Wellington Fairtrade Capital City of Firsts

Wellington Fairtrade Capital City of Firsts

This year Wellington will experience its first Fairtrade Fortnight from 1st – 16th May, as the nation’s Fairtrade capital city.

Wellington became a Fairtrade city on the 9th December last year and is also the first Fairtrade capital city in the Southern Hemisphere.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight and proud to be part of a global movement campaigning for a better deal for farmers and workers in the developing world,” says Wellington Fairtrade representative, Paul Barber.

The Fairtrade celebrations begin this Saturday afternoon on Cuba Mall, with the Big Swap Fairtrade Banana Street Promotion, to mark the arrival of All Good Fairtrade bananas, New Zealand’s first Fairtrade bananas in Wellington.

“We’re encouraging everyone to swap to Fairtrade bananas, tea and coffee from their usual products. The more we swap the bigger the impact we make on the lives of small-scale producers in developing countries,” says Barber.

The Fairtrade bananas are sourced from a cooperative of small banana farmers and their families in El Guabo, Ecuador. Fairtrade guarantees they get a fair price for their crop and a fair and decent standard of living for their families; education, health care and the money they need to re-invest into community development.

All Good Fairtrade bananas are available from Commonsense Organics and Moore Wilson and now all Foodstuffs stores in the capital can also sell Fairtrade bananas: New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square.

The Big Swap Fairtrade Banana Street Promotion, Cuba Mall on Saturday 1st May from 1-3pm will be followed by a Fairtrade Mayoral Reception on Monday 3rd May 2.30pm at the Council Chambers, Wakefield Street. Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast has invited representatives from Fairtrade businesses, workplaces, schools and community groups to join her for a Fairtrade afternoon tea of banana muffins, tea and coffee.

ENDS

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