Case studies
Can Southland fuel its own transition away from coal?
What is the potential for using wood biomass energy from local forestry to fuel the big energy users in the region? In our report for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), we evaluated the availability of wood biomass for bioenergy use in Southland,...
Raising the bar for waste auditing
The process of sampling a city’s waste is not only dirty work, it requires careful planning and attention to detail. Councils are obliged to have waste minimisation plans in place. And, as a way of monitoring the effectiveness of their recycling systems – regular...
Finding effective ways to work with communities and stakeholders
Whirika was asked to provide a recommended framework for the Otago Regional Council and Kāi Tahu, as partners, to collaborate with communities and stakeholders, as part of their Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) programme. We needed to find an effective framework...
Turning the idea of zero carbon into a reality
Whirika helps small and large businesses understand their energy use and carbon emissions so that they can make informed decisions about their business. In 2020, we developed a zero carbon strategy for Prime Range Meats in Invercargill. First, we developed a carbon...
Managing a pest with a long history of bouncing back
The dry climate and open country of Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District is a draw card for semi-rural landowners, and for rabbits. The pest is not a new problem - but it’s one with a long history of bouncing back. With rabbits affecting more landowners as...
Predator free planning for Onetahua Farewell Spit
We worked with Tasman Environmental Trust to plan a predator control programme for Onetahua Farewell Spit. Onetahua Farewell Spit is a Wetland of International Importance and a popular holiday stopover for more than 20,000 migratory birds each year. The importance of...
Rising fuel price triggers investigation into efficiencies and alternatives
It takes a lot of energy to clean 2,000 tonnes of Dunedin's dirty clothes and apparel each year. So when the price of diesel continues to rise, it's time to investigate energy efficiency and the alternatives to fossil fuels. Ahikā worked with Preens Apparelmaster in...
Native Plant Nurseries – building whānui connections for resilience
Ahikā provided facilitation and technical advice to representatives of four Murihiku papatipu rūnanga to develop a business case for a native plant nursery in Southland. Dubbed the Murihikunui Project, Te Puni Kōkiri funded the work to strengthen the connections...
Biodiversity Offsetting for OceanaGold – long-term planning for biodiversity gains
Our work with OceanaGold is helping to set benchmarks in environmental management through biodiversity offsetting. In Aotearoa, the practice of offsetting the impacts of projects on biodiversity has evolved over the past decade. Initially driven by industry but now by...