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Nick Keene & Esther Eves own Schnappa Rock in Tutukaka, Northland. They switched to paper straws in 2016. Placed on the shoreline of the picturesque Tutukaka Harbour, Schnappa Rock uses locally sourced ingredients to produce high quality Pacific style food in a great atmosphere. Sum up your café in a few words…. Pacific theme, thatch, rustic, friendly. What did you want to be as a kid? A restaurant owner! What living person do you most admire, and why? My wife; the wonder of childbirth. What is your favorite quote? “We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too...

The first in our series of interviews with eateries that have switched away from plastic straws is with Wayne Green, the owner of The Wholemeal Cafe in Takaka, Golden Bay Established in 1977, The Wholemeal Café has strong roots in a commitment to wholesome nourishing food, strong communities and a simpler life more in touch with nature. Sum up your café in 5 words…. Spectacular, Simple, Sustainable, Seasonal, Sensational What did you want to be as a kid? A missionary or a jazz singer! What living person do you most admire, and why? The Dali Lama - his calmness and philosophy on life and...

“I have been living a Zero Waste lifestyle for four years now and all of the trash that I have produced fits in one 16oz mason jar.” *  Statements like this can polarize people; are you feeling deeply inspired or somewhat despondent? Many of us fall into the latter bracket but we must be hopeful because we need the Merrin Tates, Tammy Logans, and *Lauren Singers of this world. It is good to know there are people who go plastic free and zero waste; we can learn from their experiences and reap the benefits of building on what they have already...

By Hannah Beasley There is already a huge amount of plastic rubbish floating in the sea, causing a great deal of damage. We can't change what's happened in the past, but we can change our actions for the future. In Plastic Free July, which items are you going to swap for a reusable or biodegradable alternative?              The ocean covers 72 % of the planet and is home to 97% of life on Earth. It drives and moderates our climate and weather and is ultimately the source of the water we drink. But every year we are...

Did you see this article today on glitter? Well, glitter is pretty but it really does get into things - once a kid has put glitter on their hair it's REALLY hard to get it out. And they are right, it's pretty bad for the environment. So how do you get sparkliness without it? The article talks about biodegradable glitter, but did you know you can make 'glitter' with salt? Obviously it's not as shiny as plastic/aluminium/chemical glitter, but baking the salt does make it shiny and it won't end up in the sea as micro-plastics. Here's the recipe... Making...