www.awake.com.au

  
Media release
14th August 2009

Passionate expat returns home to caution against green apathy
 

Tim Cotter, psychologist and sustainability expert is travelling home this August to urge fellow Kiwis to wake up and guard against environmental complacency.

Speaking from his busy, Melbourne-based consultancy that services clients from around the world – Tim voiced his growing concern that ‘green apathy’ may be taking root in New Zealand.

““I was concerned when I read a report by the International Energy Agency about New Zealand’s fossil fuel emissions increasing 72 per cent from 1990 to 2006; the largest increase in the developed world. (1)

“Our emissions from burning coal have doubled since 1990 and yet we continue to market our commodities on their clean and green credentials as compared to other productive nations. I’ve come home to offer practical advice to people who are responsible for promoting sustainable practices both at work and in the community.

“As a behaviour change expert in the sustainability area, I am here to run a series of workshops and I want to reach as many people as possible to get across that we all have some personal responsibility for these alarming statistics. I want to show people how to change their own behaviours and by doing so – start a chain reaction throughout our small and beautiful country,” Tim said.

Tim is facilitating a series of one-day workshops to introduce the psychological principles that are critical to encourage people to adopt more sustainable behaviour in their daily lives. People in roles that are focused on encouraging others to start living and working more environmentally responsibly are being urged to attend one of the August workshops:

City/ town, date & time

Venue & map

Christchurch, Monday 17th

9:30 - 4:30

Travis Wetland Education Centre

(end of Beach Road 100m along shingle road to parking)

Map & directions: www.cclocation/travis_map.asp

Dunedin, Tuesday 18th

9:00-4:00

Dunedin Centre, Harrop Street, Central City

Map & directions: www.dunedin.govt.nz/location

Wellington, Wednesday 19th

9:30 - 4:30

Newtown Community and Cultural Centre

Cnr Rintoul and Colombo Streets, Newtown

Map & directions: www.wellingtonvenue/location

Hastings, Friday 21st

9:30 - 4:30

Te Mata Room, Hastings District Council,

207 Lyndon Road East

Map & directions: www.hastings/location

Hamilton, Monday 24th

9:30 - 4:30

The Rotary Lounge at The Pavilion,

Hamilton Gardens

Map & directions: www.hamiltongardens.conz/location (scroll down) 

Auckland, Tuesday 25th  

9:30 - 4:30

Endeavour Room, Quality Hotel Barrycourt

10-20 Gladstone Road, Parnell

Map & directions: www.barrycourt.co.nz/location

About Tim Cotter in New Zealand

Tim has provided training and consultation to dozens of large public and private organisations in Australia, New Zealand and parts of the South Pacific since 1994. His workshops have been attended by people working in the sustainability area from the following organisations: Air New Zealand, Genesis Energy, Department of Labour, Inland Revenue, Ministry of Education, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Defence, Environment Waikato, Livestock Improvement Corporation, Environment Canterbury, Auckland City Council, Environment Bay of Plenty, North Shore City Council, Sustainable Business Network Waitakere City Council, Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Waipa District Council, Beca, YWCA, South Waikato Council, Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Hamilton City Council, Marlborough District Council, Victoria University, Canterbury University, Christchurch City Council, Christchurch Polytechnic, URS Ecomatters, Far North District Council and the Tauranga City Council.

Some attendees from workshops held in New Zealand last year commented:

·         “I can see clearly now!  Wow, who knew persuading people could be so achievable. Really feel I am leaving today with some tangible tools to really make a difference." Christine Watson, Communication Executive, Hamilton City Council

·         "I will be using the tools from today’s workshop to enhance the sustainability project in my workplace - they are practical and hopefully effective." Anne-Marie Woolley, Health Promoter, Toi Te Ora-Public Health, Tauranga

·         "A well constructed approach to bringing people on board the sustainability waka." Ken Ross, Community Development Advisor, Far North District Council

·         "Refreshing to find that sustainability principles can be delivered by addressing personal values and behaviours, rather than using yet more scientific data.” Duncan Cunningham, Wellington

(1) New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development, Energy & Communications Branch, Energy Information and Modelling Group, “New Zealand Energy Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2009”, p 29.

(ENDS)

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