Ngā Hua te Taiao - Issue 15

Good news stories (and more) for the planet 

Kia ora, Salient reader! Welcome to our fortnightly column on the environment, sustainable living, and the small, stubborn act of hope amongst a world on fire! Check in every second week for waste-free recipes, genuinely good news, and practical ways to lend a hand—nudging a happier, healthier earth a little closer into view.

Solar success!

Renewable energy, the poster child of a clean green world. We can dream right? But what if we didn't have to. A recent report by global electricity think tank, Ember, sheds light on a more hopeful landscape than you may expect. Here are some highlights from 2025:

33.8% of the world's power generation came from renewables

75% of global electricity demand growth was met by solar 

More recently, in April 2026, for the first time in history, more electricity was produced globally by wind and solar than by gas.

And these are statistics that take into account gas guzzling super nations such as the good ol’ US of A. If we narrow our search closer and peer just over the ditch to Australia we can witness perhaps the most incredible transformation of all. Since 2010, the Australian government has been slowly injecting money into household solar. As of 2026, 4 million (one in three) Australian homes had rooftop solar panels and the cost of electricity has been going steadily down. Multiple reports claim that many Australians are now getting up to three hours of free power every day, just to use up the excess energy that is flooding the grid.

For more information about the cost-saving, planet-protecting properties of solar power right here in our homes, check out Rewiring Aotearoa online. Or, better still, come along to Kelburn Normal School at 7:15p.m. on Thursday the 23rd of July for our stop in the national “kill bill” tour. 

True, we do still have an incredibly long journey ahead of us to reach a complete energy switchover. But hey, sometimes it's worth looking back to see just how far we’ve come already! 

Affordable Waste-free Menstrual Products…… On Campus!

The search to find comfortable, healthy, easy-to-use, and affordable sanitary products is outrageously difficult. Doing your period waste-free is another step altogether! Luckily, we have discovered that there are subsidised period products available at a very reasonable price right here at the university. VUWSA sells menstrual cups, as well as period underwear, both available in different sizes. These alternatives can be a great sustainable switch to think about making. One menstrual cup can last up to ten years, helping your wallet and showing love to your body, and our earth.

Feeling slightly daunted by the prospect of using the menstrual cup? Never fear! The cup comes with a pamphlet of very informative instructions, and you will find plenty of helpful videos on YouTube with tips on how to use the cup and look after it. Ask the other wonderful wāhine in your life who might use them for advice as well! The best thing to do is to take your time with learning how to feel comfortable using the cup—trust me it will feel easier each time you do it. You will eventually reach a point where you’ll say, “THESE THINGS ARE FANTASTIC! I should have been using this for years!” 

The main thing is to always do what feels right for your own body and flow; we are all designed delightfully differently. Some may find that period underwear or reusable pads feel like a safer and more comfortable option; you could also try using a menstrual disc as an alternative to the cup, as it has a different shape. Let yourself try out the variety of reusable, waste-free options and see what works best for you! Just go visit the office on the top floor of the VUWSA building on Kelburn Campus to snag yourself some new period products that will revolutionise the way you do your period.