Over the coming months we will be showcasing and sharing stories from people and organisations in our community who are doing awesome things to build resilience, connection and take action on climate change.
I first met Linda and Tony Mayow in 2016 when Linda had officially retired from her Principal’s career in Auckland to become a volunteer at Trade Aid here in Raglan. They both have a long association and love for Whāingaroa having a home here for 15 years before making the move to live here permanently in 2016.
Although they are both retired, their lives are full, balancing time with their children and grandchildren, Whānau and friends, gardening, learning te reo Māori and their voluntary work in the community, just to name a few of their combined interests. One thing is for sure, they are both passionate about community and building strong relationships.
Why the move to Raglan permanently?
Having spent many years coming to Raglan whenever we could, we knew that this was the community we wanted to be part of.
What are you involved in?
Linda volunteers in the Trade Aid shop once a week and is on the Whāingaroa Trade Aid Board. She also volunteers at the iHub once a week. Four mornings a week she is teaching reading and writing to two men using What’s App, through the Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust.
Linda and Tony deliver Meals on Wheels in Raglan most Saturdays.
Tony was involved in the revitalisation of Raglan Naturally Community Plan and is providing ongoing support as an advisor when required; he is also a Board member of XZW Charitable Trust and a director of Community Energy Whāingaroa. He is also on the board of Raglan Holiday Park Papahua.
What are you passionate about?
We are both lifelong learners. Linda is currently enrolled in a Certificate of Adult Education through Open Polytechnic. Both Linda and Tony have studied papers in Tikanga Māori through the Wananga, and Te Reo Māori at Poihakena Marae.
Tony is passionate about community development and the importance of building strong partnerships within community organisations. He has worked in community development all of his career, in local government and in the community sector. Sustainability and climate action have always been a central focus.
We are passionate about our environment, in particular the impact of climate change. We believe strongly in the power of local action to cope with the effects of global warming, or ‘boiling’ as it is now referred to.
Maintaining healthy relationships with Whānau, friends and neighbours are an important part of our well-being.
What springs to mind when you think of building community resilience?
Tony says, “Community resilience refers to the strength of a community and its members. A resilient community will have strong internal relationships and interconnections. Its members will feel involved and connected locally and they will be thriving personally and collectively. A resilient community will be able to respond and withstand major emergencies by acting together.”
A vibrant local economy is critical for community resilience. The concept of a circular economy eliminating waste is central to that ideal.
What do you feel we already have and what is missing or what could we do better?
There are already many groups and individuals working to create a resilient, strong and thriving Raglan. An ethos exists in Raglan which is highly innovative and environmentally conscious.
We’re very pleased that Waikato District Council has a climate change policy and is developing a Climate Resilience & Response Strategy, with dedicated staff resource, headed up by a Raglan local, Rachael Goddard, and a specific sustainability well-being council committee, headed up by our Raglan councillor, Lisa Thomson.
Through Raglan Naturally we are starting to become much better coordinated and purposefully targeting our activities to fit the major priorities we face. We have significant poverty, deprivation and isolation in Raglan and major issues in housing and energy hardship. Our young people are most affected by global warming and we need to work very closely with them to deal with it.
We have started but still have a long way to go on issues of co-governance and commitment to Te Tiriti.
Your thoughts on climate change and impacts.
The effects of climate change are already upon us, and felt here in Raglan; witness the significant coastal erosion and the cyclone Gabrielle effect on Highway 23.
We must be active right now in preparation for the extreme weather events to come.
What are you doing to address this?
Our voluntary work is significantly focused on climate change issues, particularly Tony’s work with XZW and Community Energy Whāingaroa.
Tony also supports advocacy work in a number of other environmental organisations, eg. Greenpeace.
There is no time like now to take action. If you feel inspired to be involved in community resilience building, check out:
Raglan Naturally
Whāingaroa Environment Centre
Raglan Community House
Raglan Lions
Raglan Timebank
Feed the Kids
Actions, no matter how small, all add up. Next time we will be sharing more community stories, actions, tips, and things that you can do to make a difference.
Interview by Lisa Thomson
This content was made possible thanks to sponsorship from Raglan Food Co.
