This podcast show started with Waveney asking the question, “what is the single most effective thing I can do to save the planet?’ Two years on, and 71 episodes later, both Tim and Waveney take stock of what actions seem to stand out from the rest and declare what their own personal ‘official’ winners. As always, the episode sticks to the show’s guiding kaupapa of focusing on simple solutions that trigger positive change through the whole collection of planetary woes from extinction, to microplastic, to climate change – connecting people with their power to make a difference.  

This episode is the last episode for Season 2 and the last for the series. We’d to thank our major funders, (Huckleberry, All Heart, Ethique, Ecotricity, Kokako and the Live Lightly team at Auckland Council); the How to Save the World Team (Brody, Mariel and others who volunteered their time); and our amazing guests, listeners and biggest thanks of all to our partners, Zoe and Matthew.

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Journey into the world of Koia and Robyn, living sustainably in Manurewa, Auckland, with 9 other whānau members in a ‘not much bigger than average’ sized house.  The episode starts with Koia leading a pōwhiri to formally welcome Tim and Waveney into their home and bless their time together.  After the pōwhiri, Robyn shares her homemade feijoa cake and extraordinary feijoa skin fermented fizzy drink (how to details in episode). The manaaki and aroha flow out of Koia and Robyn, encompassing not just their whānau, but their community, and their environment. They both work professionally supporting others to be their best, Robyn working with tamariki at a kōhanga reo (https://www.kohanga.ac.nz/) ; and Koia working with community members at the ME Family Services centre in Mangere East (http://www.mefsc.org.nz/).  Koia shares from the heart about how Whare Tapa Whā transformed his life and about how they got to where they are today as a whānau.  

Glossary of terms:

·   Whānau / family

·   Pōwhiri / welcome ceremony

·   Manaaki / to show respect, generosity and care for others

·   Aroha / love

·   Tamariki / children

·   Kōhanga reo /  Māori  language nest school

·   Whare Tapa Whā / a Māori model of health and wellbeing encompassing:

o   Taha tinana (physical health)

o   Taha wairua (spiritual health)

o   Taha whānau (family health)

o   Taha hinengaro (mental health)

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The desire to have and love children is one of the strongest, most basic human urges. But studies show that having less kids or no kids is by far the single most impactful action you can take to create a more sustainable tomorrow. So is there any wiggle room in these studies? Or could we justify having a baby on other grounds? Perhaps countries with low birth rates and high consumption rates, (i.e us here in Aotearoa and other wealthy nations), should actually focus the way we consume? We love babies here at How to Save the World and see this episode as a chance to personally reflect on what feels right for you, not as a chance to forward to your prodigiously reproducing friends. It’s a hard topic - so hard in fact that it is usually completely omitted from civic debate or sustainability forums.  

Thanks to those who have gone there, notably:  

• North & South Magazine, Feb 2020, ‘Saving Planet Earth One (Less) Child at a Time’ by Sharon Stephenson
• Population Matters (website & Facebook page)
• 8 Billion Angels movie
• UN Sustainable Development Goals - less population video:
• University of Lund and University of British Columbia, 2017 Study (cited in N&S article)
• BIoScience journal, 2019 Report, ‘World scientists’ warning of a climate emergency, (cited in N&S article)
• Project Drawdown, health & education of women 

If you’d like to take more control of your fertility: 

• Hooray, in Aotearoa all LARCS (long lasting reversible contraceptives) (i.e. implant and IUDs) are now completely funded. 
• Have a contraception plan: visit any Family Planning Clinic for professional, non judgemental advice and support

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