Exchange Cafe

17/02/2026

01/10/2025

Have you voted yet? Get inspired by checking out what our GDC councillor candidates have to say about climate change and the role of local government.

https://m.youtube.com//videos

30/05/2025

Exchange Cafe is proud to support the Tairawhiti Citizens’ Assembly process. We love the assembly’s vision for the region….

Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata.
Together, we imagine a future where our connection to te taiao is healed – where the land is cherished, the people are uplifted, and the mauri of Tairāwhiti flows strong once more.

In this future, our awa run clear, our ngahere stand tall, and our tamariki grow up knowing the names of the places that hold their stories. Communities are confident and connected. Our people thrive not despite the land, but because of our care for it.

This is a future of abundance, not scarcity. Of manaaki, not fear. Of decisions made close to home by those who understand the rhythm of the seasons, the shape of the hills, and the wisdom of the past.

We do not seek to return to what was – we seek to build something enduring together. A future where our mokopuna can stand with pride and say: “They looked after us.”

Exploring a just transition for whenua and whānau in Tairāwhiti

24/01/2025

Presentation for the Citizen's Assembly given on the 2nd of November 2024

09/01/2025

Nora's presentation for the Citizen's Assembly given on the 2nd of November 2024

06/01/2025

Have you heard about the Tairawhiti landuse Transition Advisory Group (TAG)?

The TAG is made up of forestry owners, Gisborne District Council’s Chief Executive and staff, Ministry of Primary Industries, people with farming interests and Maori landowners.

“The purpose of the Group is to develop methods and guidance to help transition steep erosion-prone land to a more sustainable permanent vegetation cover, to try and hold the soil in place and thereby significantly reduce the impacts of forest harvest every 24-30 years.”

Exchange Cafe interviewed TAG Council lead Kerry Hudson, and convenor John Hutchings to hear more about how the community stakeholder driven TAG is working through the challenges and solutions for dealing with the region’s erosion prone land.

02/12/2024

The Gisborne District Council Sustainable Tairāwhiti Meeting was held on Wednesday 27th November.

Have a listen to the reasons for delays to the climate change programme and for not prioritising climate change considerations during development of the recently adopted Gisborne District Council 3yr plan, as well as the need for a Councillor workshop to restart the climate change programme early in 2025.

Click here https://www.youtube.com/live/d-BnbfC_B2o?si=mPuXlEoAf0QuaxOP&t=3300 to watch the meeting.

Click herehttps://www.gdc.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/83249/Agenda-Sustainable-Tairawhiti-27-November-2024.pdf to read the report.

01/12/2024

Jack Tame from Q+A asks outgoing Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr "What is the one thing you think we could do as a country that we could afford to do the would make the biggest difference?

Click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fzseElYIrE&t=759s&ab_channel=Q%2BAwithJackTame to have a listen to Rod's response.

If New Zealand wants to tweak its methane targets without increasing its contribution to climate change globally, steeper emissions reductions will be requir...