good 

New Zealand’s guide to sustainable living

Subscribe

October-November 2008

Home » Magazine » Good, issue 3

See also: Good #1 | Good #2 | Good #3 | Good #4 | Good #5 | Good #6 | Good #7 | Good #8 | Good #9 | Good #10 | Good #11 | Good #12

Good start

08 Editorial

on getting stuck in

24 Green thumb

On patio heaters and silly questions

27 Dishwasher vs kitchen sink

Good choice: Dishwashers make life easier—so they must be bad for the environment, right? Not necessarily

27 Rainforests

Convenient truths about: Rainforests once covered 14 percent of the earth’s surface. Now they cover just six percent

28 New Zealand's foul dinners

Good question: The shocking truth about battery hens: the same tiny cages Europe has banned are being adopted in New Zealand

30 Good stuff

Lots of nice things

32 Good reads

Good reads: All about food and gardens

34 Liam Finn

My green journey: Hailed as an indie wunderkind in America, is still a good Kiwi lad, right down to his avocado sandwiches. Good caught up with him at the beginning of his US tour on board a bus that runs on biofuel

36 Whistle-blower

Local heroes: Dr Elvira Dommisse, biotechnologist ... and genetic engineering whistle-blower

Features

38 Genuine articles

If you are what you wear, most of us haven't got too much to be proud of. It's time to get changed into some clean clothes—free from pesticides, worker exploitation and harmful dyes. Let these beautiful, sustainable, ethical garments inspire you

48 One old man and a pile of cow dung

Kiwi gardener Peter Proctor never expected to spend his seventies in India, transforming the country’s farming practices while being fêted like a rock star. talks to the international superstar of biodynamics

56 Some like it hotter

The globe is warming and Earth’s climate is changing—but what does that mean for your town? investigates the likely impacts of climate change on New Zealand, and gives a long-range weather forecast for the 2090s

The goods

64 Heritage goes high-tech

Home: This historic cottage on the oldest original street in New Zealand has been given a truly 21st-century makeover

68 The water's lovely

Garden: Natural pools do away with chlorine, using just plants and pebbles to create a freshwater lakeside retreat in your back garden. Come on in, says

71 Strange fruit

Garden: This month in your garden

72 Run chicken run!

Chooks in the city: The Good guide to keeping urban chickens—then killing and eating them. Vincent and Sarah Heeringa photograph the dispatch of their pet rooster

76 Spring cheer for fresh spears

Food: Plump, fresh asparagus is on of the first signs of spring. updates the asparagus roll, and finds a use for any pasta machines gathering dust out there

78 A kinder magic

Travel: Nestled on river's edge, enclosed by sub-tropical gardens, Magic Cottage lives up to its name

80 Eco-chic ... Nelson

Travel: Eco-chic in Nelson

97 Generation next

Family: If you're looking for a person with passion, drive, commitment and energy, talk to your nearest teenager. Don't believe us? talks to Aotearoa's greenest teens

100 A brave new world—again

Community: WIth its thriving artistic scene and historic river, Whanganui has always had a coolness about it. Now it's become a shining example of sustainability as well. suspects former resident James K Baxter would be impressed

103 Slow style

Style: It's time to get off the fast fashion merry-go-round. Figure out what truly suits you, and buy quality garments that go easier on the environment. Become your own fashion editor, says Gala Darling

104 Peta Mathias

Style: Chef, author and television presenter is almost as well known for her bold, colourful style as she is for her food and travel writing. She was possibly the first person in New Zealand to wear red and pink together on the same day, despite her mother's advice

105 Jacquie Brown

Style: Starring in any New Zealand television comedy is a bold move. Bolder still is starring in one with your name on it. But is a bold kind of gal. She pulled off the Tv show with aplomb, and does the same with towering heels and frocks from her favourite New Zealand designers.

106 Spring clean your cuisine

Health: Keen to undo the year's indulgences with a detox diet, discovers there's no such thing as a quick fix—but that doesn't stop her from trying

108 To dye or not to die

Health:  ponders the big question

110 Slip, slop, slap ... safe?

Consumer guide: For the next couple of months we'll be slathering on the sunscreen and enjoying another great Kiwi summer. But are some creams doing us more harm than good? And is it really worth paying extra for a more natural product?

114 11 ways to be a greener geek

Technology: The geek will inherit the earth—but first, we need to clean up our act. finds 11 ways to make your PC more PC

116 Make your own biofuel

How to: DIY biofuel

117 Get smart

Transport: The revolutionary Smart Fortwo car

118 Bright green future

Business: A factory that emits oxygen, purifies water and nurtures birdlife—why not? The world's leading 'bright green' environmentalists are taking a fresh approach to solving modern business problems. finds out their advice for New Zealand

118 The Braungart interview

Business:  interviews Michael Braungart, co-author of Cradle to Cradle, about the world's bright green future, and how New Zealand can brighten up.

Good bits

129 How green can a luxury car be?

Business: BMW has at least one good story to tell on sustainability. wonders why it’s only telling the other ones

130 Spring showers

Eco-worrier:  takes baby steps

131 Age of enlightenment

Gaia and brimstone:  wonders how many light bulbs it will take to change a government

132 More from less

Good housekeeping: Minimise your effort, maximise your time. has her priorities straight

135 Action

Action: Dress smarter

136 Megan Hosking

The good life: Owner and director of design business Alto, chair of the Sustainability Trust, founder of sustainable youth network Intersect and member of the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra

More Goodness

The Good blog
  • Right clothes for the job
    article illustration

    I love bee keeping, it is the only time in my life I have been a size 6! Being new to bee keeping I have gone for the full zipped hood bee suit. Some may think it is over kill, but I really don't like stings.

  • Walking the talk
    article illustration

    Oxfam Trailwalker is the most life-changing, team-building, foot-slogging, friendship-forming, group-hugging experience ever ... oh, and it's just won New Zealand's top sustainability event award for third straight year.

  • Have your say on NZ's energy future
    article illustration

    Greenpeace and the WWF are calling for urgent submissions on the Government's proposed draft energy strategy. Submissions close at 5pm on Thursday 2 September (this week!).

Good magazine
  • Community projects

    List of your community projects in New Zealand

  • Bring home the bacon
    article illustration

    Five months pregnant and facing her 40th birthday, Francesca Price decides it’s time to go pig hunting

  • Aspartame

    Should you worry about aspartame?

article illustration

Latest issue

What does it really take to hop off the treadmill? We ask five families who've changed their lives, and find seven ways to slow down and simplify your life (without too many sacrifices!). Plus: Your eco home makeover—part one of our new renovation series.

Follow us

Latest comments

  • Helen on More from less:
    Hi, I've just been reading about washing soda crystals, where can I buy them from?
  • Nonavee Dale on Have your say on NZ's energy future:
    Only the most important issue of our time.  I wish I could have submitted!  That's terrible "democracy".
  • Abigail Blanchett on Dargaville Girl Guides embark on world record attempt:
    Great cause.terrific idea.am following your progress and collecting bras.also writing about it on my blog and producing a multi-media piece  
  • Rachael on Bare-faced cheek:
    Have you tried SheerMineral cosmetics, I think they are the best by far and I have tried all of the above brands. They are are NZ company -  
  • FC on The Italian stallion:
    Thanks for the recipes, Alessandra. Broccoli is probably my favourite vegetable that I usually just steam or stir fry but I'm now inspired t  
  • FC on This one's for the ladies:
    I have used the cup for several years and recommend it to all women. To make it more comfortable I snipped the end of the 'stalk' just a lit  
  • Annabel McAleer on 7 questions about the BP oil spill:
    Thank god that's over. Here's some info on the clean-up and dispersal of the oil, from the Science Media Centre:The Deepwater Horizon oil sp  
  • pioverten on Have your say on NZ's energy future:
    I only had time for a quick read.there is very little in there about education or upskilling.In my experience as an engineer, the public's u  

Blogs

Good pages

Good Shopping Handbook
carboNZero logo

Good magazine is a carboNZero certified product