Talking Taiao

Our mission is to inspire and support people, businesses, and communities to value our local taiao (environment) and act to prioritize sustainability.

Our mission is to inspire and support people, businesses, and communities to value our local taiao (environment) and act to prioritize sustainability.

This week Sophie chats with new Sustainable Trails Co-Coordinator Suzy Randall about the exciting road ahead for Taranaki Sustainable Trails 2026. Get to know Suzy, hear what inspires her about the kaupapa, and discover what makes the Trails such a special celebration of community, creativity and connection with te taiao. From sustainable backyards and eco-builds to regenerative farming and local storytelling, this episode offers a sneak peek at what’s coming in 2026 — plus key dates, upcoming events, and ways to get involved and keep in the loop. www.sustainabletrails.org.nz

Green Loop is steadily building a local circular food waste system in Taranaki, from working bees and compost trials to richer soil outcomes. In this episode of Talking Taiao, Dave James from Juno Gin Distillery reflects on being Green Loop’s first food waste collection customer and what that early adoption has looked like in practice. The conversation also looks ahead to Green Loop’s participation in the Venture Taranaki PowerUp programme, with co-founder Sophie Walker set to present at the upcoming Showcase evening on 13th May. Get in touch if you want to join Green Loop: www.greenloop.org.nz

For the International Composting Awareness Week (4-10 May), we are discussing why composting is a WIN WIN WIN WIN! Starting from the very small lens looking at bacteria and the soil, to your māra - garden, and all the way to our wider economy, and our beautiful planet Earth, we are explaining in this episode all the incredible benefits of composting. Any questions? Keen to join one of our workshops? Know a business wanted to join Green Loop? Get in touch using our Socials or website! www.SustainableTaranaki.org.nz

After exploring Aotearoa New Zealand on her bike, Lydia decided to stay here and has been working for 3 years in Climate Change Policy. Learn more about her journey (all the way from the UK), her work, and her tips & ideas for being more sustainable in Taranaki.

What are the implications of an LNG Terminal in Taranaki? What risks and benefits? But also, why and what is LNG? Join us as we discuss this "hot topic" with Sarah from Taranaki Energy Watch and Catherine from Climate Justice Taranaki. One thing is certain: now is the right time to talk about this and make the right decision for our energy and our future.

It's been a few weeks of "energy chaos" with fuel prices increasing a LOT reminding us how dependant we are to other countries. But what if we could reduce your energy costs by electrifying our whare (house) and businesses? What are the solutions and what are the first steps people could do? Listen to our kōrero with Community Energy Taranaki and get important tips and advices on how to save money AND the planet. You can fill in their short community electrification survey here: https://forms.gle/iVyQHPbD6g8WwFGV8

In this episode of Talking Taiao, Sophie sits down with behaviour change specialist Alexandra Vernal to explore the big issue of kai waste in Aotearoa. From her work with the Ministry for the Environment to research and partnerships supporting organisations, Alex shares practical insights into what really helps shift habits and reduce organic waste. They also dive into her wider mahi in sustainable behaviour change, including previous research with Sustainable Taranaki, and what it takes to inspire lasting change in our communities. Packed with real-world tips and a few fun moments along the way, this kōrero will leave you feeling motivated to take small steps for the taiao.

From feeding 12 people in the streets of Ngāmotu - New Plymouth to thousands weekly in Taranaki, now in Bell Block and Stratford. Jump in with Terry from On The House as he tells us how and why On The House started. In this episode, he explains what they are offering to the community, including how their Free Stores work, but also how you could support them with the incredible mahi they are doing for all. Visit their website to get in touch with them: www.onthehouse.org.nz

From feeding 12 people in the streets of Ngāmotu - New Plymouth to thousands weekly in Taranaki, now in Bell Block and Stratford. Jump in with Terry from On The House as he tells us how and why On The House started. In this episode, he explains what they are offering to the community, including how their Free Stores work, but also how you could support them with the incredible mahi they are doing for all. Visit their website to get in touch with them: www.onthehouse.org.nz

How can businesses balance profit with purpose? In this episode of Talking Taiao, Sophie interviews sustainability consultant Belen Matias about her new role supporting the B Corp movement in Taranaki. Tune in for a hopeful conversation about values-driven business and practical ways companies can make a positive difference. Visit www.bcorpmonth.com for more information or contact Belen at [email protected]

Talking Taiao! Inspiring people, businesses, and communities to value our local taiao (environment) and embrace sustainability. Each week, the team from Sustainable Taranaki shares positive, uplifting conversations with guests working in sustainability and conservation, offering knowledge, ideas, and inspiration to help us all care for our whenua (land) and grow a culture of kaitiakitanga.

Today Dave (and his cat) and Elric (and his dog) are discussing how to be more sustainable with your pets. They share many tips and advice on food, waste (including how to deal with the regular poos), shopping and biodiversity! We love them, they love us, but we are all aiming to thrive on the same beautiful planet!

In this episode, Sophie chats with Mieke Verschoor our Organics Programmes Manager and sustainable gardening expert, about what to be doing in your māra as we move through February–March. From harvesting abundance to soil love, seed saving and sustainable gardening hacks, this kōrero is packed with practical tips and inspiration to help your garden thrive. Whether you're growing kai on a balcony or tending a big backyard māra, tune in for down-to-earth advice, eco-friendly ideas and a dose of green-fingered joy.

In this episode hosts Sophie and Elric chat about Nature Clean-ups with Sustainable Taranaki, about a huge summer/raumati of action for te taiao. From beach and awa clean-ups across the rohe to the incredible mahi of volunteers keeping our moana sparkling, we celebrate what’s been achieved so far this summer 2025/26 — and take a look ahead to what’s planned heading into ngahuru (March, April and May).

In 2025, Sustainable Taranaki engaged with 8,077 people, removed 4,620 Litres of rubbish from our taiao (environment), and delivered 297 events, tours and workshops around our region. How did we get those numbers? Marie, our data analyst, did! In this episode, Marie tells us how she joined as a volunteer and then moved into the roles of volunteer supervisor AND data analyst! Visit Sustainable Taranaki’s website to learn more about our 2025 impact!

In this episode Sophie chats with Lucy Graydon, Head of Sustainability at TSB Bank and new board member of Sustainable Taranaki. Lucy shares her journey into sustainability leadership, what it’s really like driving change inside a bank, and why caring for te taiao is central to our future prosperity.

Dive in with Dave and Elric as they discuss how and where to get reliable "good" source of environmental knowledge and how to navigate the flow of information. They discuss how important and challenging this process is and will share some tips and practical advice.

Growing Ideas, Growing Community: Sustainable Trails 2025 Recap. Join Sophie as she chats with Jenni Hammonds, Co-coordinator of Taranaki Sustainable Trails, reflecting on an exciting 2025 event filled with gardens, builds, farms and community wisdom. They share stories, lessons and what’s ahead for the 2026 Trails.

In this episode, Sophie chats with Sustainable Taranaki’s Communications Manager, Elric Aublant, about why he chooses cycling as his main way of getting around, and why more of us might want to join him. From emissions and city design to mental health, community wellbeing and those tiny things that put people off, this kōrero digs into the real barriers and the real solutions for a more bike-friendly Aotearoa.

Celebrate a year of inspiring rangatahi, reconnecting with te taiao, and growing environmental leaders with Te Ara Taiao (an environmental education programme for rangatahi grounded in Te Ao Maori). In this episode Sophie chats with Jane Bowden-Dobson, Kaiwhatu and Kairuruku of Te Ara Taiao, and unpacks the journey of Te Ara Taiao in 2025 and reveal what’s in store for 2026.

Sophie chats with Caroline Gottfert and Mieke Verschoor from Green Loop about turning commercial food waste into nutrient-rich compost, regenerating soil, local research, and innovation shaping Aotearoa’s circular food future.

Join Sophie on Talking Taiao as she chats with Cat Neale, “The Medicine Woman” about medicinal plants across our landscape, plant-based living, rongoā, and reconnecting with te whenua. A lively, inspiring kōrero with plenty of earthy wisdom.

Meet Nathan Hills from Rapid Reforestation. They are on a mission to increase native biodiversity in Taranaki, one tree at a time! In this episode, you'll learn how this great project started, how they plan and run an event, but also how you can be involved. If you are keen to volunteer or if you have a section that could be reforested.

Sophie Walker sits down with Taranaki builder Jeff Fairweather to unpack the magic of rammed earth, the challenges of building green, and why natural materials matter more than ever. A down-to-earth kōrero rooted in community, kaitiakitanga, and a vision for healthier homes.

Join Sophie Walker and garden kaitiaki, Dominic Bell, as they chat about the vibrant life of the Marfell Community Garden this spring. Hear about new initiatives, kai growing strong, sustainable taiao practices, and what’s planned for raumati. A wholesome blend of laughter, learning, and māra-inspired wisdom.

Hannah is a physiotherapist in Taranaki, and she has recently graduated with a Master of Sustainable Development Goals from Massey University. Tune in with Elric as they discuss what the course was, what she has been taught, what she loved and what she plans to do now in this space.

In this episode, Sophie Walker and Suzy Randall from Sustainable Taranaki share how the Business Support Programme is helping local businesses and events reduce waste, embrace circular thinking, and create lasting positive change. With hands-on guidance, practical tools, and a supportive community, Sustainable Taranaki is making it easier than ever to take real steps toward a greener future.

Why should we bring passenger trains to Taranaki? How can you support it? Elric is discussing with Louise James and Sharon Bevins from the Future is Rail Taranaki to find out why bringing back passenger trains would be great for all of us. Make sure you sign their online petition!

Join Sophie as she chats with Rachel Eckersley from Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR). Discover how Taranaki schools and their whānau are diving into the moana, learning to snorkel, exploring protected marine environments, and embracing kaitiakitanga. From school pools to Goat Island, Rachel shares inspiring stories of tamariki connecting with their local marine world.

From concerts to sporting events, Taranaki’s going zero waste! Sophie chats with Suzy Randall, our Zero Waste Events Manager, about what it really takes to keep events landfill-free, the latest innovations in waste reduction, and how you can make your next gathering greener.

In this episode Sophie and Cath chat with Franziska of Bumblebee Bakery & Crop Swap Aotearoa, and Amanda-Jane of Everkind Organic skincare. We learn about their journeys, insights, and the inspiration behind Evolving Organically, a celebration of sustainability, community, and conscious enterprise as part of Taranaki Sustainable Trails 2025.

Joe has grown up in Taranaki, lived in Guatemala and England, and has been the Operations Lead of Sustainable Taranaki for the past four years. Learn more about how it is to manage a local non-profit with a team of 30 people running about 12 different programmes at the moment!

How can an ordinary backyard become a place of learning? In this episode of Talking Taiao Sophie sits down with Cath Stabb, Sustainable Trails Coordinator, to explore the lessons our māra (gardens) can teach us, from growing kai and nurturing tamariki to building climate resilience. We’ll also look ahead to the Taranaki Sustainable Trails 31 October - 16 November 2025, with kid-friendly activities, community and school gardens, and free seeds to inspire whānau to learn, grow, and play in the taiao. www.sustainablebackyards.org.nz

Our mission is to inspire and support people, businesses, and communities to value our local taiao (environment) and act to prioritize sustainability.

What’s happening beneath the surface of our moana? In this episode of Talking Taiao on Access Radio Taranaki 104.4FM, Sophie sits down with Cam Hunt, Senior Ranger for DOC Taranaki, to talk about the Tapuae and Parininihi Marine Reserves, the state of our marine life, and the mahi DOC is leading to restore the coastal environment around New Plymouth. Discover how you and your whānau can play a part in protecting our blue backyard.