Sustainability Options

200 people. Six parties. One big conversation about te taiao.

Six party representatives came together with our community to share their party policies on the environmental challenges and opportunities facing Aotearoa.

There was plenty to listen to, think about and take away. We loved seeing so many people in the room show up and engage in the conversation.

This event was made possible by six organisations coming together as part of the Climate Action Festival: Envirohub Bay of Plenty, Tiwaiwaka Aotearoa, Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital, Bay Conservation Alliance and Sustainability Options. A big thank you to everyone involved.

Different organisations, different areas of mahi, but a shared belief that what we do today matters for the generations that come after us.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, to the six candidates for being willing to have the conversation.

It was a good reminder of the value of getting people together, making space to listen, and having the conversations that matter.

🌿 GREEN DRINKS | OCTOBER 29th

This month we are joined by Kat Macmillan, Chair of SAFE, who will share the work SAFE is doing working towards ending animal suffering, as well as exploring the connections between animal agriculture, our environment and human health.

Join us to discuss three big questions:

🐄 Are animals at the centre of the polycrisis?
🌱 Could the New Zealand economy thrive without intensive animal agriculture?
🥗 Could human health benefit from transforming the food system?

With animal agriculture linked to significant environmental impacts across Aotearoa, from greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater degradation to land use, this will be a thought-provoking conversation about the systems that shape our food, our environment and our future.

Come along, grab a drink, and join the kōrero.

📅 Thursday 29 October 2026
⏰ 5.30–7pm
📍 Basestation, 148 Durham Street, Tauranga (Downstairs in the Babbage Space)

🎟️ Free to attend — registration required:
Register for Green Drinks here: https://events.humanitix.com/green-drinks-alhgtj49

Everyone is welcome!

🚲🏃 Spring is here… now we can hopefully start leaving some of those layers at home!

Some of the team have been biking, running and walking to work to make the most of the warmer, longer days.

As spring arrives, it's a great time to think about swapping the car for a bike, walk or bus when you can. 🌱

Less traffic, fewer emissions and a bit more movement in your day. 💚

🏠 Everyone deserves a warm, dry, healthy home.

A few weeks ago, we shared a petition calling for changes to New Zealand’s rental compliance system, including independent certification and regular compliance checks for rental properties.

We wanted to share it again because it’s a conversation we think is worth continuing.

Through our work across the Bay of Plenty, our team sees firsthand the difference that a warmer, drier and healthier home can make for whānau.

The Healthy Homes Standards are an important step towards improving the quality of rental homes. We also believe there is value in considering how we can strengthen the systems that support those standards and give renters confidence that they are being met.

The petition is calling for independent certification and regular compliance audits as one possible way to do this.

If this is something you are interested in, you can read more about the petition and add your voice here:

👉 https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/require-independent-healthy-homes-certification-and-regular-compliance-audits-for-rental-properties

Every signature helps show that healthy homes matter to our communities. 💚

Require independent Healthy Homes certification and regular compliance audits for rental properties In New Zealand, too many people live in cold, damp and mouldy rental homes despite the Healthy Homes Standards. Poor housing affects health, education, employment and wellbeing, while also placing avoidable costs on families and the wider health system. A healthy home should not depend on how confid...

What would it take to fund the future we want?

How we structure our tax system has a significant impact on our communities, our economy and our ability to respond to challenges such as climate change.

This Thursday, Better taxes for a Better Future is hosting Funding Our Future in Tauranga — a practical workshop exploring how better taxes could help fund the things that matter, including schools and hospitals, climate action and a just transition.

The workshop will look at:

💡 The problems with our current tax system and some practical solutions

💬 How to have constructive conversations about tax and bring people along

🌱 How communities can help build support for changes to our tax system

It’s a topic that connects closely with the broader questions we think about at Sustainability Options: what does a fair, sustainable and flourishing future look like — and how do we create the systems to support it?

If tax, sustainability and the future of our economy are topics you’re interested in, this could be a worthwhile conversation to be part of.

📅 Thursday 3 September
⏰ 5:30–7:30pm
📍 Basestation, 148 Durham Street, Tauranga
🍽️ Kai, inu and good vibes provided

Everyone is welcome, but spaces are limited.

Find out more and RSVP: www.bettertaxes.nz/fof_tauranga

Another great Green Drinks! 🥂

Last Thursday we headed beneath the surface of our oceans for an evening exploring the impact of bottom trawling on Aotearoa’s moana.

We were joined by local Tauranga resident Kate Graeme, President of Forest & Bird’s National Board, who unpacked what bottom trawling means for our marine ecosystems, from the scale of the practice in New Zealand to the impacts it can have on the health of our oceans.

With around 68% of New Zealand’s fish caught using bottom trawling, there was plenty to discuss: Is this practice truly sustainable? What does it mean for our marine environment here in the Bay of Plenty? And what alternatives might be possible?

As always, it was an evening full of thoughtful conversation, curiosity and connection, and a great reminder of the importance of understanding what’s happening beneath the surface.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for another thought-provoking Green Drinks!

We’re pretty proud of our kaimahi Lee! 🌿

Lee has been recognised with the Emerging Leader Award from the New Zealand Green Building Council - NZGBC - recognising someone who has made a significant contribution and impact early in their career.

Lee has played a big part in establishing our 20 Degrees healthy housing programme, developing our customer relationship management system and helping build the way we measure our impact.

Lee spoke about something we care deeply about: making healthy, efficient homes accessible to everyone. That means finding more affordable ways to retrofit the homes we already have, while also building new homes that last, use less energy and are affordable to live in.

Well done Lee – this award is very deserved! 👏

Find out more about the mahi our team is doing at Sustainability Options: sustainabilityoptions.org.nz/current-projects/

Healthy Homes FREE workshop coming soon! Hosted by Merivale Community Centre . 🙏

We think that education is a really important tool in improving Aotearoa's housing conditions.

Our workshop will focus on upskilling attendees with easy-to-action tips for creating a warmer, drier whare.

Details below:
📅Wednesday 26 August, 1-2:30pm
📍Merivale Community Centre, 10 Kesteven Ave, Merivale

A huge thanks to Powerco for their sponsorship towards our Healthy Homes Workshops, we are so grateful! 🙏

All are welcome - we'd love to see you there!😊

Six parties, one important conversation 🗨️

Addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and biosecurity threats has never been more urgent for Aotearoa. Ahead of this year's general election, join us for a free community event where representatives from six political parties share their views on the environment.🌱🏞️

This is not a debate. One representative from each of the six confirmed parties will respond, in their own words, to the same three set questions covering environmental policy, long-term funding, and how parties plan to work together beyond election cycles.

The remaining time will address themes raised through the questions you submit at registration, so the kaupapa reflects what matters most to our community, not just the parties on stage.

Whoever you're planning to vote for, this is a genuine opportunity to listen, gain insight, and inform your voting decision.🗳️

Event details👇

📅 When: Thursday 17 September 2026. Doors open 5.00pm, nibbles on arrival, formalities begin 5.30pm.
📍Where: The Cargo Shed, Tauranga.
FREE - registration essential.

Proudly co-hosted by Envirohub Bay of Plenty, Tiwaiwaka Aotearoa, Bay Conservation Alliance, Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust, Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital and Sustainability Options.

Register now to secure your place:
🔗https://events.humanitix.com/election-special-bop-climate-action-festival-2026