In November 2020, I toured the country to inspire New Zealanders to live more sustainably.

10 towns. 11 events. 5000+ kms. 17 beds. 5 weeks. 611 attendees. 20 tour sponsors. $1220 donated to Para Kore. Thousands of online supporters. One of me. PACKED rooms; sell out events.

I loved every second of it! And after hearing from many people in Northland who were gutted I didn’t make it further north than Auckland, I decided to do it all again.

But this time, a mini tour. 10 days. 3 events. Ending with a retreat in the forest!

I stayed at some beautiful places, met some glorious people, and felt incredibly supported by my chosen tour sponsors.

Here’s a recap!

Main image and images below by Nectar Photography.

The event itself was essentially the same as last time around, so you can read all about that here. My first event was at Two Spoons Cafe - a local cafe to me who creates the most magic gluten free food! The Whangārei event was at my close friend’s dad’s cafe, Treat Cakes & Pastries. And the last event was held at the stunning Bay Light Exploration Centre (this space would be perfect for retreats, family gatherings, and conferences).

One of the key decisions around my tours is who the sponsors are. It’s crucial that all my brand sponsors and partners align with my own values, and are brands that I truly want the world to know more about.

My Northland tour sponsors were EPIC.

Chia Sisters

If I could choose one drink sponsor, they’d be a B Corp, they’d produce their drinks in a solar powered factory, they’d ensure they produced as little waste as possible, they’d be family owned, definitely zero carbon, and they’d be innovators.

Pinch me: Chia Sisters are all these things (and more), and they’re the permanent drinks sponsor at all my events!

Although the courier screwed up the timing for first event (classic), event attendees sipped on Chia Sisters drinks while listening to me chat. In the future, I will also plan my events at places with the capacity to service a keg! This will make my events 100% waste free - even though the bottles are glass, it’s ideal they are reduced altogether.

Standard Issue

Travelling in the middle of winter was an interesting decision, made easier by Standard Issue! My cashmere deep V was the most worn item in my travel wardrobe. I hardly took it off, and slept in it a few nights too!

Standard Issue are one of the few brands who don’t only create sustainable fashion, but are part of changing the way the fashion industry works - for the better.

In my tour talks, I mention my mantra when purchasing: Less. Quality. Consciously. I use Standard Issue as the key example:

Less: Standard Issue have a care for life programme. This means they will care for your garment throughout it’s entire lifetime! That’s right- they take responsibility for repairing or responsibly disposing of your item… forever. Standard Issue encourage thoughtful, and less purchases. See? They’re literally changing how we consume fashion. I love it.

Quality: Strong, durable, natural, and sustainably sourced fibres are used. The garments are truly made to last, with the most frequent comment from my readers being ‘Standard Issue garments don’t pill!’

Consciously: All Standard Issue garments are made in Aotearoa New Zealand by people who are paid fair wages, and treated respectfully in the workplace.

It’s an honour to be an ongoing Standard Issue representative, and I am so grateful to have had them support my tour!

Volkswagen

I live normal life without a car, so without the support of Volkswagen lending me an electric vehicle, these tours wouldn’t be possible!

I jumped into the eGolf again, and WOW was is hard to get out of it.

The eGolf has a range of approximately 220kms, so it’s easy to get around the country without range anxiety or running out. My favourite eGolf features:

• Door handle sensor to unlock and lock the car (I simply keep my keys in my handbag)

• Large monitor that thoughtfully displays my map and music/podcast

• Open and spacious, even though it’s a medium sized car and super zippy

• Tells me how long until it will be charged up

I spent $70 on charging during the entire tour! That’s probably around 1/4 of the amount I would have spent on petrol- and that’s charging at fast chargers which cost more.

Volkswagen have a ‘Way to Zero’ strategy that I am really impressed with. Their goal is to lower their CO2 emissions by 40%, by 2030. This includes the decarbonisation of production and supply chains, increasing wind and solar power, recycling, and more e-vehicle options.

You can read more about the eGolf and my thoughts on electric vehicles in a full blog post here.

P. S. If you’d like to know more about the Clean Car Programme that was announced on the 13th of June 2021, read more from Volkswagen here.

Green Goddess

Green Goddess are the home of products that are safe to use around your home and on your body without worrying about the effects on your health or the environment. My neighbour is hooked on their baby products, I adore their ‘loo ease’ and cleaning paste, and it was an absolute pleasure to gift many of their cleaning products to event attendees in the north!

One of the key aspects of Green Goddess that I love, is their drive for accessibility and affordability. Often the sustainable alternative can be more expensive, or involve a habit that is too time consuming for most people. Many of the Green Goddess products are cheaper than their toxic alternatives, and I know Triona continues to innovate around ways to make their store available to everyone.

It was also a giant honour to meet Triona in person. She came to my first event of this tour, and seeing her face in the crowd was amazing. How awesome to have brand sponsors who care!

“The Green Goddess philosophy is about working with things from the earth that are in tune with our whole selves – mind, body and soul.” - Triona.

CoGo

Since October 2020, I have been tracking my carbon footprint through the CoGo app. This app links securely to my bank account, tracking each one of my purchases and allocating a carbon footprint to it. This means at any point, I can jump on the app and see the carbon footprint of my spending each month.

Of course while I was travelling, I made sure my purchases were tracked. The app not only allows you to then offset your footprint (approximately the price of 2 coffees each month!), but it encourages users, including myself, to reduce their carbon footprint by making better decisions - like shopping second hand, eating less meat, or composting.

CoGo were incredibly generous and offset the carbon footprint for a month of one attendee at each of my events! The receivers of this prize were so grateful, and it was exciting to see people read my repurposed stand with the CoGo info on it.

All Heart NZ

All Heart NZ are a one stop shop for sustainability, but most relevant to the average person in Aotearoa New Zealand (YOU)… they are the go to for all stationery, furniture, and any office items you can imagine!

Here’s how that works:

All Heart NZ redirect corporate ‘stuff’ from businesses who no longer need it, to their three stores around the country. OR this stuff goes directly to a community group who need it. Corporates pay the exact same amount as they would have for landfill fees, but the stuff stays out of landfill and communities enjoy it!

To date, All Heart NZ have redirected 3,159,649kg of waste from landfill, supported 349 community groups, and saved or raised $8,120,103 for community good.

The newest All Heart Store recently opened up in Kaikohe, so I stopped by for a cuppa tea and look around. The space was MASSIVE and filled with high quality items that would have otherwise ended up in landfill. What an honour to have All Heart NZ support this tour.

The Places I Stayed

The Love Shack

A gorgeous one bedroom spot in Oakura. They had a compost bin, a comfy bed, and a gorgeous setting to look out to!

Titore Lodge

The perfect spot for staying super close to the Russell township, but with the added bonus of glorious views and bush walks right beside it. It’s cosy, tidy, and hosted by a wonderful family who will give you great local tips.

Wild Forest Estate

This was my post-tour forest getaway! No reception, no WiFi, just a beautiful tent and all the ‘glamping’ equipment you need. The entire place is made with sustainable values (lots of repurposed materials), and the hosts are focusing on ‘re-wilding’ their property for the benefit of the environment AND their guests. I cannot really recommend this place enough- I will be back!

My Northland tour reminded me of how exceptional Aotearoa New Zealand is. Not only the landscapes, but the generous and kind people! A huge thank you to everyone who attended, who watched on Instagram/Facebook from afar, and who fed and housed me while travelling.

I cannot wait to head out on tour again next year. I hope to visit a town near you!