Green Hub Grand Opening
160 Rangitikei St, Palmerston North
Friday 9 April 2010; 2pm
Hon Tariana Turia, Minister of Community and Voluntary Sector

I was surprised to see that Rock and Roll star Shakin’ Stevens wasn’t on the invite list for this great event.

Because many years ago, in July 1981, Shakin’ Stevens spent four weeks at the top of the pops with a song that could well have been the Green Hub Anthem:

Someone laughed out loud behind the green door
All I want to do is join the happy crowd
behind the green door!

The Green Hub Trust is indeed a place where a happy crowd have gathered to create a new pathway forward for our land.

I am delighted to be here to acknowledge that happy crowd of partners – and to congratulate and celebrate you all for this wonderful new initiative in social enterprise.

I am really excited by the momentum that has been achieved by the Green Hub in just six months since you commenced operation.

Of course I know the inspiration for this initiative has been developing over many years as a result of the foundation laid by the Palmerston North Green Bike Trust which had been in existence since 1994.

The Green Bike Trust was based on the principle that communities, businesses and councils should work together in the pursuit of resource recovery, while also generating employment.

As the Trust evolved, it decided to change its operation to a social enterprise model.

And I want to really commend you for a brave decision to venture forward into the world of social entrepreneurship.

In essence your ambition in setting up the Green Hub has been to continue to meet business outcomes such as creating employment, while at the same time developing social goals which are fundamental to your operation.

And so whilst you are introducing branded hire bikes on the streets, investigating demolition waste, retrieving goods from the landfill, you are also dedicated towards protecting the environment for future generations and encouraging all of us to take responsibility for a more sustainable future.

Through this project you are pioneering a unique combination of business generation alongside of corporate social and environmental responsibility.

But what is possibly the most distinctive feature of your initiative is the excitement you have been able to generate – and consequently the ownership and involvement across the community

I want to personally acknowledge all of the major funding partners that comprise the happy crowd that are supporting the Green Hub:

• Phoenix Supported Employment
• Massey University
• Lombard Design
• Ash Cairns of Cairns Bins
• Green Heart Productions
• Pitt Park and MUSA
• The Wind Turbine Company and the Power Shed
• Biology Build and Ecology Institute
• Enviro Paints
• Recytech
• Palmerston North City Council
• Work and Income through the Community Max Scheme and the Enterprising Communities fund;
• And Eastern and Central and Central Energy.

As well as these major funding partners there is support from others such as
• ABretech to convert bikes to electric;
• the Hastings District Council and U Turn Trust who want to take the bike scheme to the Hawkes Bay
• and all of the Resource Recovery Centres throughout the South Island who provided such a strong foundation for this project.

We have a whakatauaki which expresses this intent of the Green Hub : ma whero, ma pango, ka oti te mahi: by red and by black the task is completed.

Originally the colour red represented the red ochre that chiefs would smear themselves with; the colour black expressed the sweat and the grime of the workers.

In its modern day interpretation we think of all different categories of people working together, united by the pursuit of a common goal.

Today, then, we celebrate that pursuit; that collective endeavour; to create income streams, to be self-reliant, to develop employment opportunities, and to deliver zero waste services in an environmentally sustainable way.

While the two Trusts – the Green Bike Trust and The Green Hub – now employ fourteen people between them, there is, as I have mentioned earlier, a huge support team of sponsors, organisations, councillors, businesses and industry leaders that have joined this movement forward.

And I want to particularly acknowledge all those 1800 people who signed the submission for an Environmental Centre which in many ways provided the impetus for the leap of faith you have all taken in setting up the Green Hub.

Together, all together, you are building a new way of living which encourages us to reuse, recycle, repair, respect, replace, and trade local.

I congratulate you all for this wonderful new social enterprise and I have much pleasure in declaring the Green Hub officially open.

ENDS

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