Melissa Keys – the conscious consumer

Melissa Keys

Local organisation Conscious Consumers were recently described by the Herald as a “phenomenon,” as since only 2010 they have been helping to shape a better world in the NZ hospo industry by accrediting the good stuff that 300 cafes and restaurants do, and communicating that to 40 000 Conscious Consumers, who have signed up to support those businesses.

Melissa Keys is one of the backbones of the Conscious crew, and in this interview she talks about why she cares about the work she does and why she wants us to be part of their next revolutionary idea, the  – !

The Good Spend Counter will mean that more free range produce, fair-trade coffee and more local suppliers will be supported by our cafes. That can only be a good thing for our animals and our local economy and our environment, so yes please .

For more info www.countmein.nz,  only one week to go.

https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/3601

http://consciousconsumers.org.nz/

Jennifer Whitty – the space between

Space Between Image

 

The first time I heard that Massey lecturers Jenn Whitty and Holly McQuillan were creating a fashion range made of up-cycled  corporate uniform waste, I thought they had they had a huge job in front of them, but it seems they are up to so much more than that.
In this interview lecturer and designer Jenn Whitty talks about the label and concept for . ” We don’t have a waste problem, we have a design problem.”

Although Space Between are not showing, NZ Eco Fashion Week is kicking off it’s third year this week, so demand is certainly rising for less harmful but just as stylish fashion options.

http://spacebetween.ac.nz/

For more fashion that considers it’s environmental impact  http://www.ecofashionweek.nz/

Daniel Kinne – the fair trader

Daniel Fair Trade FortnightDaniel Kinne is a coffee farmer from the highlands of Papua New Guinea. He is also a founding member and the chairman, of the Highland Organic Agricultural Cooperative (HOAC) which includes 2600 farmers.

He is here to celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight, through and to share his stories on the impact we have on communities like his, when we buy Fair trade.

But what fascinates me, is that this man manages to get the 2600 farmers of this collective to make a decision together on how to spend the premiums ($ from their sales) for their community . Is he learning from us or are we learning from him?

 

Daniels coffee can be drunk at Kokako, available at Common Sense Organics and Esquires.

Wellington was the first Fair Trade City in New Zealand.

In 2013 New Zealanders spent $69.3 Million dollars on Fair Trade goods.

 

Geoff Marsland – the havana journey

Geoff At Havana cropped

 There is no denying the incredible influence  has had on making Wellington the coffee culture strong hold, as well as spring loading and inspiring many other cafe businesses around the country. This year  has achieved a massive milestone, leading the nations coffee revolution for 25 years. So to celebrate, founder and partner Geoff Marsland is about to launch a new book, telling the original Havana story. In this interview Geoff talks about his serendipitous journey from fish to fashion to coffee, what those early caffeine fueled days in Wellington were like and what might be next for the Godfather of coffee.

http://www.havana.co.nz/

Rose Mensah – fair trade inspiration

Rose Mensah

Rose Mensah, a cocoa bean farmer from Ghana came to Wellington to kick off Fair Trade Fortnight and share her story about how being in a fair trade co-op benefit’s her community.
Hearing her story lead me to ask Wellington fair trade stalwarts, Christian from Trade Aid , Matt and Kate from  and Rochelle from  about the effects on their suppliers and their products from committing their businesses to being fair trade.
I also chat to Pravin Sawmy of  about NZ’s astounding growth in Fair trade products is in just 9 years.