Auckland local boards fund annual event to create a more climate-resilient community

Last Saturday's Convergence event in Ōwairaka Park marked the start of the Albert-Eden and Puketāpapa Eco Festival.

The annual Eco Festival hosts more than 200 events that connect people to climat-change solutions within their neighbourhoods.

One of the organisers from the Puketāpapa Climate Action Group, Dom Ross, said the event helped people connect to where they lived.

“[People] want to take care of their place by connecting to where they live through our cycle paths," they said.

The Convergence event kicked off with a guided bike ride of more than 80 people, who rode to the event to encourage people to use cycle paths.

Organiser Vic Segedin said it was great to see so many people from various parts of the city using bikes to get to the event.

Mount Roskill Bike Hub organised bike games with spot prizes to teach children safe cycling skills.

Local board members and councillors spoke to locals about the importance of continuing to fund climate-friendly events to bring people together.

Puketāpapa board member Rowan Cant said: “Climate resilience is about general resilience, so the opportunity for neighbourhoods to come together means that when there are climate events like flooding, the neighbourhood know each other.”

Councillor Julie Fairey said knowing your neighbours was a key part of creating climate resilient communities.

“Something like this that brings people together, brings children together . . .  is really valuable,”she said.

Wellesley Primary School brought a "bike blender" to make smoothies that could raise money for the school.

The event focused on using sustainable practices and 95 per cent of waste generated was turned into a new resource.

The stage was powered by a battery bank and any waste generated by the event was managed by sustainable waste service Xeroe Waste.

The event included live performances from Songwriters 4 Climate Action and local cultural groups.

Songwriters 4 Climate Action is an Auckland-based project in which artists spread awareness about climate change.

Volunteers from Mount Albert School's Interact club helped run a raffle for the event.

Mount Albert school volunteer, Nithila said: “The event is a clever idea. It encourages people to be more eco-friendly and use public transport a bit more.”

The Eco Festival will be running until April 19, with events ranging from clothing swaps to composting workshops.

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