Fair Trade Capital City Wellington: it’s official!

MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 3rd December 2009



Fair Trade Capital City Wellington - it’s official!

Wellington is now the First Fair Trade Capital City in the Southern Hemisphere. Today Wellington City and Dunedin City became the first cities in New Zealand to be awarded Fair Trade City status.

Make Wellington Fair Trade initiative supporters are thrilled that Wellington City Council’s application for official recognition from the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ) has been accepted. Wellington and Dunedin are joining a global Fair Trade Towns movement which already has 600 Fair Trade cities and towns.

“We congratulate the Wellington City Council for responding to the call from Wellington people to make Wellington Fair Trade,” says Marion Wood from the Make Wellington Fair Trade initiative. “As more and more Wellington businesses and cafes have been taking up the Fair Trade approach to buying their products for sale, so Wellingtonians have been eager to support them.”

“Great tasting coffee that comes from a fairly traded source is a win-win for everyone!” says coffee roaster Stephanie Fry. “The Fairtrade coffee is independently certified to ensure that the people who produce the coffee get a fair price, long term contracts, support to develop their business and to look after their community and live with dignity,”

“Wellington is embracing fair trade with real flair and enthusiasm”, says Councillor Celia Wade-Brown. 1,185 people signed an e-petition in support of Wellington becoming a Fair Trade City that was presented to Council in August. Dozens of workplaces, community groups and churches have signed up as using fair trade products. There are around 100 retail outlets selling fair trade products such as handcrafts, clothing, tea, coffee, chocolate and sugar as well as cafés and restaurants serving fair trade tea, coffee and chocolate in Wellington with the number growing steadily.

“Mayor Kerry Prendergast is to be congratulated on leading the City Council to become the Southern Hemisphere’s first Fair Trade Capital,” says Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson. “Wellington is leading the way on this side of the planet when it comes to positive initiatives like Fair Trade City Wellington.”

We owe a vote of thanks to the City Councillors such as Celia Wade-Brown who have worked hard to support this initiative”, says Christian Pilkington, Fair Trade City Steering Group member. “The unanimous support of the whole City Council gives real impetus to the work required to achieve and monitor the Fair Trade City goals.” A voluntary steering group and a dedicated group of supporters have been working on the initiative and will continue to work with Wellington City Council in the implementation and celebration of Fair Trade City Wellington.

ENDS

More information
Wellington City Council (WCC) voted on the 17th September to declare Wellington a Fair Trade City and its application for recognition was submitted on 1st December.

The Fair Trade Association of Australia & New Zealand (FTAANZ) has set out the five goals required for a Council to be able to receive the Fair Trade City recognition award. These five goals are:
1. Council resolution that states the council’s support for fair trade.
2. Fair Trade products are widely available in the region.
3. Fair Trade products are used widely in workplaces, schools, and community groups.
4. Media coverage of the city’s decision to support fair trade and to raise awareness.
5. Sets up a local steering group to monitor and support progress towards the goals.

What cities in the world are fair-trade?
• Fairtrade London - www.fairtradelondon.org.uk
• Fairtrade Edinburgh www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Environment/Sustainable_development/CEC_fairtrade
• Fairtrade Chicago - www.chicagofairtrade.org

More info on:
• www.fairtradewellington.org.nz
• Fair Trade websites:
www.fairtrade.org.nz
www.fairtradetowns.org