Te Tauihu Opportunity: Alimentary Systems

E ngā rangatira, tēnā koutou

This event is for those who are unapologetic about our ambitions for the regeneration of the Te Tauihu environment, people and community. We feel there is an opportunity in front of us whereby our actions can reflect our aspirations. 

We’re inviting you to join a presentation from Harmaan Madon and Matthew Jackson of Alimentary Systems:

• Wed 28 Jul, 1:00pm-2:15pm NZST online.  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84403094313

If there’s someone else you’d like to bring in to this conversation, please let us know or send this invitation to them.

Alimentary Systems are establishing New Zealand's first integrated waste treatment plant pilot and there is potential for this to be located in the Nelson Tasman region. Such a system could address regional issues/solutions such as: wastewater treatment vulnerability to climate impacts; diverting discharge away from Tasman Bay towards a circular land-based solution; and diverting wastewater sludge away from landfill or land discharge. The system similarly works for regenerative agriculture thereby reducing on-farm water use, run-off and leaching. There’s also potential to create a new bioenergy industry.

Rachel is connected with Harmaan and Matthew through the Edmund Hillary Fellowship. We wish to support their approach to Nelson and Tasman’s governance, business and innovation community, as we believe there is value in their proposal, alignment with our region’s own direction and with the principles of the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy. 

Their work supports the following goals:

• Reduced climate emissions

• Clean water

• Clean energy

• Sustainable cities

• Innovative infrastructure

• Sustainable economic development

• Bioeconomy development

• Circular economy

Regional jobs in scientific and analytic services and research; engineering and construction; waste management

Positioning the region as a climate innovation, bioeconomy, circular economy hub

Harmaan and Matthew have financing to construct the first plant. The key elements they’re seeking are:

1. A small site to construct the trial plant, ideally co-located adjacent to a waste source (wastewater, landfill, horticultural), to minimise transport and associated emissions.

2. Access to waste (wastewater sludge, agricultural / horticultural waste, green waste).

3. Agreement with a Council to supply wastewater sludge.

There is a global shift towards circular/value-add wastewater treatment systems (see examples from China and Australia). Nelson Tasman has the opportunity to launch the first in Aotearoa New Zealand, and to be involved in exporting the technology domestically and internationally. As our business, community, Iwi and government leaders, this is an opportunity to demonstrate (and hopefully kickstart) our regional efforts towards a circular economy and thriving environment for people and planet.

To be good ancestors we must live out our values, take action and use the tools available to enable change and transformation. This presentation will help us as a community to determine whether this is one such time.

Thank you for your consideration of this, and we hope you’ll be able to join the conversation. If this scheduled date/time doesn’t suit you and you’d like to be included in further discussions, please let us know.

Ngā mihi,

Rachel Sanson, Co-host

Jodie Kuntzsch, Co-host