Open letter to Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Jacinda Ardern and Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Rt Hon. Trevor Mallard

Tēnā koe Jacinda Ardern, kōrua ko Trevor Mallard,
A mātou mihi o te wā Matariki ki a kōrua, rangatira mā

We protestors welcome your support of peaceful protest – and invite you to support a positive response to climate change. Parliament itself could help heal the planet! with a “tiny forest” of natives at one of the gates, nourished by biochar which promotes soil development while it sequesters carbon. This would bring birds from Zealandia right to Parliament.

The photos below are of the Nelson Biochar Forest which is a mere 100 square meters – the fastest growing plants have reached over 2 meters in height 14 months after planting.

The unnecessarily wide steps from the cenotaph to the beehive could give room for a tiny forest plantation; otherwise the sloping lawn near the upper gate from Molesworth St.

Attached below are some references on Miyawaki forests. Please give this urgent consideration – the planting season is upon us!

Nā mātou noa, nā,
Molly Melhuish, supported by Caz, Violet, Francesca, Sue, Mick, Paul, Tim, Kit

Microforests to heal the planet and cool the cities

New Zealand’s first microforest in Nelson demonstrates the advantages of planting trees and shrubs by the Miyawaki method in even tiny spaces.

Planted just 14 months ago on carefully prepared soil augmented by biochar, the tallest plants in the Nelson Microforest are now over 2 meters high. The canopy cover is already suppressing weeds, and after another year or two will require no maintenance at all.

The method was developed by Akiro Miyawaki in the 1970s, using all the species found in the natural forest on the soil and climate of a district.

It was quickly taken up by corporates such as Toyota, by Yokohama National University, and by many local bodies, to bring biodiversity to the cities and protect them from flood, tsunami, and fire:
https://morinoproject.com/english

Wellington needs an inner city green belt / block to promote biodiversity + human wellbeing
https://www.sustainablecities.org.nz/sites/default/files/2021-04/Adam-post-COVID-GS-presntn-P-29

In the Netherlands Tiny Forests has also taken off and is being planted with the help of school children. Our Children are our future.

https://www.ivn.nl/tinyforest/tiny-forest-worldwide/effects-tiny-forest

We would welcome planting the first forest at parliament together with young people and local iwi.

Manaaki whenua. Manaaki tangata. Hāere whakamua

Care for the land. Care for the people. Go forward.

Rewilding to Heal the Planet

FFF members went down to Motueka on 20 June to help Ollie Langridge with planting native trees. Ollie is one of the founding members of FFF Te Upoko o Te Ika, Wellington. Two years ago he bought 40 acres and he has put part of the land into QEII covenant to safe-guard it for perpetuity. Like many of us, he wants to do something to make a difference to heal the planet.

He is planting 3000 natives this planting season. Mollie Melhuish, Dolf van Asbeck and Francesca Pouwer helped plant over 600 trees in the 6 days that we were there. The total number of trees planted this season now tallies up to 2282!! Well on the way to the target of 3000. Ollie hopes to do this again next planting season. And we will be back. My partner Dolf and I, Francesca, were there in February as well to help repot seedlings. If you wish to volunteer send an email to ollie_langgridge@hotmail.com

Francesca and Molly in action
Looking back on what we planted
Ollie Langridge on the meditation deck he has built in one of the gullies that has remnants of native bush.

Planting native trees like Totara, Kauri, Miro and Rewarewa made us feel wholesome and at peace. It is so worthwhile to take positive action. It recharged our batteries and helps to keep us going to lobby corporations like Fonterra to make the change to sustainable methods of production.

One of the slides projected on building in Midland Park where Fonterra Wellington office is located.

On the way back home, we stopped off at a micro forest near Nelson. It is the first tiny forest in New Zealand based on the Miyawaki method that prepares the soil and plants the 3 layers of locally sourced native species really closely together. On average the trees grow 10 x faster than is normal for reforestation and it very quickly enhances biodiversity. By having these in urban spaces we stimulate rewilding, improve our air quality, cool our cities and we grow environmental awareness to stand up for what we stand on. In the Netherlands this method has really taken of and it involves school children to help plant them. There are now 200 tiny forests across the Netherlands.

Colin Davis at the forest planted with grant from Nelson City City Council and help of local community
The burner to create biochar using wood but any natural waste can be used to put at bottom , with clay and organic fertiliser on top.
Note how much the plants have grown in just over a year!
Dolf looking down on the phenomenal growth.

The trees you see were planted in April last year and some are as high as 2 metres. As it happens, the land owner next door planted at the same time and you can see in the picture belowthe plants are barely above the planting sleeves.

Trees on neighbouring section

We were most excited to see the results for ourselves.

Molly and I would like to start up micro forest in urban environments involving school students and local iwi as part of our FFF action to combat climate change and take positive action.

It has been a wonderful week and we came back inspired.

Francesca Pouwer and Molly Melhuish

In the news

At yesterday’s official reopening of Parliament grounds, our group huddled just outside the gate with our flags and signs. Our presence was noted by 1news and Stuff journalists, as well as the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Watch the 1News video

Read the Stuff article

Taken by 1News camera crew and Jessica Mutch-McKay

Next Friday we’ll be back at Midland Park to continue putting pressure on Fonterra about taking actual climate action (not just greenwashing on their website).

Parliament grounds official reopening. And Matariki.

There will be a public ceremony to reopen Parliament grounds on Thursday 23 June 12 noon till 1.30pm. Visit the Parliament website for more information.

Fridays for Future will be there – come join us! We will have e our flags and signs with us.

After the ceremony we will go to Midland Park to present Fonterra with a letter asking them to commit to reducing carbon emissions, nitrate pollution and methane emissions.

(And later that day – 5pm til 6pm – is our light show revealing Fonterra’s climate crimes.)

Also, we will not be protesting at Midland Park on Friday 24 June because it is the Matariki public holiday.

Climate Justice Potluck / Hui

The next Climate Justice potluck / hui is on 30 June at 5.30pm, at the Sustainability Trust.

Come and meet with fellow climate activists, share your mahi and your ideas for future actions. Bring some food to share.

Milking It! – Join us as we call on Fonterra to act on their crimes

Would you like to see shocking facts projected on the building Fonterra occupy?

Come along to the slide show of Fonterra’s crimes bright and large on their wall at Midland Park.

This Matariki, join us as we show Fonterra their crimes are visible to all. We want positive changes and action for the new year.

Where: On the building occupied by Fonterra, Midland Park

When : Thursday 23 June, 5pm – 6pm