Caring for our Environment

At Cobden Garden Homestay we endeavour always to minimise our environmental impact. We try hard at all times to adhere to the following policies:

• We recycle all metal cans, glass, plastic, cardboard and paper.
• We use re-useable cloth bags when grocery shopping.
• All our organic waste in composted.
• We use an electric lawn mower on the lawns and do not remove the clippings, minimising the need for fertiliser.
• Our garden is fertilised with organic product only.
• We use “eco-friendly” plant based, non-phosphate detergents in the kitchen and laundry.
• There are re-fillable dispensers for bathroom hand wash and shampoos in the guest rooms.
• Laundry is air dried to minimise the use of the clothes drier.
• We have installed low wattage fluorescent bulbs wherever possible and progressively replacing these with LED bulbs.
• We buy and serve locally produced fruit and vegetables wherever possible.
• Locally farmed eggs are served for breakfast.
• Instant water heating for guests negates the need for a hot water cylinder.
• Guest beds are made up with cotton sheets and blankets and feather duvets.
• We are progressively installing insulation into our Victorian wooden home.
• Woolen carpets are used throughout the house.
• We use eco-friendly (non-solvent based) paints for decorating and maintenance.
• We are progressively planting areas of our section in native plants.
• We have installed a PV (solar cell) system for our electricity and use a power company that  produces electricity from renewable resources.
• We are consciously eliminating non recyclable plastic e.g. by using wax cloth covers instead of cling wrap and shopping with re-useable containers.

Community Environmental Projects.

Helping ECOED Raise Kiwi Chicks in Hawke's Bay.

In lieu of charging our guests for doing laundry or using our facilities we ask them to consider making a donation to this project. To date, a group of dedicated volunteers have raised and returned more than 275 chicks into the Kaweka Forest Park.

Predation of kiwi chicks by stoats and dogs have reduced the number of Kiwi in Hawke’s Bay to approximately 1,000. Without active management Kiwi will become locally extinct within 10 years. In response, ECOED has initiated the 'Save Our Kiwi Hawke’s Bay' to maintain and enhance our local Kiwi population and use Kiwi to promote environmental and outdoor education.

A 40ha pest free area has been established – the 'Pan Pac Kiwi Crèche' at Lake Opouahi Scenic Reserve, 9km inland from Tutira and in the past we have contributed approximately $500.00 per year which goes towards transmitters that are attached to the male and young kiwis so they can be tracked.

With no International guests since April 2020 because of Covid 19 we have not had laundry requests but we were able to raise some funds by hosting a Family reunion afternoon tea and in lieu of a charge a koha was requested and funds raised to help the kiwi.

Ahuriri Estuary Restoration.

Once a month we meet with a group who support the Department of Conservation (DOC) to rid the estuary of plants that simply should not be there.  Whilst quite attractive sea lavender and an exotic ice plant are a threat to the native plants who act as sieves and help protect the quality of the estuary which is home to a number of wadding birds and a popular area for recreational activities.  The group also help rid other plant invaders in natural habitats and plant trees to enhance the natural environment.

Predator Free Urban Hawke's Bay.

PFUHB)  New Zealand has a goal to rid us of creatures who wreck havoc on our native birds by 2050.  Rats, possums, weasels and stoats love the eggs and even the young of our birds and more importantly the native birds.  In Napier there is a project to trap the rats, weasels and stoats which we have joined and Phillip regularly lays bait in our traps and keeps the possum bait stations replenished.  Consequently our garden, which is very wooded is home, to numerous birds and it is delightful to see the many young in spring.