Wednesday March 27, 2013

Top twenty fairest towns in New Zealand announced

The top 20 most fair trade-friendly towns in the country have been announced today with the inaugural Oxfam Fair Trade Index – based on the number of Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break events per capita. Coffee Breaks involve friends, workmates, community groups and students getting together to celebrate fair trade, enjoy tasty goodies and raise money to help struggling farmers in the developing world.

Topping the Oxfam Fair Trade Index is the Tasman town of Takaka.

New Zealanders all over the country are now getting ready to put the jug on for Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break during Fair Trade Fortnight, May 4-19. Money raised from these fun and easy events will go towards Oxfam’s work with communities across the Pacific and Southeast Asia. In East Timor Oxfam supports coffee co-operatives to achieve Fairtrade certification and benefit from bigger harvests and higher value – with increased income, better diets, and improved health and education.

Coordinator of the Manelobas coffee co-op in East Timor, Cornell de Concicao, said, “Without Fairtrade certification we’re dependent on the companies. We have to take whatever price they offer. With Fairtrade certification, the price of coffee will be guaranteed.

”Our lives are better than before. In the past we ate only corn and cassava, but now we have a more diverse diet. I’d like to finish building my house and support my children to go to school – I want my daughters to finish their studies.”

Fair trade enables small-scale farmers in developing countries to work their way out of poverty by giving them a fair price for their product, better working conditions and the ability to improve the quality of life in their communities.

Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand, Barry Coates, said, “Kiwis believe in giving people a fair go. That’s really coming through with the massive growth in sales of fair trade products and the success of Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break. We encourage everyone to host a Coffee Break – it’s a fun way to be part of the solution to global poverty. Your fair choices make a big difference.”

Join Kiwis everywhere in hosting a Coffee Break this year. It’s easy to sign up at www.oxfamcoffeebreak.org.nz. Registrations end April 14.

/ends
Notes to editor:
The 20 top towns for Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break Fair Trade Index 2013 are:
Takaka, Tasman
Waitati, Otago
Akaroa, Canterbury
Lincoln, Canterbury
Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty
Kawakawa, Northland
Te Kauwhata, Waikato
Leeston, Canterbury
Woodville, Manawatu-Whanganui
Kamo, Whangarei
Waiuku, Auckland
Kaikoura, Canterbury
Rolleston, Canterbury
Kaikohe, Northland
Whangamata, Waikato
Wellington, Wellington
Wanaka, Otago
Kaitaia, Northland
Waipawa, Hawke’s Bay
Pahiatua, Manawatu-Wanganui
The Oxfam Fair Trade Index was formulated by calculating the number of Coffee Breaks per capita from data spanning the last three years.
Coffee Breaks are easy to host. Oxfam provides Fairtrade Certified goodies for hosts to enjoy while planning their event, and plenty of resources to help make the fundraising and promotion fun and rewarding.

Sponsored product in the Coffee Break packs includes: Caffe L’affare coffee, Kokako drinking chocolate, Whittaker’s chocolate, Scarborough Fair tea and Health Pak sugar. All Good organics also sponsors Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break with Fairtrade bananas.

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