Talking Taiao

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!