Sustainable Lens
Resilience on Radio
being better at imagining better

Samuel Mann with Nandor Tanczos [ 57:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Nándor Tánczos describes himself as a Dad, social ecologist, educator, permaculturalist and a Whakatāne District Councillor. Others describe him as New Zealand’s first Rastafarian MP and one our our first Green MPs. We talk about what drives him, how he became socially active (radicalised in Darlington!), his new project – social permaculture, and our […]

building earth

Samuel Mann with Louise Shaw [ 49:24 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Louise Shaw describes herself as an earthbuilder, a teacher, a gardener, a mother (and new grandmother). She and her family live near Whakatane where we talk about building soil and regenerating ecological systems. We need to change our view of capital, a bigger picture, a longer picture – soil is our capital, we need […]

Living within system limits

Samuel Mann with Morgan Williams [ 58:14 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Dr Morgan Williams is Chair of the Cawthron Foundation, is on the NZ international councils of the WWF, the National Energy Trust. We discuss his background in ecological systems science, from Antarctica to Fiji, and from North Canterbury farm through being the second Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to his ongoing work. Talking points […]

inadvertent ecological engineer

Samuel Mann with Kelly Hughes [ 58:52 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Kelly Hughes of ATS-Environmental describes himself as a inadvertent ecological engineer. With baffles, ramps, ropes and fish-friendly flood gates, Kelly is reconnecting waterways around the world. Talking points Solving problems with technology The ecological world came to me with a problem – all I could hear was excuses. Creating environments where fish can move […]

Painting is my language
art

Samuel Mann with Jo St Baker [ 56:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Jo St Baker is an award winning visual artist. We talk about the golden thread that runs through First Wave, Resilience: Land Sea Transition and works including Turtle Alaia, Wall of Perpetual Momentum, the various modalities of Requiem (Paddle Out) and the Surfing Sandman. Common to all this is an exploration of light and movement and water. […]

Getting things done

Samuel Mann with Bill Clark [ 58:04 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
It seems everyone in the Eastern Bay of Plenty has a good word about Bill Clark and his many hats. He is a conservationist, entrepreneur, author, the energy behind the Onepu Community Recreation Park and the restoration of the Tumurau Lagoon, and is a Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor. Talking points If you want […]

Rethinking conflict

Samuel Mann with Tracy Scott [ 59:36 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Tracy Scott is a conflict consultant. We talk about how her goal is to providing opportunities and processes for collaborative positive change. R This conversation was recorded in Christchurch shortly before the tragic mosque shootings. Tracy describes how the moment of conflict isn’t positive but what can happen because of the conflict that can […]

Waste not

Samuel Mann with Lisa Eve [ 54:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Lisa Eve is a waste management consultant at Eunomia Research and Consulting. We talk about her background – how she became a specialist in waste, and why it is so important. Helping people to make a real difference in their lives. The oil industry successfully found a way to get rid of waste portions […]

food that does not cost the earth

Samuel Mann with Alex Davies [ 54:31 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Alex Davies is chef and owner of Gatherings, a Christchurch restaurant specialising in  locally gathered and seasonal fare. We talk about his approach to food that is based on being considerate and in understanding the role of sharing. This is the future of food, it has to be, there is no other option Engaging with the seasons Superpower: I […]

Celebration of people and place

Samuel Mann with Vance Pascua and Jon Ching [ 58:26 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
We talk with Jon Ching, farm manager of Kauai Coffee Company, and Vance Pascua, owner of Ainofea Productions. We talk about how a seed to cup estate and the Ainofea (I no fear) philosophy both come from a positive place of celebration of the people and place of Kauai’i. It’s about passion This is what […]

Every student can make a difference

Samuel Mann with Graham Henton [ 58:41 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Graham Henton is an inspirational Enviro Science Teacher at Whakatane Intermediate School, in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. We talk about his background, his approach to teaching and the restoration of the Awatapu lagoon and why he loves what he is doing. Talking points What a difference a child can make Every child – […]

Food sovereignty

Samuel Mann with Toi Iti [ 57:47 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Toi Kai Rākau Iti is of Tūhoe, Waikato and Te Arawa decent. An actor and documentary maker, he is back home in Tūhoe working with his community, Hāpu and Iwi. We talk about food sovereignty – agroecological regenerative systems which intersect western horticultural science with traditional Tūhoe ecological knowledge and practice. Talking points Transitioning […]

Learning from rongoā Māori

Samuel Mann with Rob Whitbourne [ 58:41 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Dr Rob Whitbourne works in conservation in Whakatāne. We talk about how he came to be involved in conservation and how this is driven by Rongoā Māori medicine. (note: We apologise for the sound quality of this conversation, the main recorder failed, so this is the back-up. All hail the back-up). Talking points Always […]

Zero-waste textile practitioner

Samuel Mann with Fiona Clements [ 55:07 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Fiona Clements of Senorita Awesumo and Sustainable Dunedin City describes the many challenges of the clothing industry – not least of these that it is a business model that relies on changing fashions. She describes social injustice, water use, manufacturers’ waste (call it what it is – wasted resource). But rather than complaining, she […]

Food systems whisperer

Finn Boyle variously describes himself as a compost nerd”, a “food philosophy explorer” and a “yeast whisperer”. Realising the question of “what am I eating?” took him down a rabbit hole, Finn saw that he needed to change the world and that his lever was food systems design. He embarked on a food design degree […]

Samuel Mann with Finn Boyle [ 57:26 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Transforming education

Samuel Mann with Paul LeBlanc [ 58:05 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Dr Paul LeBlanc is President of Southern New Hampshire University. He says his goal (and that of SNHU) is making the world a better and more just place – one learner at a time. And how they are doing it, at scale. We talk about the social justice underpinnings for College for America, and […]

Giving back to restore

Alyth Grant retired from an academic job teaching German and has launched into a retirement role with the Orokonui Ecosanctuary.  She tells us that the sanctuary is about protecting an ecosystem, it’s not a zoo.

Samuel Mann with Alyth Grant [ 53:56 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Talking points It felt like this was my opportunity to give back to what I’d always loved doing It […]

Social justice management framework

Bonnie Robinson is exploring the intersection of social justice and management.  She is drawing on a career in social services and putting it into practice in her role as Chief Executive of HBH Senior Living, focussing on meeting the needs of vulnerable older people.

Samuel Mann with Bonnie Robinson [ 56:58 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Talking points: Change comes about from change at systemic level You […]