onions/scallions or 1/4 red onion
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise – I use homemade, see recipe link below
- Grate the carrot into a large mixing bowl
- Core and deseed the bell pepper (capsicum), then dice it and place in bowl
- Shred the cabbage very finely, then chop it cross ways as well, then place in bowl
- Finely slice the spring onions or dice the red onion very finely, place in bowl
- Mix all together
- Stir in the mayonnaise
This makes quite a large batch so you can expect to eat it over a few days. Alternatively it makes a great salad to include at a party because it is so plentiful.
It will keep for 3-5 days in the fridge and I always find it's best left overnight before using it as it allows the juices and flavours to combine.
Hope you enjoy it
P.S. Want healthy meals like this every day? Check out my weekly meal plans, all planned for you every week for less than a cup of coffee. Click here for details.


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Steve Jobs was a great visionary and a respected competitor… We extend our deepest condolences to his family and to all of the employees of Apple.
[Via WSJ]
The Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog
If you're serious about your business, the Aspire theme is the way to go.
Steve Jobs was a great visionary and a respected competitor… We extend our deepest condolences to his family and to all of the employees of Apple.
[Via WSJ]
Apple has just confirmed via their website that Steve Jobs has passed away at 56 years old. The tech world has lost a titan… RIP…
In an email sent out earlier today to Apple employees, Steve Jobs stated that he would be taking a medical leave of absence…
At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.
I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.
I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.
During Apple's earnings call the other day, Steve Jobs essentially said that 7-in tablets suck and that Apple will never make them… Research in Motion's co-CEO, Jim Balsillie, responds and he doesn't hold any punches…
"For those of us who live outside of Apple's distortion field, we know that 7? tablets will actually be a big portion of the market and we know that Adobe Flash support actually matters to customers who want a real web experience. We also know that while Apple's attempt to control the ecosystem and maintain a closed platform may be good for Apple, developers want more options and customers want to fully access the overwhelming majority of web sites that use Flash. We think many customers are getting tired of being told what to think by Apple. And by the way, RIM has achieved record shipments for five consecutive quarters and recently shared guidance of 13.8 – 14.4 million BlackBerry smartphones for the current quarter. Apple's preference to compare its September-ending quarter with RIM's August-ending quarter doesn't tell the whole story because it doesn't take into account that industry demand in September is typically stronger than summer months, nor does it explain why Apple only shipped 8.4 million devices in its prior quarter and whether Apple's Q4 results were padded by unfulfilled Q3 customer demand and channel orders. As usual, whether the subject is antennas, Flash or shipments, there is more to the story and sooner or later, even people inside the distortion field will begin to resent being told half a story."
I might be making this next part up, but, Balsillie might also have said that he will definitely get some time in the penalty box next time he and Jobs play hockey…
[Via CrackBerry]
If have you haven't looked and any tech blogs, picked up a newspaper, or watched any news broadcast since last Thursday, you may not have known that Apple held a special press conference Friday to address reception issues that plague the iPhone 4. Steve Jobs, for the most part, down played the issue kind of making it seem like it is more perception than reality (nothing shocking there), however, did address iPhone 4 owners concerns by basically giving all iPhone users a case.
Steve Jobs, however, didn't stop there. In a move that is pretty classless no matter how you look at it, he drug Research in Motion and Nokia into the conversation by, not only stating that handsets from both carriers suffer from the same type of problem plaguing the iPhone 4, but actually showing a video of a BlackBerry demonstrating the issue. Needless to say, this did not sit well with RIM…
RIM Co-CEOs, in a joint response to Apple, had this to say:
[Read more…] about RIM Responds To Apple Over "Unacceptable" (read bogus) Reception Claims


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'Pokémon Go' players in Bosnia warned to avoid minefields
About 120,000 mines from the 1990s war are still to be found in the Balkan country.
About 120,000 mines from the 1990s war are still to be found in the Balkan country.
After the Karadžić verdict, a former journalist looks back on the Bosnian War.
She gives back to other refugees through her work in international aid.
This live broadcast was never going to end well.
Anger boiled over Saturday at a massive commemoration of the slaughter of Bosnia Muslims at Srebrenica 20 years ago, as people pelted Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic with stones, water bottles and other objects.
In returning to their homes after the worst flood event in at least a century, residents of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia face risks such as disease outbreaks and dislodged land mines. Satellite imagery reveals the massive extent of the floods, and the challenges ahead for cleanup efforts.
At least 40 people have been killed, with damage expected to rise into the billions of Euros.
Parts of the Balkans region received three months' worth of rain in just two days last week, leading to flooding that has left at least 20 people dead, and forced tens of thousands to evacuate their homes.


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At each alley, you can find an immense alternative of group inns in Paris rubbing shoulders with the most prestigious historic and cultural websites. Earlier than the database, I had no idea there were so many AAA-affiliated magazines. A 1,200-word feature sometimes pays $four hundred, with an extra $150 attainable if it is usually revealed in the magazine's sister publication.
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The Study on "Positive Factors and Obstacles to a Sustainable Reintegration in Brazil" aims at taking stock of the reintegration support provided in Brazil during the last 4 years by the International Organization for Migration in Portugal, through its network of NGOs partners created in 2009 to assist returnees from Portugal in the framework of the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme (ARVoRe). In particular, the Study seeks to identify and analyse main internal factors (depending on the Programme) and external ones (independent of the Programme) which can favour or hamper an effective reintegration in the country of origin and, consequently, a sustainable return home.
In the context of this study, effective reintegration is intended as a less painful return, a faster reintegration into Brazilian society and in the labour market, acquired financial autonomy for the beneficiary and for his or her family and a sense of emotional stability and satisfaction in being back home, all of that contributing towards a sustainable return. In order to better understand whether post-return support led to an effective reintegration, the study sought to compare the reintegration outcomes of returnees who benefited from the local partners' support and those who did not receive such support. Field research, which relied mainly on a qualitative methodology, has been conducted by the PUC Minas University of Minas Gerais, which interviewed 44 beneficiaries. Particular attention was also paid to external factors that may influence the reintegration process and to the impact of small businesses set up by returnees on the development of their local communities, in cases where the reintegration grant was used for micro-business set up purposes.
The study contributes to improving the IOM Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme in Portugal. This report not only presents the results of that analysis, but also includes concrete suggestions for future planning of reintegration assistance activities, as well as for possible external and complementary actions to the programme.
This study falls under IOM Lisbon's AVRR activities and was funded by the European Return Fund 2011 (RF 2011) and co-financed by the Portuguese Government.


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I was still in elementary school when Roger Ashby started spinning records at 1050 CHUM.
Just 19 when he got his start at Toronto's top rock 'n' roll station, the Waterloo-born disc jockey began his tenure in the midnight to 5 am slot. I'm sure I didn't hear him at that hour when he took that first job — I would have been in Grade six or seven in 1969 — but CHUM DJ's "Jungle" Jay Nelson, Tom Rivers and Bob McAdorey were radio superstars to any kid with ears in Toronto at the end of that decade. By the time Ashby earned a more reasonable slot, he was the jock cuing up the soundtrack of my life.
Ashby survived 50 years and outlasted rock, disco, punk rock, alternative rock, rap and several other musical eras before taking his leave Wednesday morning on CHUM FM.
I got to meet him late in 2007 while promoting my book "Truth & Rumors: The Reality Behind TV's Most Famous Myths." I sent him a copy and was invited to join Ashby and his long-time co-host Marilyn Denis on air one morning at CHUM FM.
The two of them could not have been nicer. They gave the book the kind of play money couldn't buy. After the interview, Ashby stood up and motioned for me to follow him during a commercial break. He walked me over to the CHUM AM studio — just a room or two away — introduced me to the AM morning guys, sat me down and set me up for another seven minutes of promotion. It was the kind of professional generosity you don't often encounter in the media business.
I remember Ashby cautioned me not to talk too much about all the oldies I wanted to reminisce about on air because the station was all about current hits. Still, I knew I could ask him who did "Resurrection Shuffle" back in 1971 and he'd know. (Answer: Ashton Gardner & Dyke.) The fact that you can now look that up on Google and link to a video performance of this catchy one hit wonder speaks to the wisdom of Ashby's decision to leave now.
Before Google, when it came to pop hit recall, there was Ashby. I tried him on another tune that haunted me from my grade school days: Who sang that funky reggae ditty, "I am the magnificent; W-O-O-O?" Jamaican vocal duo Dave and Ansell Collins, Ashby declared without any hesitation. He knew the title of the 1970 hit too: "Double Barrel."
He's the human jukebox you just want to play all day long. The 1970 hit "Express Yourself" has ear-wormed its way into TV, film and commercial play and even been sampled in the past decade or so, but it was obscure enough in 2007 that I'd forgotten the dynamic singer who shrieked and grunted it out. "Charles Wright," said Ashby, "and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band."
Ashby knew that Wright was right when he sang that "some people have everything and other people don't. But everything don't mean a thang when it ain't the thing you want."
Ashby got to do the thang he wanted and express himself for fifty years at the AM and FM ends of the same radio brand. Amazing.
Others in Toronto had epic radio runs; my dad, for example, never missed a morning listening to CFRB's Wally Crouter, whose run also spanned five decades. I remember, however, Crouter's transparent disdain when some program manager, in a vain attempt to lure somebody under 65 to the station, evidently talked him into playing an early Elton John hit. "Well, goodbye, yellow brick road," the 1010 AM morning man huffed at the end of the song.
If Ashby would rather be listening to Elvis than Drake he never let that get between him and his audience. He always seemed happy to go where the music took him. Hats off to 50 magnificent years.


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Brussels, famous for its beer and chocolate, also has a lot to offer culturally – with plenty of museums and art galleries. Its gastronomic traditions are also appealing - as some know, the Belgians claim to have invented "French Fries" and besides the well-known beer halls, Belgians love their street cafes.
With its multi-cultural heritage which combines the French and Flemish as well as German influences, Brussels is conveniently located centrally in Europe, close to Germany, The Netherlands and France and is an ideal starting point for your campervan holiday in Europe.
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Sony's hilarious ad guru Kevin Butler is at it again, this time in a commercial for MLB 10: The Show. American League MVP? Who's that?
My love for Sony ad spokesman Kevin Butler has been well documented by this point, so I don't think there's much point in me saying how awesome I think these commercials are - to the point where I'm actually writing news posts about commercials - but I'll do it anyway: I think these commercials are awesome, and the Kevin Butler character is brilliant.
This time around, Butler - as VP of Sony's Softball Team - is promoting Sony San Diego's MLB '10: The Show. The game's cover promptly features Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, the American League MVP, who is widely considered to be the best catcher in the game - and one of Major League Baseball's top sluggers - since his debut in 2006. The only problem is that Butler doesn't seem to know who Mauer is.
...or does he?
Please keep making these ads, Sony. I will be tremendously sad when you stop.
(The Examiner. Thanks, Miracle Max!)


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I'm a stress-free type of guy who takes life with a carefree attitude. I guess you can say I'm just a laidback and festively plump individual and there is nothing wrong with that. I guarantee it. Think of how beneficial technologies like transportation, cellular devices, and the Internet. As long as someone or something else does the work for me, I'm ready to go.
I value transportation. For example, cars are a useful invention because they make our lives stress-free by swiftly transporting us from place to place while eliminating the necessity to use our legs altogether. Instead of walking those four blocks to spend money at McDonalds, why not just drive there? The car travels faster and it allows me to start eating sooner. The full size SUV makes it easier to shove those Big Macs down my throat behind the wheel than to eat them while hobbling down the sidewalk. Make the dinosaurs do the work for us.
The elevators from my floor to the seventh floor are a gold mine, saving me numerous steps up the stairs for laundry. My uptight friends insist I take the stairs. They do not get it. I'm exerting so much force and work moving up these steps. My glands produce sweat - a combination of essential amino acids and water. Imagine all the nutrients I'm losing! I could become dehydrated. Every week I would be losing millions of these molecules. These elevators are a haven, conserving numerous amounts of resources. I just saved myself at least 100 seconds and that is a wonderful deal.
My roommate has a perfectly functional TV in our room. I can clearly see the dust that surrounds the TV. Does my roommate have the chance to enjoy his TV? I'm just fulfilling my duty in operating the TV. I help the circuits flow and allow the system to get into rhythm. The television should thank me for helping it. However, there are times where the remote is out of my reach. Thankfully, I have an app for that. Why must I muster myself to move five inches and waste energy? I am perfectly fine controlling my TV with my phone, lying in bed. With a quick swipe, I can control the power, volume, channel, and settings. No more reaching out and uninterestingly pushing click, click, and click. Just swipe, swipe, swipe.
Some people say that you have to exercise, but I don't see it that way. You want me to run or dance? Sure, look at me gracefully raise my leg like a dog at a fire hydrant. I had my fair share of playing sports. Most of them resulted in ankle sprains and back injuries. Instead, I can just watch sports on my Ipad with my DirecTV bundle. It's the same thrill but without the injury.
I mean, technology is great! The person who invented the automatic moving floor escalator at airports is a genius. Standing still and drinking sodas while moving at the same time? Who wouldn't say yes to that? The floor escalators help comfort me for my ride on the plane. I'm not madly dashing around the place, getting hit by other people and lugging my heavy baggage.
Whenever I'm hungry, I always have companies deliver food to me. Have them deliver it to you. Have them work for their money. So what if it costs more? You just saved a lot of energy and work. It's not laziness, it's efficiency. You just made dinosaurs do the work again.
Well, with technology and smarter thinking, I do not have to exert more work and I'm perfectly content with where I am. Think about it. Laidback people tend to be healthier than others. They probably have low pulse rates, and there's less risk of acquiring stress related sicknesses such as heart disease. They do not place themselves in harmful situations. As long as I have technology, I'm fine. I'm just saying there's no disadvantages in being a laidback, and festively plump individual. Living like a sloth works just fine for me.


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2005 Silver Two Coin Proof Set Kookaburras
A superb pair of silver proof coins, with a mintage limit of just 800 sets.
The proof silver Kookaburra series of coins is hugely popular around the world for a number of reasons - high-quality metal struck to exacting standards, beautiful presentation and tiny mintage figures to boot!
This pair of silver proof coins includes a 2oz as well as a 1oz coin and features a single Kookaburra perched on a branch.
The maximum mintage limit of just 800 pairs is absolutely tiny when compared to the number of similar coins struck for countries such as China and the United States.
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Dr. Stacey B. Plichta is a Full Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management. Currently, her work centers on the occupational health and well-being of Adult Protective Services and similar professions. She is exploring the use of integrative medicine and self-care as a method of mitigating work-related stress in this group. Previous work focuses on intimate partner violence, sexual assault and the interactions of victim/survivors with the healthcare system. She has (co) authored over 80 publications, including the book, Munro's Statistical Methods for Health Care Research (2013-Lippincott Williams & Wilkins). Overall, her work seeks to inform and strengthen health and social services for victims of violence and neglect.
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Institute for Social and Policy Studies from Yale University, New Haven, CT
- ScD in Health Services Research from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD
- BS in Psychology & Environmental Design from SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Research InterestsHealthy aging, elder abuse, intimate partner violence, occupational health of health and social services workers, integrative health care


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San Clemente, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/02/2015 --Altavest Worldwide Trading, Inc. is honored to announce that Altavest Private Client Services, LLC (APCS) has been featured in BarclayHedge's monthly performance rankings for its award winning Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA) program: Legend. Its Legend Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA) Program was ranked #4 within the Options Strategies category for December 2014, posting a net return of 3.08%, with a 2014 net return of 35.29%. BarclayHedge has recognized Legend as one of the top performing CTA programs on the market due to the programs high net return.
Formed in 1997, Altavest has been helping investors with alternative investments for nearly two decades. APCS is a Commodity Trading Advisor registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a member of the National Futures Association. APCS focuses on Separately Managed Account services. The trading programs offered by APCS are available to high net worth investors, institutions, wealth managers and family offices. Altavest's principals have combined market and industry experience of 45+ years, and the Altavest team includes industry veterans in operations, research, technology and compliance.
APCS provides qualified investors with alternative investment programs that are created and designed to be non-correlated with traditional investment benchmarks like S&P 500. It operates transparently and is backed by experienced professionals that offer excellent customer service governed by a high-degree of ethical standards. APCS aims to provide investors with non-correlated alternative investments that offer consistent profits regardless of market conditions in relation to traditional asset classes.
About The Legend Program
The Legend Program is managed by Chris Cameron, one of Altavest's Senior Trading Advisors. Legend is a non-correlated alternative investment that offers investors an opportunity to diversify their investment opportunities in seeking superior risk-adjusted returns. Legend has a low correlation with traditional asset classes like bonds or stocks and exposure to this program is intended to enhance an investor's portfolio diversification while reducing risk. The APCS Legend program was among the top performing options related CTA programs in December 2014, posting a 3.08% net return, and a 2014 net return of 35.29%.
Learn more about APCS' Commodity Trading Advisor Legend Program by visiting APCS at http://altavest.com/ManagedFutures/Investment-Portfolio-Management.aspx. For inquiries, call 800-994-9566 or email at email@example.com.
"I have been an Altavest client for 15 years. Whether you are just starting out or have been trading for years, I highly recommend them." ---Laura, Dallas, Texas
"We have only been with Futures Animal for just over two months and have found them extremely helpful and friendly. Our assigned (Altavest) broker is always available and ready to talk to us and answer any questions we have whether it is on our trades or the course material. Very glad we signed up to this, we can learn while we earn"---- Lynn and Roger, Von Ormy, Texas
There is a risk of loss in trading futures & options. Past performance may not be indicative of future results.
The performance above is the actual customer composite performance for Altavest Private Client Services, LLC's Legend program. The results are net of all commissions and fees and omit the results of accounts that traded only partial months. The Legend program is available only to sophisticated investors that are qualified eligible participants as defined in section 4.7 of the commodity exchange act. Only risk capital should be used to invest in any futures & options program.
Company: Altavest Worldwide Trading, Inc.
Contact: Mike Armbruster
Address: 905 Calle Amanecer, Suite 160, San Clemente, CA 92673
Contact Number: 800-994-9566
Website: http://www.altavest.com
Email: email@example.com


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Handyman Services
Finding a good Handyman can cost you time and money... especially if you find the wrong one first. Most people underestimate just how important it is to have the right Handyman making repairs in their homes. Bad repairs can not only lower the value of your home, but can be an eye sore as well.
Constantly Running Handyman Services provide our customers professional, safe, reliable handyman craftsman to help you complete your "To Do" lists. We specialize in ALL major and minor home repairs for your home. Instead of calling multiple companies to fix separate problems that need to be addressed our craftsman can fix them all with just one call. Our craftsman show up on time and do the job right the first time.
Constantly Running Handyman services have built a reputation on integrity and honesty, and we've been developing long-lasting relationships with our customers. No matter what your project may be, our experienced craftsman will get it done quickly, efficiently and with your budget in mind. Constantly Running is a licensed and Insured Maryland Home Improvement Contractor to perform home remodeling and home restoration and handyman services. This allows our customers to have the opportunity to build a new room, remodel an existing room or to take care of that "To Do List" item that you need completed.
When trusting Constantly Running with your business you will get the complete satisfaction of using one complete company instead of having multiple contractors coming into you home.


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This short documentary film produced by Min Sook Lee chronicles the struggles of municipal workers in Windsor, Ontario after they are forced to go on strike to protect benefits and pensions for future generations.
To this date, these municipal workers have been on strike nearly two months, fighting to preserve pensions and benefits for future generations.
Produced by CUPE Ontario.
Thank you for reading this story…
More people are reading rabble.ca than ever and unlike many news organizations, we have never put up a paywall – at rabble we've always believed in making our reporting and analysis free to all, while striving to make it sustainable as well. Media isn't free to produce. rabble's total budget is likely less than what big corporate media spend on photocopying (we kid you not!) and we do not have any major foundation, sponsor or angel investor. Our main supporters are people and organizations -- like you. This is why we need your help. You are what keep us sustainable.
rabble.ca has staked its existence on you. We live or die on community support -- your support! We get hundreds of thousands of visitors and we believe in them. We believe in you. We believe people will put in what they can for the greater good. We call that sustainable.
So what is the easy answer for us? Depend on a community of visitors who care passionately about media that amplifies the voices of people struggling for change and justice. It really is that simple. When the people who visit rabble care enough to contribute a bit then it works for everyone.
And so we're asking you if you could make a donation, right now, to help us carry forward on our mission. Make a donation today.
- Tell the truth and avoid rumours.
- Add context and background.
- Report typos and logical fallacies.
- Be respectful.
- Respect copyright - link to articles.
- Stay focused. Bring in-depth commentary to our discussion forum, babble.
- Use oppressive/offensive language.
- Libel or defame.
- Bully or troll.
- Post spam.
- Engage trolls. Flag suspect activity instead.


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Items are grouped by service provider within the Browse the stores area. You can search by selecting a category from the menu on the left, filtering stores alphabetically using the A - Z menu below or using the search bar below.
Find below products and services for all areas.Enter postcode
Easy, Speedy Adaptations in your own homeEasy, Speedy Adaptations in your own home
The last link in the transport chainThe last link in the transport chain
TeleCareLine is a monitoring and alert system that can help support people to live independently in their own homesTeleCareLine is a monitoring and alert system that can help support people to live independently in their own homes
Telecare Home SupportTelecare Home Support
You can use this form to register any query or complaint you may have about this website or any of the content within it. Simply fill in the details below and this will be sent directly to us to investigate. We will always try and respond within one working day.
Page Reference: Browse the stores
If you need help using shop4support call the shop4support Helpdesk on
0333 600 6330 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
If you have a question about social care, please contact your council.
Find out who your council is here.


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Kalamazoo, MI – Twelve homebrews made it to the final round for this year's Bell's Homebrew Competition. But only one will go on tap at the Eccentric Café.
David Lyman, of Kalamazoo, will brew his Citra and Simcoe hopped Pale Ale at Bell's original brewery in downtown Kalamazoo.
Now in its fourth year, Lyman joins a growing list of those who have gotten to see their winning brew's name listed on the Café's draft board.
"This competition is a nod to our roots and we love the opportunity to give a little something back to the community that gave us our start," said Laura Bell, Bell's Vice President.
Last year's winner, Nick Rodammer, took second place for his Double Rye IPA.
Third place went to Jay VanBuskirk for his IPA brewed with fresh hops, peaches and mangos.
Runners up are:
- Jason Stasienko, IPA
- Larry Yuhas, Cream Stout brewed with fresh mint and coffee
- Eric Drews, an American hopped concoction
- Aaron Hoffmann, Coffee IPA
- Bret Wagner with Beau Preston, Butter Pecan Java Chocolate Stout
- Drew Doster, Cafe con Leche Milk Stout
- David DalPonte, Pale Ale with green tea and honey
- Shannon Grossman, Vanilla Java Porter
- Nathan Widener, Jalape├▒o Pepper Beer
More information about this year's homebrew winner tapping will be released as it becomes available.
Bell's Brewery, Inc. began in 1985 with a quest for better beer and a 15 gallon soup kettle. Since then, we've grown into a regional craft brewery that employs more than 200 people over an 19 state area, in addition to Puerto Rico and Washington DC. The dedication to brewing flavorful, unfiltered, quality craft beers that started in 1985 is still with us today. We currently brew over 20 beers for distribution as well as many other small batch beers that are served at our pub in Kalamazoo, the Eccentric Cafe. Our ongoing goal is to brew thoughtfully, creatively and artistically. We strive to bring an authentic and pleasant experience to all of our customers through our unique ales and beers. For more information, please visit bellsbeer.com.
You can also find Bell's on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr and foursquare.


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Jean-Michel Cousteau
The Great Ocean Adventure
Drawing from over 40 years of experience exploring the world, designing, and studying the ocean realm, environmental speaker Jean-Michel Cousteau provides a wealth of stories and knowledge from his adventurous life. Using his experiences designing artificial floating islands, schools, and environmentally responsible ocean-oriented resorts, Cousteau explains how his formal education in architecture provided him with the theories he has applied to the environment of the water as an oceanographer. Taking audiences on a tour of his childhood dreams of underwater cities to the reality of his accomplished career as an architect, Cousteau's "Great Ocean Adventure" inspires the imaginations and dreams of all who witness it.
The Sustainable Future: Preserve the Oceans, Protect Ourselves
As the founder of the Ocean Futures Society, a marine conservation and education organization, Jean-Michel Cousteau inspires and educates audiences worldwide about the need to act responsibly and preserve the fragile underwater ecosystems that are so intricately tied to all life on earth. Cousteau, who is also on the cutting edge of environmentally responsible architecture, documents the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrates the ocean's vital importance to our survival.
To book Jean-Michel Cousteau for a speaking engagement please send us an email.
General Bio
Coming Soon
Donate to Two Futures Society
Yes! I want to support the field work, projects and mission of Jean-Michel Cousteau and the OFS team. Make a tax-deductible donation now!
Become a Member
Yes! Sign me up for a free membership!


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My dad winces bodily when ideas bother him. His eyes crinkle and the skepticism travels down his crow's feet, tightening the corners of his mouth. It's happening now as I watch him in the rear-view mirror, his tension radiating to press against the lull of the highway as I wait, expectant. Although it feels longer, […]
Tag: Young Americans for Freedom
Materials Stolen at Event on Censorship
The theft, presumably by protesters, seemingly confirmed to theme of the event: the threat of liberal censorship.
9/11: Never Forget Project Contested on U of M Diag
For the past few years, the Young Americans for Freedom at the University of Michigan have placed 2,977 flags on the Diag as part of the Young America's Foundation 9/11: Never Forget Project.


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Gamescom, we couldn't help but snap a pic. For those who aren't so lucky, there is now an app available on the the Facebooks that will do such a thing for you.
2K Games has put out the Claptrap Photobomb App on Facebook. It allows one to put Borderlands' mouthy robot into any photo – the app can also take immediate webcam pics. Uploading the photo to 2K will enter budding photojournalists into a contest to win an "ultimate loot chest," but the contest is available to US residents only. Shame we can't submit ours then.


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After 11 months, a small bounce in servicesWednesday, June 04, 2014 l Source: Livemint
The HSBC India Composite Index came in at 50.7 in May, indicating a growth in the private sector activity from the previous month. The increase in output, the first in three months, came on the back of the first expansion in the services sector in 11 months.
It means that after contracting for 11 months, the services sector expanded a bit in May. The business environment continues to be fragile. "The latest increase in activity was only marginal and weak in the context of historical data," the report from Markit Economics said.
"Divergent trends were seen at the sub-sector level, with only post and telecommunication, and renting and business activities registering higher output." That said, there has been a slight rise in new orders in both the services and manufacturing sectors.
The pace of increase in the output prices sub-indices was also slight, indicating lack of pricing power among firms and lower inflation.
Manas Chakravarty


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I recently came across one of the more shocking charts I have seen in quite a while. FlowingData compiled figures from the Bureau of Labor's 2016 Consumer Expenditure Survey on how different income groups spend their hard-earned money. They then fashioned this data into several fascinating graphs. First, the breakdown of annual spending by income group:
Two quick things to note here: 1) Take a look at the average total spending per year for each income group at the bottom of the chart. For lower income groups, they have to borrow money just to make ends meet. 2) Lower income groups spend a higher percentage of income to cover basic necessities: housing, foods, transportation, health care. Which leads to what I'll call the "obvious shocker":
Notice the enormous discrepancy between what higher and lower income groups are able to save or count on for retirement. Obviously, it makes sense that higher income households are able to sock away more money for retirement. However, the gap here is cavernous. An average of $29,800 annually for the highest income group compared to $500 for the lowest income group. You'll also noticed the figures drop fairly steeply as you move down the income range.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2016 U.S. median household income was $57,617. In addition, a report last year from the National Institute on Retirement Security found that "about half of households age 55 and older have no retirement savings" and "when all households are included – not just households with retirement accounts – the median retirement account balance is $2,500". Take a look again at the above charts. Houston, we have a problem.
There are all sorts of issues that can be debated based on this data – from growing wealth inequality to the costs of housing and healthcare. But the lack of retirement savings is an issue with profound societal implications. What happens as a larger percentage of our country can't afford to meet basic needs in retirement? What happens if the strain of a growing government debt burden further reduces retirement income via cutbacks in Social Security? If retirees don't have money to spend, what happens to our economy?
I certainly don't have all of the answers, but it's time to start talking about the problem.


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Is That Charity Street Canvasser Legit?
Armed with a clipboard and a mission, these fundraisers are after donors, and their dollars, working for a variety of charities with missions ranging from environmental sustainability to equality to eliminating hunger.
And while most people wouldn't give their wallet to a stranger on the street, many people give these strangers their personal and financial information. But it's not always wise -- or for the benefit of humankind.
Not What They Appear
One of the most visible of these charities is Children International, with a mission to help children in poverty. But the people blocking sidewalks in CI shirts aren't volunteers or even Children International staff members -- they're employees of DialogueDirect, a corporate fundraiser whose only client is Children International.
When asked how donors could know their information was safe when giving to a street team member, Felicity von Suck, a client services manager, replied, "All of the information comes into our office and is locked up overnight. We then scan it over an encrypted line and Children's International is the only one who can decrypt it."
Asked about the safety of the information before it reaches the DialogueDirect office, von Suck replied, "We conduct background checks on everyone we hire. If we've hired someone, and their background check comes back with a felony or misdemeanor or something that appears like that person is prone to fraudulent behavior, we don't send them out."
But there have been cases, such as the one in San Jose in February, where individuals collecting for a charity have no affiliation with them.
Sakshi Jain, an IT communications professional in Washington, D.C., says the potential for scams doesn't stop her from giving, but it does make her careful. "I ask a lot of questions if I am not familiar with the charity or stick to organizations I know; there are too many false charities nowadays that prey on the generosity of others."
A New Model of Fundraising
Matt Wolcott of the Student Conservation Association, or SCA, which places people of all ages in service on public lands, says that face-to-face fundraising can be effective when done properly.
Wolcott says street teams can serve another purpose. Street canvassers are usually young, well-spoken, and dynamic, and most important, passionate about their causes. "Street canvassers can work as great ambassadors of the mission and the organization," he says. "Professional fundraising is really struggling to attract young, professional talent. A good face-to-face fundraiser would make a fantastic development officer with a little more training and skill."
Cut Out the Middleman
Still want to give to a street canvasser? Know the charity, and whether the person collecting is a staff member or works for a third party. The heart of these campaigns is soliciting recurring donations, so make sure that what's on the receipt has been mutually agreed upon. Also, check the donor number on the receipt against the charity's website to confirm that your money has been received.
To ensure the bulk of charitable dollars go directly to the cause, donate via the organization's website or through its direct-mail campaign. This will minimize risk of fraud, and truly will help save the children -- and keep a few other kids off the streets.
Motley Fool contributor Molly McCluskey spent eight years managing communications for nonprofit organizations. None of her former employers, including the Student Conservation Association, used corporate fundraisers during her tenure.
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