The importance of ‘leadership’ in environmental governance

For those who missed it, here is a link to the interview about Beyond Manapouri with Kathryn Ryan, Radio New Zealand, in which we discuss the critical importance of free and frank advice and national leadership in environmental governance:

Beyond Manapouri, 50 years of environmental politics

Aratiatia Rapids Clive Madge
Aratiatia Rapids (below Aratiatia Dam) on the Waikato River. Clive Madge

In this interview, Catherine Knight examines the catalogue of missed opportunities since the birthplace of the Manapouri environmental movement. Her new book, ‘Beyond Manapouri: 50 years of environmental politics in New Zealand’ is particularly critical of the lack of political leadership in the last 25 years. Catherine Knight is an Honorary Research Associate at the School of People, Environment and Planning at Massey University.

‘Reader’ reaction to “Beyond Manapouri”

“Beyond Manapouri” has arrived, and looks amazing!

… but that’s just my opinion, so I canvassed a number of individuals in my community to gauge their reaction to the book.

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News Release: Tackling reasons for New Zealand’s failure to address our biggest environmental issues

Beyond Manapouri coverA new book, Beyond Manapouri: 50 years of environmental politics in New Zealand,traces the history of environmental governance in Aotearoa New Zealand since the heady days of the 1969 Save Manapouri campaign and tackles the reasons for our failure to address our biggest environmental issues.

Dr Catherine Knight, an environmental historian, says her book – published by Canterbury University Press – suggests there are key cultural shifts New Zealanders need to make if real progress is to be made in the environmental sphere. Catherine draws on her own insights as a government ‘insider’ having worked at the coalface of environment policy for nine years.

“We’re on the cusp of significant shifts in our environment and our attitudes towards it – Continue reading

Are New Zealanders becoming more wasteful?

20 most wasteful countries in the world.pngEarlier this year it was revealed that New Zealand has become one of the worst in the world for the generation of waste. This is according to World Bank data, which ranks NZ has tenth worst of all countries surveyed for the generation of urban waster per capita (see map above). Continue reading