CANTA ISSUE 8, 2022

STRAWS canta.

The

terrifying motion picture ft. the ocean’s newest predator...

Editorial

We must take action now!

Emily Heyward (she/her)

I am sheepish to admit that up until very recently I have avoided thinking about climate change too much. Everytime I started researching more about the state of our climate and read news stories about how we have just years left to act before we enter a state of irreversible damage to the environment, I would be left with an overwhelming sense of dread and instead turn my attention to something more tolerable, like watching cat videos. What could I, one individual in Canterbury possibly do that would make any difference to the future of the planet, I would ask myself.

I know I’m not alone in this feeling of powerlessness. In fact, the New Zealand Psychological Society has acknowledged that climate change anxiety exists. Many people are experiencing what has been dubbed “eco-anxiety” - the chronic fear of environmental doom. Young people in particular are feeling the psychological impact of climate change.

For me, it has taken meeting my girlfriend, who studies how to make cities more resilient to climate change and who lives a largely sustainable life, for me to realise that even the decisions I make on a daily-basis matter. Yes, it would be incredible if those in positions of power around the world would wake up to the fact that we are in a climate emergency and commit to real change, now. And we should continue to lobby for change until they start to take it seriously.

But we also need to do our bit - whether that be cycling or catching the bus to uni instead of driving, using reusable cups when we order coffees instead of getting a single-use takeaway cup, or opshopping instead of purchasing new clothes when we want a new wardrobe. We all have a part to play in reducing our carbon-footprint and ensuring this place we call home is liveable for generations to come.

In this issue of CANTA, we have been lucky enough to collaborate with the passionate team at UC Sustainability who are committed to sharing their knowledge about how we can live more sustainable lives. We all know the state of the climate is dire, so we don’t need to remind you about it here. Instead we hope to offer you some practical tips on how you can make a difference in your day-to-day life. Hopefully, if we all begin to make small changes in our own lives, we will influence others to do so too. And maybe, just maybe, our politicians will follow suit.

Arohanui, dear reader. Take care of yourself and do your bit where you can.

PRESIDEN T’S PIECE

Pierce Crowley (he/him)

Hey everyone!

Hope the first two weeks on campus have gone smoothly. The weather hasn’t been too flash, but it is only getting better from here! And how good is it to be back into the swing of things.

Firstly, it is already that time – the UCSA Elections are coming soon! Nominations are now open – but you’ll need to get in quick – they close 12 noon this Thursday the 4th of August. I strongly recommend running. At this time last year, I was still tossing up whether I wanted to put my name forward, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Being on the executive has been extremely enriching experience. While it can be challenging at times, any challenge is outweighed by the things you learn, the people you help, and the connections you make into the future.

So run, you won’t regret it! Campaigning can be daunting, but it’s super fun and everyone is always really supportive. If you have some cool policy ideas, put them forward to the student body –one recommendation from me on this – make sure you check in and make sure you are running on things that actually relate to the role. You will want to make the most of your time on the exec, a year is such a short time in the scheme of things.

That being said, the UCSA staff are always down for a chat about these things, and I would recommend reaching out to current exec members to get a feeling for the job! And lastly, if you are on the fence, just go for it – it really is a win-win. If you are successful, great, but even if you aren’t, the experience is such a great learning exercise.

So yeah – very one note piece from me – but I really want to encourage as many people as possible to put their names forward – you will not regret it!

Stay warm and stay safe, see you all soon!

Pierce

TUMUAKI PIECE

Rosa Hibbert-Schooner (she/her)

We are all called to be kaitiaki!

As students, young people and leaders of tomorrow the responsibility of kaitiakitanga and practising sustainable ways of doing all things is a role for us all. In Te Ao Māori the whenua and Taiao are human and godlike. We must protect, listen to and work alongside the environment.

Do your best to look into sustainable ways you can do all the things you love!!

Here are some Whakataukī that talk about sustainability/environmental kōrero:

Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua. As people disappear from sight, the land remains.

My takeaway: land is the constant that we must protect.

He iti te mokoroa, nāna i kati te kahikatea. The mokoroa (grub) may be small, but it cuts through the Kahikatea.

My takeaway: small changes matter and small issues can affect the widespread.

He waka eke noa. A canoe which we are all in with no exception.

My takeaway: sustainable futures takes community efforts.

Toi tu te kupu, toi tu te mana, toi tu te whenua.

This proverb was spoken by Tinirau of Wanganui. It is a plea to hold fast to our culture, for without language, without mana (spirit), and without land, the essence of being a Maori would no longer exist, but be a skeleton which would not give justice to the full body of Maoritanga (maoridom).

news. cant a

ROE V. WADE RULING IN THE U.S. INCITES CONCERN IN AOTEAROA

Alex Carter (she/her)

“If they take away our abortion rights, I will give birth on the parliament steps” shared an anonymous student in response to Alex Carter’s survey on abortion in the UCSA Noticeboard.

On the 24th of June 2022, the 1970s case of Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion across the United States was overturned by the United States Supreme Court. Now, individual states may decide whether abortion is legal and accessible, or illegal.

This outcome is widely seen as a large setback of human rights, with protests seen across the globe.

Seventeen academic and general staff of Te Kaupeka Ture | UC Faculty of Law publicly condemned the decision, signing a statement shared online.

Rachael Evans, a Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at UC shared that due to her position within the university, herself and other law academics who signed the statement “are in a position of academic leadership, as critics and conscience of society, particularly when it comes to changes of the law and matters that affect the law”.

UC students are nervous about what this outcome may mean for Aotearoa, as we are a small western country, which can be highly influenced by the United States.

Some students shared on a recent survey that they are nervous about elections next year. “Several members of more rightwing parties in Aotearoa have made it clear that they value the lives of embryos over the livelihood of women in our country - as a woman I feel afraid seeing my right to bodily autonomy debated as just another ‘controversial issue’”, a student shared on the survey.

Due to political views of some of the National Party MPs and Simon O’Connor who tweeted on the 24th of June, “today is a good day”, students and lecturers are concerned for wellbeing. Yet National’s leader, Christopher Luxon, assured twitter users “that these laws will not be relitigated or revisited under a future national government, and these health services will remain fully funded.”

UC legal academics Cassandra Mudgway and Rachael Evans also shared the same concern as students. Further adding, that if National obtained enough seats in parliament that allow them to run the country as the leading party, this will give them an opportunity to erode some of our existing human rights laws, such as our abortion law and subsequently other human rights laws such as gay marriage etc.

“Human rights laws can be subject to change as these laws are not set in stone. The Abortion Law Reform Act 2020, for example, is ordinary statute that can be changed by subsequent Parliaments through bare majority” Cassandra and Rachel explain.

It is important that individuals who want and need an abortion are granted safe healthcare access. Rachael Evans shared a personal story where her mother needed an abortion to financially keep her family healthy and safe. Without this, Rachael may have ended up in state care, further supporting the fact that abortion should be accessible to families and people who need it in order to support themselves and others.

The University of Canterbury Health clinic are available for help should you need it.

news. cant a

CAMPAIGN FOR FAIR PAY FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION STAFF

Alex Carter (she/her)

The Tertiary Educators Union (TEU) is campaigning to increase the pay of all staff in the tertiary education sector across the country.

During the pandemic, tertiary education staff experienced significant changes to their workloads.

National Secretary Sandra Grey is overseeing the overall campaign across the tertiary education establishments. They decided action needed to be taken in 2021 when the pay increase was low in comparison to inflation and the stress of the pandemic

This campaign is the first in a decade to see all major collective tertiary providers come to an agreement, bargaining for a better pay cheque.

Issues arose at the beginning of the pandemic when staff were required to increase their workload with online classes and assignments, and coming onto site when staff weren’t comfortable. Their pay did not reflect the increase of work, as many workloads doubled due to online classes.

University staff over the last two years have found themselves only receiving a 1-1.5% pay increase.

“85% of staff who were surveyed reported to have a high level of stress due to the pandemic and workloads,” Ryan Dooley, a TEU member said.

Dooley said students can help their lecturers and other university staff during this campaign by engaging with and discussing the situation with their lecturers and other staff.

If events are held to support this campaign, students are encouraged to come along and show their support.

“Students have a lot of power and can help change the issue. It’s rough for educators to be the front facing for students during these hard times as lecturers are out-numbered by students,” Dooley said.

This campaign will be ongoing until the voices are heard, and action has been taken, Dooley said.

our New reality hits differeNt

FAKE UCSA NOTICEBOARD

aCCept your fate, sweetie

SORT YOUR SHIT OUT!

UC SUSTAINABILITY

Did you know UC conducts regular waste audits, so we know exactly what is going into our bins?

These audits provide an understanding of what the issues are in our four campus waste streams:

31% of waste in recycling is REMOVED before the bin is recycled!

61% of waste in landfill could go in OTHER BINS!

They also help us realise when the wrong stuff is going into the wrong bins, and what we can do about it.

Chloe Sutton (she/her)

Now, I bet you are all wondering how we are doing! Well… 2021’s waste audit showed that:

61% of landfill could have been correctly diverted into

78% of compostable packaging is being disposed to landfill rather than to the compostable packaging bins

WASTE STREAMS OTHER 2/3

Organics are making up 1/3 of landfill, with a further 15% being compostable packaging items that could have easily been diverted.

Our campus is only diverting of recycling by WEIGHT

OF ORGANICS ITEMS TO ALL STREAMS (%)

Oh damn… so… not that great… Pretty much, what this is saying is that we really need to sort our shit out, and make sure we:

1. Take a minute to read the bin signage to figure out what bin is best for your waste. Go through your items one by one and remember: Landfill should be your last resort!

2. Be a climate champion and keep organics out of landfill. It’s estimated 4% of NZ’s total greenhouse gas emissions are from food and organic waste – yikes! All food scraps, leftovers and organics materials must go into the green organics bin.

3. Please use the blue compostable takeaway packaging bins for any takeaway packaging from campus cafes (like coffee cups, bamboo cutlery, cardboard trays and boxes etc). This stuff won’t ‘break down’ anywhere else, and it cannot be recycled in Aotearoa.

4. Any conversation about waste really needs to be about reducing it in the first instance. Have a wee ponder about how you can reduce it in your life, and chat to your friends about what they are doing. If you need some inspo, we recommend following @plasticfreejulyaotearoa, @ethicallykate, @therubbishtrip, and @ucsustain (obvs) on the gram.

CLIMATE

CRISIS?

Matt Morris and

Tony

Sellin

We are facing a convergence of sustainability crises, but probably none are more urgent than the climate crisis. It’s essential that global carbon emissions are reduced immediately to protect the vestiges of a stable climate.

In Aotearoa, we’re seeing a host of new policy measures come through that are aiming to ensure we can meet our Paris Accord commitments at a national level. For many, the changes are a step too far (e.g., controls on high emissions vehicles, or the current investment in expanding high quality cycle networks). The reality is we need all these and more if we are to have a shot at maintaining a liveable future. We’re beyond claims of scaremongering; the science is irrefutable.

so, what is uC doiNg to ComBat Climate ChaNge aNd reduCe emissioNs?

Since 2010 we have been measuring and managing our emissions. In our first ten years of doing this work, the university reduced its emissions by 23% by improving the efficiency of our buildings’ HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, lighting and control. This is just the beginning of our journey to becoming carbon net neutral by 2030. It seems like too far away put like that, but most of the savings will be made in the next two years.

It helps to understand what our carbon emissions profile actually looks like. Around half of our emissions in a normal pre-Covid year come from burning coal to heat our buildings. A further third of our emissions come from air travel. The remaining 20% or so come from a mixture of smaller sources like refrigerants, electricity (some is gas fired), various gases used in research and teaching, taxis, hotels and other odds and ends.

We have decided to prioritise and focus on the largest emissions sources first. After years of planning, coal will be phased out by 2025, leading to an immediate elimination of practically half of our emissions. Initially the Ilam boiler plant will be shifting to biomass (woodchip), whilst work is done to improve the campus buildings’ thermal performance. The remaining buildings will be converted to renewable energy. More specifically, this will be carbon neutral Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) technology, which uses the underground aquifers to absorb heat, or as a source of heat. Some buildings are already on GSHP tech: Garden Halls, Haere-roa, the Health Centre and soon Ernest Rutherford.

Next is the tricky question of air travel. This is something all universities in New Zealand and Australia are struggling with. We are at the edge of the world and yet our mission requires us to be fully integrated with the rest of the globe. Closed borders have taught us a lot about how we can operate without travel. There were limits, we learned. We do not propose to eliminate air travel, but it does need to be reduced. We believe it needs to be halved by 2030, or 5% per annum from 2020.

Despite all our efforts, we will still emit greenhouse gases. This last residual bit –we think it’ll be around 6,000 tonnes p/a – will need to be soaked up with offsets. Only we are planning to use trees on our own lands to do this, so, ‘insetting’. We will know next year whether this is feasible and how best to achieve this. If we can’t inset, we’ll have to purchase offsets.

If you’d like more info on any of this, please email me at matt.morris@ canterbury.ac.nz.

It’s time to get THRIFTY

Tilly King

Sustainable fashion – what is it and how can we achieve it? Well, being sustainable with the clothes that we wear comes down to our consumption of clothing. If we reduce the number of clothes we buy, and the number of clothes we throw out, then we are practising sustainable fashion – also known as slow fashion!

Slow fashion in practise looks like thrifting what you need and repairing and reusing what you have - big yes to outfit repeating! If you needed to buy new, you’d shop from ethical labels. It doesn’t look like the fast-fashion impulse purchases (I see you Shein shoppers), and especially none of the “wear once, throw away” items.

So, what's an ethical label? The ethical-ness of a label is determined by the conditions in which the garments are produced, and the environmental and social responsibility of the company.

Are the workers treated & paid fairly? Where and how are the materials sourced? Are the practices of the company moral and ethical? These are big questions to ask, and we don’t expect you to ask every shop assistant these big topics.

Instead, there are a bunch of resources available to compare different labels, such as Tearfund’s yearly fashion report. With this report it's easy to shop ethically, for our planet and its people!

We all know that shopping ethically can be a lot more expenny. Especially as a broke uni student, it can be a lot easier to just wait for the next Glassons sale and checkout a cart full of dun dun… fast fashion. Well, there's an alternative: op-shopping! Not only is op-shopping cheap (think of corduroy flares for $5, vintage tees for $3!!), second-hand goods are often longer lasting and better quality.

But why is this important?

It’s estimated that Aotearoa New Zealand sends between 100,000 to 200,000 tons of textile waste to landfills per year! I’ve tried to think of a way to put that number into context, but it’s just such a huge amount! Oh, and textiles account for 10% of global emissions!

So, before you make your next purchase, maybe have a think: Do I really need this? Will I wear it more than once? Has it been made ethically? Could I instead repair or reuse something that I already own? Ōtautahi has heaps of awesome op-shops, a repair community (checkout Repair Revolution on FB), and some great ethical fashion stores too!

n It’s about damn time n we start shopping slow and sustainably! If you need any more ethical fashion inspo, my faves on Instagram are @ Danni___Duncan and @EthicallyKate!

That's all from me! Happy thrifting!

almoNd:

• You’re a thirsty gal. Interpret that however you want, you just take a lot of water to make.

• Needy.

• Some would say that you take things a lil too personally.

soy:

• Old school, you’re definitely doing post grad right now.

• You’ve got a lot of oestrogen in ya so you’ve probably got a high libido.

• You’re probably not dairy free, because if you were you would choose a better option.

oat:

• You’re the best. Hands down.

• You probably own 6+ hoodies and rarely wash them.

• You’ll happily eat a bowl of cereal at any point in the day.

CoCoNut:

• The Body Shop is your favourite place in Riccarton Mall. You never actually buy anything though, you’re just a tester fiend.

• Rarotonga is your favourite holiday destination.

• You’re definitely one to get a ratchet ass sunburn in summer but do it anyway because you’ll be tanned for two days afterwards. Worth it.

hemp:

• You went to Twisted Frequency or camped for the last New Years.

• Spiritual queen, you probably own a pack of tarot cards.

• The smell of incense does not make you want to vomit.

riCe:

• You’re a bit of a wild card.

• You happily played the role of being a horse girl in primary school.

• You definitely had a Panic! At the Disco and Arctic Monkeys phase.

GREEN WASHING

Matthew Caro (he/him)

The word sustainability is so ubiquitous it’s useless. I’ve heard one of my mates tell me his ketamine usage on a night out was sustainable - not too much as to throw him into the hole, but enough to keep him floating in the clouds. He was wrong.

The over and misuse of the word sustainability is a part of a bigger problem: greenwashing.

What is greenwashing? It is the act of making an organisation appear more environmentally friendly than they actually are.

As consumers increasingly demand products and services that minimise their environmental impact, companies are feeling pressure to compete in the eco market. Whilst many have noble intentions, peel back the green paint and you can reveal a mass of sham promises and pledges.

The term greenwashing has been used to label fraudulent marketing ploys since the 1980s when hotels urged customers to not wash their towels after one use. They highlighted how much water would be saved, nature’s most precious resource. The real driver? Saved laundry costs and little to no water savings.

The trouble with identifying which companies live up to their advertising slogans and which ones don’t is frustratingly complex.

A company can distort the facts to present a compelling sales pitch to the ecoconscious purchaser in many ways.

Words that people associate with the environmentthink natural, organic, eco-friendly, sustainable etc. - are often used instead of hard facts. Evocative images, of pristine mountains and rivers, can misguide people into assuming a company is environmentally conscientious. The worst offenders find cheap, dodgy third-party ‘certifiers’ to slap a sticker on their products or flat out lie.

Greenwashing’s sinister effects are two-pronged. They firstly, detract from real environmental progress and allow harmful practices to continue. Secondly, it deceives the general public and lowers consumer confidence in green products when a company is ousted for greenwashing. This leads to scepticism that dampens the effect companies striving to make real environmental progress can have.

Not every company greenwashes. One of my personal favourites, Patagonia, is a brand championed for its sustainable practices. Beyond its environmental practices in the manufacturing processes, Patagonia will repair your garments and has created a dedicated second-hand website www.wornwear.com. It pursues quality and minimalism in an industry infamous for fast fashion.

Until there is sufficient regulation introduced to stop greenwashing, there must be a level of buyer beware.

If you want to truly lower your environmental impact as a consumer, minimising purchasers and waste often far outweighs buying green products. And remember, if you or your friends are looking to be sustainable on a night out, keys not lines.

He was later found, naked, babbling to himself in a spa pool. Sustainable my arse.

markets are a great way to live sustaiNaBly, By supportiNg loCal small BusiNesses for your fresh produCe Needs. it’s pretty easy to avoid siNgle-use paCkagiNg at markets too!

For example, I bring:

• Bottles to fill with kombucha.

• Paper bags for mushrooms and potatoes/ kumara.

• Beeswax wraps for cheese.

• The same ol’ egg tray I’ve had for two years to refill.

• A container if I feel like having a snack at the market.

• A keep cup or jar for coffee/hot chai.

Some markets to check out in Ōtautahi:

• Christchurch Farmer’s Market, Saturdays 10am-1pm, at Riccarton House & Bush.

• Lyttelton Market, Saturdays 9am-1pm, along London St in Lyttelton.

• South Christchurch Market, Sundays 9am12pm, South Christchurch Library.

• The Riccarton Sunday Market, Sundays 9am2pm, Riccarton Race Course.

• Vintage Market at Avebury house – the date changes, there tends to be about 1 per month. See the “Vintage Market Avebury House” Facebook page.

• The Nifty Markets – find them on Facebook or Insta.

• Conscious clubs – again, find them on Facebook or Insta.

Before you shout out “Yuck, composting! That smelly disgusting pile of rotting material in people’s backyards”, read below to let me convince you why this is NOT composting.

You may know me as a compost lover, and after reading the situation above, how could I possibly be in love with a pile like that?!

Composting has my heart because adding your food scraps, garden weeds, lawn clippings, ripped up cardboard and fallen leaves to the compost pile attracts marvellous creatures such as worms. The pile teems with life, and after a few months of turning the pile and adding water, I give the pile a final turn and what is now visible is a lovely compost chocolate brownie. The compost is so crumbly and smells so good, my vegetable plants are almost running up to me to get some – just like we all do when a brownie has finished cooking in the oven ;)

You want to start making some compost brownie for your plants too? Yus! I knew you would! Read on to find out my favourite method of how to do this…

My favourite way is to make a compost bin out of pallets. You will need 3-4 wooden untreated pallets. Put these pallets together, either by drilling them together in a box shape or tie them together with rope. You will only need 3 if you are putting it against a wall and 4 if it is against nothing. If you can, have a smaller pallet at the front, as it will make it easier to put the material inside and easier to turn.

Location. Your compost bin doesn’t need full sunlight and it can be in partial shade. Put it wherever works for you, ideally close to your house for convenience. Make sure it is on grass/soil, NOT on concrete.

Next step is to have a closed-lid container in your kitchen, where you can separate your food scraps from your trash. An ice cream container will do.

Once your container is full, it’s time to empty it. First add a few handfuls of sticks to the bottom of your new pallet compost bin, as this creates air flow. Then add a layer of dead leaves (there are heaps around in Autumn), or ripped up paper/cardboard. Finally, you can add your food scraps. Continue to layer your compost bin like this with dead leaves/ paper and then food scraps. Always cover your food scraps with a ‘brown’ layer to prevent smell.

Finally, like making a cake, a compost ‘brownie’ has 4 important ingredients. Air, moisture, browns and greens. You create the air through aeration, by using a garden fork or compost aerator. Add the moisture, by watering your compost when it’s too dry. Your brown materials are your non-smelly, ‘dead’ materials, such as dead leaves, paper, cardboard, toilet rolls, sticks… And your green materials are the smelly, ‘living’ materials, such as coffee grounds, food scraps, fresh lawn clippings, fresh garden clippings…

YOU can and should do composting because it is easy and you won’t have that horrible gut feeling of knowing the food scraps you chucked in the rubbish bin will never break down and will release the terrible methane gas, 23x more potent as trapping heat in our atmosphere than CO2.

To learn more about composting, come along to The Waiutuutu Community Garden working bees on campus (put it in google maps) every Friday. In winter 12-4pm, summer 1-5pm. You don’t have to be there the whole time and we would LOVE to see you there!

Follow us on Instagram @ waiutuutugarden and @ kaitlyngrowz.

CLUBCORNER

Stella Cheersmith (she/her)

tell us aBout your CluBs!

Imogen: UC Sustain isn’t really a club, but it’s more of a community. So lots of volunteers coming together who are like-minded and want to make sustainable change on campus. I'm also doing a little bit of work with communications and Sustainability Office.

Genevieve: Biosoc is primarily an academic club, so we try to help the undergraduate students doing biology degrees. But we also run some community, student and staff events so that everyone gets to know each other and finds out a bit more about biology and exciting stuff that tickles your fancy.

Andrew: EnviroSoc is also an academic club for environmental science students. But we also try to be a club for anyone who’s interested in solving some of the environmental issues. We’re a reasonably new club, we haven’t been going for too many years. But Environmental Science students are growing on campus so the club is getting bigger. I joined partly for the academic side, but also just for a chance to do something for the environment.

aNd what’s happeNiNg this year?

Andrew: [EnviroSoc] ran a really good quiz night in the first semester, and there’ll be another one coming up. A lot of preparation for events this year happened in the first semester, including the predator tracking and trapping on campus. We’ve done all the groundwork and now it’s going to kick off, so there’ll be a trapping program on campus which is pretty exciting. And we had a trip out to Tumbledown Bay to start some regeneration work out there and hopefully we'll get into that again.

Genevieve: Last year [Biosoc] started doing a plant sale which went really well, it was actually a little bit terrifying how many people showed up! We did it again this year but fewer people came, I think just because of COVID and new rules around events and stuff, but we still managed to raise a decent amount of money for charity. We do like raffles as well, so that’s been really fun. I like [those events] because rather than just being an academic club, we can meet new people and give back to the community and the environment.

Imogen: At the Waiutuutu Community Garden, [UC Sustain] had a movie night earlier in the year when it was still warm. We watched the film “Fools & Dreamers” – a really feel good movie, and I couldn’t think of a better spot to watch it in than the garden. We also had a biodiversity planting day with kids from Ilam School, we planted a bunch of natives between the health centre and Haere roa. Now we’re right in the middle of Plastic Free July! We’re doing a lot of communications around how you can get involved with the plastic free movement, and also some giveaways on our Instagram.

what aspeCt of sustaiNaBility have you BeeN foCusiNg oN reCeNtly?

Andrew: Environmental Sciences is a pretty dark science, it’s a pretty gloomy place to be sometimes. One thing we try to do with the club is [highlight that] there is a lot people can do. You don’t have to solve the whole world’s problems at once, but you can make a difference like getting involved in some of the plantings, Plastic Free July, just small things. It’s really important people realize they can make a difference.

Genevieve: I think it’s really important also –as we’re all students, none of us are rolling in money – just do what you can, and don’t beat yourself up about it. If you can't afford the $35, sustainably-produced shampoo bar, or an electric vehicle, [instead] do what you can and make the difference that you can. If you’re not being absolutely perfect, something’s still better than nothing.

Imogen: Exactly! And the way that our society is set up at the moment, it’s quite hard sometimes to be sustainable, because the system that is set up is not sustainable.

what are some quiCk aNd easy tips for BeiNg a little Bit more sustaiNaBle?

Genevieve: My first one would be that the government has just extended that subsidy for public transport, so it's going to be halfprice until (I think) the end of January next year. So if you haven’t taken the bus or if you’re going to the petrol pump and being like, “Oh, my God, I cannot afford this” – get on the freakin’ bus. Give it a go.

Imogen: The big thing for Plastic Free July is it’s focusing on all of the straws and cups and small disposable items that you might get from a café, but I think it’s also the momentum that you get from that and [seeing] everyone else doing it at the same time. There’s all the stuff you’re seeing online where someone’s describing how they’re doing something differently and you’re becoming inspired. That creates the seed for bigger movements and can be the start of setting new habits.

Andrew: And we have made a change – you can’t buy single-use plastic bags anymore. But that comes from the ground movement of people building up enough [momentum] that people with power take notice and make a difference.

Imogen: There’s always the convenience factor which comes with single-use plastic, but really reusing is so much better than recycling. Even though recycling is better than landfill, it’s still not great because there’s energy losses involved with that.

Genevieve: I actually didn’t realize how dire the state of recycling is in New Zealand until I did Environmental Science as part of my undergrad. I really didn’t feel as virtuous as I used to chucking my milk bottle in the and the right bin in bins day.

aNy hiddeN greeN spaCes we CaN eNjoy oN Campus?

Andrew: I think community garden is just epic. It’s amazing that we’ve got it, and it’s completely underutilized, but it’s the best space on campus. Particularly if you’re having a hard week, and you’ve got fifteen assignments, just go and chill out in the garden, or go and help on a Friday afternoon.

Genevieve: I'm a big fan of, next to the community garden, the little walking track that goes along the stream. You can cross over and go down the road a little bit and go through Ilam Gardens. That’s really cool – I'm pretty sure every time I go there, I find some new sort of fungus or slime-mold. So if you ever see a weird woman in the bushes flipping over leaves and twigs, it’s probably me.

You can keep up with all three groups on Instagram and Facebook :)

Logan Sanko (he/him)

FAMOUS WHARE FAMOUS WHARE

te whare akoNga o te akatoki - through the geNeratioNs

Whakapapa o Te Whare Ākonga o Te Akatoki

In the 1980s Nga Toki o Aotearoa were the national board that represented all tauira around the country. They are now referred to as Te Mana Ākonga. Nga Toki o Aotearoa engaged in many events that defined the formation of the Māori Students Associations that are enjoyed throughout the country today.

One such student association is Te Akatoki here at UC. It was established in 1986 with Michael Nepia as tumuaki.

It was these students who proposed the need to build the Whare. The original Executive consisted of some key students who played a huge part in getting the idea of the Whare off the ground. Michael Nepia, and his father Bill Te Awaroa Nepia, played an integral role in the submission for the Whare.

The original submission was put together in 1987 and the opening for the Whare build didn’t take place until January 1998. This took years and many executives of Māori students to lead, continue and fight for.

We are proud of the history of our whare and hope to continue the legacy. Over here at 129 Ilam Road we have many resources as well as a welcoming place for tauira Māori, Whānau Māori and the wider student community. We offer groceries for our students, computer lab, bean bags and couches, a Whare Kai and places to hang and eat, study rooms and even a Māra Kai where we grow our own veges.

One of our main goals for Te Whare Ākonga o Te Akatoki looking forward is to create retention to the physical space and to create a self-sustainable whare where we can cater for both our students needs and the needs of the environment!!

Here are some quotes from the 2022 Te Akatoki exec and students about their favourite thing about the whare or their hopes for the future of the whare:

“My favourite part about the whare is the bean bags and couches so I can nap in between classes lol”

“The whare is an awesome place to chill and relax with other tauira Maori. There’s also quiet rooms to study and my favourite part of the whare is the free kai! Churrrr”

“I love being able to access freshly grown Kai from the mara for meals for me and my flatmates”

“Free food is mean!!! I wish we had free parking tho”

“In the future I hope the whare gets some more TLC from both the Uni and UCSA”

“The whare needs to be highlighted and elevated by the University and that includes funding, resourcing and the way it’s looked after. Our friends on the executive care after that whare so well, but I can just imagine what could happen if everyone invested in it”

“I hope one day we could have more as Te Akatoki than the whare, Māori student cafes, a Māori student hall or even a TA side hustle”

“I love that the whare is a safe place for tauira māori. I hope in the future the whare is a warm and comfortable place to relax and be productive”

“For me the whare is a safe space where I can be authentically Māori” - and this whānau mā is the reason we have Te Whare Ākonga o Te Akatoki. A place where people can be, celebrate and feel MĀORI!!

TyanHAUS is a space in Ōtautahi created by the TyanDAO collective. Described as ‘a coordination experiment conducted by kiwis', TyanHAUS functions as a space for this collective to collaborate under a canopy of decentralised ideologies. From gigs to exhibitions, from a coffee cart to crypto, TyanHAUS provides and welcomes Ōtautahi with a fresh and vibrant place for all beings, locals, and creatives. CANTA’s Ella Gibson sat down with two of the TyanHAUS brains; Ruben Gordon and Will Smithies to find out more about what actually goes on there and what’s in store for the Tyan future!

tell us aBout yourselves!

R: “I’m Ruben! At Tyan, I am primarily the Head of Caffeine, running @thepoptop, which is our newest venture; a coffee cart that lives inside the Haus. In saying that, we are all quite multifaceted. I've also been focused on coordinating events and building relationships in the local community, especially with creators in any way, shape, or form. So a bit of everything, but mainly I make coffee.”

W: “I’m Will! My “official” title is GM, a nickname that has stuck with me for years. It fits well as it means General Manager as that's what I mostly do at TyanHAUS. Similarly to Ruben, I wear a lot of different hats. Managing the logistics and ops of everything HAUS related comprises about half of my day, with the other half being filled reaching out to artists, planning Tyan events. and broadly keeping the rest of the squad in order.”

what is tyaN?

W: “Well, there are two answers to that. As a group, we are TyanDAO which is essentially a collective group which pools resources and energy to point towards common goals. Technically, this means that all of our decision-making is made and recorded ‘on chain’, and on a more human level, essentially that decisions are always made in an open and inclusive way. We vote on all important decisions which are then recorded in a nice transparent way, with equal voice and opportunity.”

R: “As a space, TyanHAUS is our base of operations and headquarters. It’s a focal point for what we aim to build within Christchurch in terms of art, music and culture. It's our canvas, if you will. We have ideas and goals in a bunch of directions, but the Haus is the launchpad for a lot of what we do.”

wheN aNd how was tyaN formed?

R: “The DAO is about three years old, which is us as a collective leveraging the Web3 piece of the puzzle to coordinate more effectively. TyanHAUS itself just turned one a few months ago, but the idea of locking down a physical space has been there for five or six years. A lot of the relationships within the DAO started over a decade ago and we’ve always been operating in a similar way, but only really had a way to channel it, make it productive, and do it seriously once we secured the Haus.”

W: “Ben covered a lot of the early stories! In terms of the actual DAO coming about; a few of us dove deep into crypto and ended up being involved in the progression of ‘decentralised governance’ in an crypto-native context. We were involved in some of the earliest DAOs which were focused purely on the crypto community and after a while, realised that a similar experiment with more of a real life, local connection could be super impactful.”

you refer to tyaN BeiNg a soCial experimeNt, what does that meaN to you guys?

R: “How we can abandon the existing constructs of ‘human coordination’, being a traditional company with hierarchies, managers and so forth and work towards a structure of open collaboration between us where everyone’s idea is as valid as anyone else’s. We kind of operate as a tiny little government, but there is no one at the top.”

W: “Even if you’re not focused on this full time, there is still so much room for your ideas to grow here and be supported by the community that has sprung up. The experiment is really focused on how we shift the narrative on ‘work’, everyone chipping in and doing their bit for the wider goal.”

why do you thiNk there is a Need for a plaCe like tyaN iN otautahi aNd why iN 0tautahi?

R: “Why here is because we are from here. We all grew up in Christchurch, saw a lot of the culture fall off after the earthquakes and now want to contribute to the regeneration of our city and community. This is our place and the place where we want to invest in and see grow. Why is it needed? Just new energy, if anything!”

W: “I think the way that the world works is tiring and there are a lot of things that really should just be rejigged with fresh ideas and energy. Applying that to areas that we’re passionate about, mostly arts, music, and events is just a nice way to stir the pot and to have something fun and fresh for people to get involved in. It’s just as much about Ōtautahi as a city needing it, as it is about us wanting to improve our home.”

what has BeeN your favourite momeNt or eveNt that has takeN plaCe at tyaNhaus thus far?

R: “Two for me, both kind of selfish answers. One would be the Market Day for the launch of the Pop Top. I’d been thinking about this for years now whilst living in London and to come back and have all of the plans and discussions become a reality was super exciting.

Outside of that, the inHAUS sessions that we’ve been putting out on YouTube. After only mixing in front of my flatmates for a few years, to come back and play at the Haus on a proper set up was one of those things that I thought may have just been a pipe dream. DJing in a space like this with my friends there supporting me was incredibly gratifying.”

W: “Honestly just seeing the ideas and plans that we’d been cooking up for years as kids finally coming to fruition! For example, we hosted a comedy night and had comics performing that I have seen on TV being like, “this is a really cool place, thanks for having us”. This really solidified that we can actually make a real impact and achieve what we’re trying to do in the long run. Having a little taste of what we’re aiming towards has been really exciting.”

where do you see tyaNhaus iN the Next five years? what is the dream for tyaN?

R: “Everything that we’re doing now around music, events, arts, and tech we’ll continue to work on and build out. I assume that in five years time there will be a bunch of other avenues that we haven’t even thought of yet which we’ll push towards as well. I’d say that we would like to be a permanent space that is always open for people to come through and hang out, chat about what they’re doing, and get support. The community is growing and we’re constantly linking up with other people doing cool stuff in Christchurch. We should also have a full bar, cafe, and kitchen set up by then - hopefully way sooner than five years. I see my role at that point as running the pop top/cafe ops as well as working with Will and others to keep running events and collaborating with other cool peeps around Christchurch, NZ and beyond!”

W: “As a space, I wanna see us with a full calendar where people can go to our Instagram and think, “I wonder what’s happening at TyanHAUS this week?” Being able to contribute in a positive way to the Christchurch nightlife scene, build a community and space for people to hang out and collaborate with cool people, and have a busy roster of midweek/ daytime events around art, music, tech, and whatever one of the team feels comfortable pursuing. The warehouse is somewhat a headquarters for everything we do outside of it. We’re not just a space.”

how CaN we fiNd tyaN aNd keep up to date with what you guys are doiNg?

R: “Social media is the best bet from the comfort of your couch! Right now, you can find us @tyanhaus and @the.pop.top on Instagram. Otherwise, come through and say hi! I’m here making coffee Mon-Fri, 8am-2pm, and that is a very easy way to get more of an idea of what we're all about. You can also flick through emails to operations@tyan.haus.”

W: “Basically what he said - ping us on Instagram or come down to the Haus for a yarn! 6 Carlyle St, Sydenham!”

FORAGING FOR

In a world of climbing grocery prices and unavoidable plastic, wouldn’t it be great if you could find free food wrapped only in nature’s packaging? Let me introduce you to foraging. It’s not a revolutionary concept, as it is the foundation of our huntergatherer roots. Today, more people are returning to foraging to feed themselves and their whānau.

My own foraging journey began a few years ago, inspired by some apple trees on public land. Through word of mouth, I learned that there is an interactive fruit and nut tree map of Ōtautahi, Christchurch. This can be found by googling “CCC Fruit and Nut Tree Map”. With the map in hand and a longboard under my feet, I quickly began to explore the network of trees. One thing I discovered is that you need to think about which fruit is in season before seeking out the trees. Look for fruit on the ground and harvest the fallen fruit, which will be ripe and ready to eat! The Red Zone is home to many fruit trees that were once in the backyards of houses before the earthquakes. Now these trees form an orchard for pedestrians/cyclists to forage. I’ve cycled in circles in the Red Zone, looking for pops of colour or fruit on the ground. There is also a map of the Red Zone, which can be found on the Ōtautahi Urban Foraging Facebook page.

Fast forward a year, and my flattie pointed out a cute cluster of sandy coloured mushrooms on our lawn. Naturally, my curiosity peaked, but mushrooms were new territory for me. I did a little research and found (to my disbelief) that they might actually be an edible species: Marasmius oreades, a.k.a. fairy ring champignons! They smelt deliciously mushroomy and the gills did not attach to the stipe, as per the online descriptions. I wasn’t about to cook them up though, unless I was 100% sure they were the good stuff. I sought the advice of a well-known South Island forager, Peter Langlands (the genius behind the Wild Capture Facebook page). He agreed they were fairy rings, and I haven’t looked back since.

Nowadays I learn mostly from fellow foragers on the Mushroom Hunting NZ Facebook page, especially when foraging a new species. A gourmet edible I was lucky to find for the first time this year was Boletus edulis, a.k.a. porcini!! The pinnacle of mushroom foraging. I found them in the Port Hills, where there are lots of pine trees (which boletes like to grow with). Mmmm… delicious fried up with butter or on top of a pizza. Boletes are a great family to start foraging with, as the mushrooms have very distinctive spongy gills/pores. Furthermore, they’re relatively safe (none will kill you, but some bolete types are apparently bitter/disgusting and not recommended). I find lots of birch boletes, which (you guessed it) grow underneath a silver birch tree. These ones are also distinct because of the black stippling on the stipe.

To get started, here are some great groups to join/people to follow:

• Ōtautahi Urban Foraging [Facebook]

• Wild Capture – wild foods and foraging – NZ [Facebook]

• Foraging Corner [Facebook]

• Mushroom Hunting NZ [Facebook] – this group is fantastic!

• @wildcuisinenz [Insta]

• @liv_mosss [Insta]

• Use the iNaturalist app for reference or ID

• Plant Identification New Zealand / Aotearoa [Facebook]

• If you’re planning to forage something a lil more sneaky… Magical Mycology NZ [Facebook]

• Or find me on IG @moagen, I’m always keen to introduce people to foraging!!

Happy foraging xx

Imogen McCrae (she/her)

Shannae Phelan (she/they)

When I initially set out to write this piece, my goal was to tell you about the word ‘lesbian’; where it originated, how its meaning has shifted over time, and how it continues to evolve when we consider things like gender. What I kept coming back to though was wondering why I hated this word so much, how uncomfortable it made me when I first began to explore my own sexuality six or seven years ago and why it feels so unnatural to say even now.

Personally, I discovered the word lesbian at the young age of six or seven when my mum came out to me on the ride home from school. Little me apparently couldn’t care less and just wanted to know if she had my new shoes. I discovered the word again a few years later when a kid in my year 6 class asked me what high school I was going to because he was willing to bet that “you’ll go to girls’ high and become a lesbian like your mum.”

He was right. Side note: figuring out that you’re queer right as you start at an “all girls” school is kind of an uncomfortable experience.

Like many other queers, my gay awakening came from the media. My best friend and I were sharing headphones in class, she introduced me to a band called PVRIS (pronounced ‘Paris’) and the music video for their song My House had me mesmerised.

I started coming out when I was around 13, but it took me until I was 16 to be even somewhat comfortable identifying myself as a lesbian. Umbrella terms like ‘gay’ and then ‘queer’ felt much more natural to say and I viewed ‘lesbian’ as the more “official” term. While I did technically identify as a lesbian, I just couldn’t say it.

At the age of 13, I had a very particular idea of what a lesbian was meant to be and my femininity didn’t align with that whatsoever. Despite growing up around a bunch of queer women who each expressed themselves uniquely, I didn’t feel that I fit the mold because I wasn’t butch or sporty and I didn’t have a pixie cut. Looking back, I have no clue where this idea came from or why I tried so hard to fit into a mold that wasn’t made for me.

I think that a big part of it for me was that identifying myself as a lesbian felt like I was putting my identity down to just my sexuality, whereas I could tell you that I am gay in the same way that I could tell you that I have purple hair (or pink, red or whatever it is that month).

As I’ve grown up, I’ve found that the word also feels uncomfortable due to how oversexualised it is. ‘Lesbian’ is a category of porn. Sure, there’s a gay porn category as well, although this is made, understandably, for the male gaze and is most often viewed by gay men. Lesbian porn is typically also tailored to the male gaze and is fetishised by straight men. There’s a lot more I could say on this particular topic, but we’ll save that for the sex issue.

I wish I could tell some big dramatic, inspirational and conclusive tale describing how I have overcome this discomfort and shame that surrounds the word lesbian, but I don’t think I’m quite there yet. I have, however, learnt that language can evolve and that labels can mean different things to different people, so I’m working on reclaiming this word for myself.

Busing for a more liveable city

Leo He (he/them)

In recent years, there has been a huge push for free buses or at least cheaper fares, especially in tertiary education settings. Last year, the UCSA partnered with the Lincoln University Student Association and Te Ara to campaign for cheaper bus fares for students.

There is a growing need for more, and cheaper buses around Aotearoa, especially if we are to reduce our carbon footprint.

Currently, 21% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from transport with 70% of these from cars, SUVs, utes, vans and light trucks. Buses, especially electric buses, will help reduce this need.

A 2021 UCSA transport survey showed that 83% of students would be willing to use buses more frequently if it was free.

Although Environment Canterbury’s initial implementation of the free fares trial was rejected with a tie citing it would be too hard to implement, ECan decided to implement it in their long-term plan.

This means that from February 2023, inner-city buses (Zone 1, 2, and 3) will only cost $1 for those who are under 25, tertiary education students, total mobility card holders, or community services card holders. And only $2 for everybody else.

This is great news for those who want a more sustainable Christchurch, as well as great news for our pockets.

More buses do not only have a lot of beneficial direct effects but indirect effects as well. What I mean by this is that sustainability includes not only the natural environment but also the cultural environment. One of the biggest complaints is that students (and staff) park around the Ilam neighbourhood because of the high parking fee on campus. This often means that the streets around uni are crowded and people can’t find parking if they want to use other facilities. By reducing the cars on the streets, we can make the streets greener and more liveable.

It also then helps us build a better city and greener city because having fewer cars in the CBD means that people can easily travel without having to avoid traffic and noise pollution. There is a misconception that more traffic means more business. This is not necessarily the case as more traffic means that you need to deal with parking which takes a long time. More demand for parking also means the need for more parking garages which makes the city look like a dual concrete jungle. This means that people don’t want to go to the city as it is not a sociable environment and going to the city is seen more as a chore.

In an ideal city, the CBD should be both accessible and liveable. People go to the CBD not because they have to but because they want to.

When we think of buses as a sustainable option, we often think of protecting the physical environment, but many people don’t realise that the social and cultural environment is equally important because they are interconnected. A poor social environment leads to a bad physical environment and vice versa. Sustainable buses can help both the environment and our social wellbeing.

PREDATORs INYOURBACKYARD

Ever wondered how you can help our native species from your own backyard? Want to hear more calls of our native birds around campus? At Predator Free Riccarton we are aiming to eradicate introduced pests, such as rats and mice, by distributing traps to people in our community through our backyard trapping project. This would mean more native birds (Piwakawaka/Fantail, Korimako/Bellbird, Kererū/NZ Wood Pigeon), insects (Wētā, butterflies) and reptiles in our community.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Our project is supported by the Predator Free NZ Backyard Communities Fund, which has given us the opportunity to heavily subsidise traps for our community members. Our Victor traps are available for the discounted price of $15, which goes towards covering material costs. We will help you with trapping tips, health & safety, maintenance and recording your catches using Trap.NZ.

Our community already includes areas of significant natural value, including Riccarton Bush and corridors bordering tributaries of the Avon River (including those on campus). These could form sanctuaries where our native species would thrive, but this isn't possible with current pest populations.

This work is supported by other projects such as rubbish clean ups, removal of weed/invasive species, native tree plantings, soft plastic recycling and cat owner education. If you are keen to get involved, follow our Facebook or Instagram Page Predator Free Riccarton or flick us an email at predatorfreericcarton@gmail.com!

Jade Humphrey Predator Free Riccarton

WE are aiming to get ONE TRAP IN EVERY FIVE BACKYARDS, AND WE HOPE YOUR FLAT CAN JOIN IN!

PINTEREST SH*TPOST

Enjoy these recycled sustainability memes to lighten your existential dread about our warming planet.

love Native Birds? waNt to kNow what you CaN do to help loCal Native Bird populatioNs aNd attraCt them to your gardeN?

plaNt a variety of Native plaNts - they will attraCt differeNt types of Birds.

- Frugivores: komāko (bell birds), tauhou (wax-eye/silver-eye), kererū (NZ wood pigeon).

- Foliage and flower eaters: kereru.

- Nectar eaters: komāko, tauhou.

- Insectivores: pīwakawaka (fantail), riroriro (grey warbler), tauhou, kotare* (sacred kingfisher).

my top 10

*kōtare are known for snacking on fish but will eat insects, lizards and frogs when given the opportunity, they will also probably only appear in your garden if you live near a water source, such as a river or stream.

A hardy plant that does not require much on your part to establish. Its thick dead leaves make great hides for insects.

if you CaN’t plaNt aNythiNg iN your BaCkyard, CreatiNg a roCk gardeN By piliNg roCks is a great way to Create a haBitat for lizards aNd iNseCts as well. also, Not removiNg leaf litter from uNder trees is BeNefiCial for Both your plaNts, lizards aNd iNseCts, aNd therefore the pawakawaka out lookiNg for a sNaCk too.

Blaire Shadforth

PSYCHED

Climate aNxiety

Ella Gibson (she/her)

In 2021, a study was conducted and published in The Lancet by an amalgamation of psychologists, environmental scientists, and psychiatrists where they surveyed 10,000 young adults aged 16-25 about the climate crisis. The study revealed that 75% of participants are afraid of the future and 50% of them have thoughts and feelings about the climate crisis that negatively impact their daily lives. This study only speaks to the frightening and uncertain fact that our future holds in regards to the climate crisis, which is real by the way, if you still somehow believe otherwise.

Such a frightening reality has led to the legitimation of climate anxiety. Climate change anxiety, eco-anxiety, or Anipā o te huringa āhuarangi in Te Reo can be described as “an assortment of feelings that a person can experience when they wake up to the full extent of the climate and wider ecological crisis” states Britt Wray in her book, Generation Dread. Climate anxiety directly alludes to anxiety, but mental health professionals and scholars believe that there are additional co-occurring emotions of what it means to have climate anxiety. Other feelings that one may experience with climate anxiety are grief, rage, and helplessness.

It is very normal to experience climate anxiety. Climate change is massively overwhelming, this is why it has been declared as a crisis. What is interesting is that studies such as the aforementioned published in The Lancet, found that younger individuals experience a disproportionate level of climate anxiety. And I mean, that definitely checks out. Younger generations will inevitably experience a disproportionate level of the effects of the climate crisis.

An article from Harvard Health Publishing expands more on how climate change can affect mental health both directly (natural disasters for example) and indirectly (through food insecurity and migration for example). “Rising temperatures have been associated with increases in emergency department visits for psychiatric reasons, and may impair cognitive development in children and adolescents. Furthermore, food insecurity is associated with depression, anxiety, and behavioural problems” writes Stephanie Collier in Harvard Health Publishing.

Now, how does one go about addressing and combating the effects of climate anxiety? Don’t worry, dear reader, I have some top tips and tricks just for you. Health Navigator New Zealand has collated their top recommendations for New Zealanders that experience climate anxiety.

It is also recommended to keep active and spend time in nature. It’s good for the mind, body, and soul! Go out and explore the beauty that Aotearoa has to offer. Social media is often a catalyst for overwhelming feelings. Switch off regularly and read a book - yes, books still exist. Finally, take action! You can book an appointment with your local MP to talk about all things climate change and actively choose to support organisations that are more climate friendly.

What is happening to our planet affects us all astronomically. Climate anxiety is normal and it can be very overwhelming. Talk about it, appreciate our beautiful planet, and take action.

I tend to not want to be a boomer on a daily basis, but maybe I’ll reconsider my options just on this singular matter.

First, you must know that you are not alone. Often, anxiety and climate anxiety can be isolating. Knowing and sharing your thoughts and feelings with others can function to alleviate stresses that the climate crisis incites.

SUSTAINABLE PERIODS!?

Stella Cheersmith (she/her)

Menstruating can be anything from mildly inconvenient to severely detrimental. Peeps with periods can probably agree that the first priority is whacking something down there to stop your clothes from looking like a crime scene, maybe knocking back some pain relief, and just making it through the day. Sustainable periods sound like a luxury. But they’re becoming a little more attainable every day.

I remember when I first found out about periods. Shock, hurt, betrayal – all feelings that come to mind. Realising I would spend a week of each month bleeding for a solid forty years of my life? I was less than stoked. When I found out that most of the ‘feminine hygiene products’ (ridiculous name) I had to use for my period contained a bunch of freaky chemicals and would be bouncing around a landfill several centuries after I had kicked the bucket, well that was just the cherry on top. Not only was this bodily function a pain in my ass (and lower back, and stomach, and boobs, etc etc), it was also damaging the planet. Epic.

Luckily, there are loads of smarty-pants people in the world who have figured out how to manage menstruation without impacting our environment. Menstrual cups are an increasingly popular choice, those little bell-shaped silicone saviours that can be worn for up to twelve hours. Period-proof underwear seem to be having a moment too, popping up all over my Instagram feed. Perhaps these reusable products seem a little pricier than a pack of pads or tampons, but the key word is reusable – they’ll save you big bucks in the long run! Maybe you’re thinking about making the switch, but feeling overwhelmed with all the options. I feel that, and I’m also firmly against policing other people’s bodies, so that’s why I’ve done the research. I’m leaving the choice to you! Because we love to support local, here is a list of Aotearoa-based brands and businesses working to make sustainable periods that much easier. No sponsors, just info. Also the fact that I’m on my period while writing this? Fate tbh.

Wā: launched on International Women’s Day in 2018, Wā are keen to reconnect with nature and the land, as well as fight period poverty in Aotearoa. Their website caters to all facets of your period, from menstrual cups or period undies, to herbal tea and wheat bags <3

The Organic Initiative: launched in 2015, this company sells single-use organic, biodegradable pads, tampons, and liners, as well as the classic menstrual cup. Their products are available at most supermarkets. Neat!

Moraka: which means ‘freedom of body and expression’. This business sells cheap menstrual cups in a range of sizes so everyone has access to affordable period care.

AWWA: a carbon positive business credited with developing Aotearoa’s first reusable, period absorbent undies. Their products come in a range of styles, including boxer briefs and period-proof togs!

MyCup: this Christchurch-based company sells everything from menstrual cups, period undies and reusable pads, to single-use products and even stain remover. All delivered in sustainable packaging <3

Hello: started with the humble menstrual cup, which was recently voted Cosmopolitan’s best menstrual cup, which I can also endorse from experience. Hello has recently released a line of period underwear, plus a menstrual disc that promises mess-free period sex!

Reemi: a non-profit, culturally conscious organisation that sells menstrual undies made of sustainable fibres. They’re also working to combat period poverty in Bangladesh, providing access to period products as well as menstrual health education.

Coralcone: based in Dunedin, this brand has designed a menstrual cup with comfort in mind. Though they’re slightly spenny, the swirly shape promises easy insertion and removal, plus $2 from each sale is donated to Live Ocean’s protection and restoration projects. Bonus!

Many of these incredible businesses are partnered with organisations that deliver free menstrual products to schools across Aotearoa! We love making periods more affordable, manageable, and sustainable.

PERIODS!?

B

ACKYARD IODIVERSITY

How to look after nature at home

Emily Arthur

plaNt a Native

We know that for some people a concrete backyard reminiscent of a moonscape may be the ideal scenario, but this is not the case for our native fauna (aka animals). They need food and they need homes. They also need food through winter, which is where some of our exotic trees fail to deliver. If you are flatting, consider asking your landlord if you can plant on their land. To reassure them, it can be a good idea to draw up a bit of a map and show which species you are thinking of planting where.

make the most of free plaNts

Native plants often pop up in your garden on their own accord, however they are often in the wrong spot, such as too close to another tree or a building. A cheap and easy way to grow your garden is to ‘pot on’. Simply dig it up, and carefully place the plant in a pot with some soil or potting mix. Old containers work fine if they have holes in the bottom. Water regularly and keep them in a sheltered spot until they have grown roots and can be planted elsewhere.

get messy!

Nature is mess. Think fallen leaf litter, rotting logs and tangled vegetation. All these things provide great habitat for our native insects and the birds and lizards that feed on them.

Be autheNtiC

A great way to find out what plants would have been growing in your backyard suit is to check out the ‘ecosystem map’ on the Christchurch City Council website. Here you can zoom in on where you live and get a plant list and see what would have grown there before humans, as well as what food the plant provides for native fauna.

trap iN your BaCkyard

Contact the awesome folk trying to save Riccarton’s fauna and get a trap in your own backyard. This may require you to get comfortable with dead bodies, but it will be worth it!

y our personality?

1. Fivefinger/whauwhaupaku Pseudopanax arboreus

This tree provides amazing fruit, nectar and insects for for birds, but can be a bit handsy. Suit those who don’t know how to keep their hands to themselves.

2. Titoki Alectryon excelsus

This tree is a great source of fruit and insects, but it is a sensitive soul when it comes to frosts. Although with age it grows out of this. Best for those fragile types who like to wrap themselves up against the cold.

3. Kānuka Kunzea robusta

Loved by the grey warbler for it’s great nesting habitat, this tree is best for those who like to live a bit on the wild side.

4. Harakeke Phormium tenax

Takes up a bit of space with arms outflung. Suits extroverts who don’t mind making their presence known.

5. Kowhai Sophora Microphylla

Bellbird and Kereru can’t get enough of this tree that provides delicious nectar. Suits colourful personalities who bring it.

If you want to help with predator trapping on campus, planting natives or growing natives contact Emily: emily.arthur@cantebury.ac.nz

FLORAscOPES

SUSTAINABILITY HOROSCOPES

Green Tip: Unpaper your cans before recycling

Discover Artist: Venetian Snares

Flat Dinner: Sushi Bowls

Green Tip: Don’t fucking buy bottled water

Discover Artist: Suki Waterhouse

Flat Dinner: Pita Bread Pizzas

Fun Website: The Wayback Machine

Fun Website: One Tiny Hand

Green Tip: Take lids off recycled bottles

Discover Artist: Pickle Darling

Flat Dinner: Shakshuka

Fun Website: Bouncy Balls

CANCER

TAURUS GEMINI

Green Tip: Shut curtains before sunset

Discover Artist: Faouzia

Flat Dinner: Corn Fritters (w/ bacon?)

Fun Website: Heardle, Octordle, ~rdle

Green Tip: Draught proof your home

Discover Artist: PRINS

Flat Dinner: Can’t beat a banana split

Fun Website: The Evolution of Trust

Green Tip: Eat seasonally

Discover Artist: Josette

Flat Dinner: Omelettes (#teamfrittata)

Fun Website: Entanglement

Green Tip: Learn how to sew

Discover Artist: Amber Mark

Flat Dinner: Taco Soup

Fun Website: Museum of Endangered

Sounds

Green Tip: Reusable bags x10

Discover Artist: Marsha

Flat Dinner: Big Mac Salad

Fun Website: Here is Today

Green Tip: Loo roll Christmas tree

Discover Artist: Olivia Dean

Flat Dinner: Meatloaf / Lentiloaf

Fun Website: Find The Invisible Cow

Green Tip: Voting Greens x

Discover Artist: Loyle Carner

Flat Dinner: Kimchi Fried Rice

Fun Website: Semantris

Green Tip: Switch to reusable batteries

Discover Artist: Remi Wolf

Flat Dinner: Kumara Biscuits

Fun Website: Sketch Something Daily

Green Tip: Embrace baths

Discover Artist: Jaz Paterson

Flat Dinner: Saag Paneer

Fun Website: 100,000 Stars

CAPRI-

apply for a luCky dip oN our weBsite

feeliNg luCky?

CANTA s longest running segment! Each issue we set two people up on a blind date and they record their experiences.

Here are the unedited results.

A late afternoon blind date, scheduled at 4:30pm at Rollickon Gelato in town. Approaching this date, being my first ever blind date, not knowing what to expect, I was going in with heaps of uncertainty. My date arrived and walked upstairs looking very beautiful indeed. I had already poured her and I a glass of water, I believed this was an essential component to a successful date, which ensured we were hydrated and refreshed. She was handed the gift card voucher and we decided to order the Gerry Brownlee brownie and the Choccy cake with our own personal gelato ice cream flavour preferences. I must admit I personally rated her taste in gelato – cookies and cream and salted caramel are absolute classics. A brilliant way to start off our date. I chose the Strawberry sorbet and we both agreed that it was another excellent flavour choice.

We proceeded to head upstairs and patiently waited for our desserts to be served to our table. Meanwhile we start sharing some entertaining and informative discussions. I learned lots about this amazing girl. Turns out we actually have heaps in common and share a lot of the same interests. I hope we can teach each other a thing or two in the future as I would be keen to learn equestrian and start riding horses and in return. I’d happily teach her how to cook more than rice. I commend my date on one of her favourite foods being Spinach and Mesclun lettuce as these two ingredients are heavily used in most of my dishes and recipes. I learned heaps from my date. We asked each other heaps of questions and discovered that we could relate to each other on several different occasions. We were so engaged in our conversations that we failed to realise our ice-creams were melting. We then laughed it off and said that we were almost drinking a sweet soup, a delicious soup may I add.

Unfortunately, I checked the time on my phone and realised I was running late for my 6pm appointment. I was very apologetic and felt terrible for having to cut the date short. Hopefully my date was able to finish off our desserts and what we ordered. She was incredibly understanding and was very kind and generous and allowed me to head off. Before I left, we exchanged our numbers and socials and am very excited for date number two. I felt privileged to have met this girl tonight, her personality is very warm, bubbly, and infectious and she is super kind, sweet and caring and extremely attractive. Who knew we both came from leadership backgrounds at our own individual high schools, bizarre… I think not, coincidence… I think yes

dipper oNe dipper two

Well, I never thought that I would end up here! I was as shocked as a car battery to receive a message asking if I would be keen to do this, as I had completely forgotten that my (really cool and awesome and fun) friends had signed me up for it a few months ago. I figured that there was no harm in going to meet a stranger for free food! My mates screwed me over in the application with all sorts of dodgy stuff, so I was grateful that my date wasn’t a reflection of that!

After a quick shower with my 12 in 1 body wash, shampoo, car soap, and toilet cleaner (+8 more), I arrived at Rollickin and was told that there was a guy already waiting for me. I am relieved that I decided against wearing sweatpants, which are my go to formal pants usually, because he was dressed nicely and looked the part for the occasion. I did shake his hand when I got to the table though, which was a strange choice on my behalf, but we moved on from it quickly. First impressions were great and he seemed lovely! We made the most of the voucher and ordered large, although the food did end up just sitting there for a long time whilst we chatted. I felt quite bad for the melting ice cream.

I really enjoyed getting to know him and the conversation flowed easily with no awkward moments. We had a fair bit in common and talked about a variety of different things. I was a big fan of the fact that he had done a chef course and liked cooking, as I live off of carrots and hummus, as well as rice and frozen vegetables (if I am feeling fancy). I was a little concerned that he could not remember the name of his pet fish, but I think that I am prepared to overlook that small detail. He appeared confident and asked me lots of questions, so I got to talk quite a bit, which is ideal because I never normally shut up.

The evening ended after he realised that he was about to miss an appointment because time had gotten away on us. I don’t think that it was an excuse to leave though… he apologised a lot and has asked to see me again, so surely it wasn’t an excuse. We have already planned to see each other again this week, so I would call it a successful date! Cheers Canta!

PUZZLES

Ben OʼConnell (he/they)