The Climate Justice working group continues to seek knowledge and advice to support Te Hahi as we start our 10-year journey of 2023 - 2033 of Climate Justice. What are you, your household, your congregation your Synod doing to claim justice for our environment?

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, Engari he toa takitini.

My strength is not as an individual but as a collective.

What is the Spirit saying to us as we journey through this ongoing and intensifying challenge of climate? How can we adapt and change in the face of all this rapid change to our landscape and environment? As we reflect and engage in conversation with one another, how can we support one another and learn together?

Ngahuru Autumn, is the season for harvest, a time of turning leaves, cooling temperatures and darkening nights. As we witness nature’s changes, we as Kaitiaki of the whenua must make decisions around our response to rapid environmental changes.

Ecclesiastes 3, shares with us, “There is a time for everything. Time to observe, time to listen and time for action. Now is the time to act, step up, and continue our role as stewards of our whenua, our land, and our environment.

This is a year for laying foundations; facilitating conversation and fostering enthusiasm and commitment to engage and act. Many of our parishes, rohe and Synods are already well informed and taking action. We encourage all individuals, aiga, rohe, committees, and congregations to:

Reduce (most preferred option), Reuse & Recycle.

Let’s take a leap into an unknown space as we adapt, and embrace new learnings, awareness and conversations around the seasons:

Autumn - Ngahuru, Spring - Koanga, Summer – Raumati, Winter - Makariri.

The seasons offer the ripe potential for theological reflection, study resources, worship and first action steps. Seasonal happenings and changes in the natural world can deepen our understanding of Zero Waste. Creation and nature don’t ‘do’waste! It is an alien concept when we think ecologically. We encourage Te Hahi to connect with nature and to learn from it.

Some 2023 Environment Days for you to consider and engage in:

Ø June 5 World Environment Day

Ø June 16 World Refill Day (to avoid plastic pollution)

Ø July Plastic-Free July

Ø September Second-Hand September (buy second-hand)

Ø Sept 19 World Clean-Up

Ø Sept 29 Day of Awareness of Food Loss & Waste

Ø Nov 24 Buy Nothing’ Day

We welcome your ideas, stories, and feedback. Please email marionhines@xtra.co.nz