Bay Harbour: January 20, 2021

2
Wednesday January 20 2021
[Edition datE]
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
ARA INSTITUTE OF CANTERBURY
BAY HARBOUR
PAGE 13
HABITAT: Mt Pleasant School pupils learning about ecology during a
survey of the Drayton Reserve Stream, under the supervision of local
freshwater ecologist Kirsty Brennan of EOS Ecology.
Encouraging a greater
emphasis on ecology
Dave Bryce of the Redcliffs/
Te Rae Kura Eco Village
group says it is focusing on
biodiversity and ecology
during January
WE ALL KNOW something
about economics, but
what do we know about
ecology?
Both words come from
the Greek word “oikos”
meaning “home”, in an
holistic sense.
Economics is the study
of the financial behaviour
of humans, as the
management of individuals,
households, cities or
nations.
Ecology, however, is the
study of the full behaviour
of all organisms on
earth over billions of years,
and yes, that includes us
humans.
Economics does not
include the contribution of,
or impact on nature, of all
human financial activities,
and fundamentally therefore,
leads to unsustainable
behaviour.
Ecology, however, is comprehensive,
is the basis of
many indigenous cultures,
and reflects how organisms
live sustainably with other
organisms and with earth’s
resources.
Surely, we should be
focusing much more on
ecology than we do?
Here are some ecological
principles to think
about, along with similar
old sayings from western
cultures:
1 Observe … note and
understand changes and
long-term implications,
before correcting. Slow
and steady wins the race.
2 Make sure all changes
are necessary, timely, selfregulating
and productive.
Necessity is the mother of
invention.
3 Catch, use, store, and
conserve, accessible renewable
energy … solar and
wind.
Make hay while the sun
shines.
4 Encourage diversity
… maximise the range of
species in systems (unlike
monoculture). Don’t put all
your eggs in one basket.
5 Encourage complexity
… for stability, by maximising
positive connections
(co-operation) and allowing
for negative connections
(competition). Many
hands make light work.
6 Recycle … value all
resources, respect natural
cycles.
Waste not, want not.
7 Respect natural organisms
and patterns …
they have evolved here for
reasons. The whole is greater
than the sum of the parts.
8 Encourage “edges” …
for greater productivity –
estuaries, forest margins,
tiered growing. Nature
knows best.
9 Evolve … use and
respond to changes, cooperation
and competition.
All of the flowers that bloom
tomorrow are in the seeds of
today.
10 Respect others …
people and other species,
we are all connected to
each other. One good turn
deserves another.
Our pledges on biodiversity
for 2021 are:
1 Plant your own native
habitat on your property,
or go to community native
tree planting and maintenance
days. Check each
week and note any new
creatures. Use “i-naturalist.
nz”.
2 Pull out and properly
dispose of all weeds on
your property.
3 Trap possums,
hedgehogs, rats, mice and
wasps on your property.
Free computing course
delivers unexpected benefits
A simple desire to become more confident
using computers has opened up a world of
possibilities for business owner Thomas King.
For the past 20 years, Thomas has been a codirector
of a logistics business. Over that time
he’s seen huge changes in the way business is
conducted.
“The world is rapidly changing and to keep
pace with it, having some confidence and
competence in computing is crucial,” he says.
“I realised that I’d have to embrace this scary
but exciting new tech-driven world sooner or
later, and now here I am today, loving what I
once feared.”
Thomas took his first steps in computing at
an Ara Connect community hub, one of several
in Christchurch. Each Ara Connect hub offers
free, non-assessed computing courses for
anyone wanting to gain skills and confidence
using digital technology.
Thomas says the tutors at Ara Connect
welcomed him warmly, made learning an
enjoyable experience and were very supportive.
“I felt so inspired during my journey and this
is a reflection of the good folk who work
at Ara. They’re very attentive and always
eager to assist. They want you to succeed
and they encourage you to push your
boundaries without ever throwing you in
the deep end.”
Discovering something new and amazing
every time he got on a computer was one
of the things Thomas enjoyed most about
his time at Ara. “There are some amazing
apps and software out there just waiting to
be discovered. I’ve especially fallen in love
with collaboration tools which can help me
complete a host of project management tasks.
What I learned was mindboggling and I realise
now that we haven’t even really scratched the
surface of these amazing tools and how useful
they can be.”
Having now completed a New Zealand
Certificate in Computing (Advanced User),
Thomas is considering further study and
possibly a complete career change. “I’m keeping
my options open but a future in IT is becoming
more likely for me with every passing day.”
His advice for anyone else considering
the computing courses at Ara Connect is to
just go for it. “You have the chance to add an
invaluable credential to your CV, and the Level
3 and 4 certificates are a great way to prepare
for further study in any subject. Knowing how
to use computers in a way that delivers results
can make life so much easier, especially in the
world of business. I certainly wish I’d taken
courses like these two decades ago. My advice
is to pluck up the courage and just go for it.”
To find out more, visit ara.ac.nz or call
0800 24 24 76.
YOUR LOCAL ACCOUNTANT
Financial Statement Preparation
Tax Preparation & Compliance
Xero & MYOB Specialist
“I CAN COME
TO YOU”
Ph 03 384 4633 Cell 021 677 670 Steven@sclarke.co.nz
7 Margot Lane, Mount Pleasant, Christchurch