Focus on sustainability

The Otago Polytechnic's Centre for Sustainable Practice is undertaking a biodiesel-fuelled national roadshow tour to promote the launch of its new educational qualification.

Sustainability has become a buzzword for responsible, eco-minded processes which focus on giving people and organisations tools and practices to better manage natural resources.

The polytechnic's roadshow will include 12 stops around New Zealand, including Queenstown and Dunedin, to deliver a message promoting its new certificate in sustainable practice.

The polytech's sustainable practice course manager Steve Henry said the Wanaka-based qualification has been designed so people in full employment can get credit for sustainability work they do "anywhere" in New Zealand.

"Part of our focus during the roadshow is to inspire businesses, local governments, and other organisations to come up with special projects students can complete," he said.

The polytech has created two new qualifications, a level 5 Certificate in Sustainable Practice and a level 7 Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Practice.

"This roadshow and the qualifications, are about aligning economic, environmental and social success.

"Rising natural resource costs and increasing demand for them makes the business case compelling. We don't need to be talking about the why any more, it's about the how," Mr Henry said.

Wanaka has been chosen to base the new course, which is scheduled to begin in February next year, because the town has a reputation for developing sustainability initiatives, he said.

"Wanaka is fast becoming a centre for expertise in this area.

"The community and several individual businesses have embraced the concepts and completed projects through organisations such as Wanaka Waste Busters and Sustainable Wanaka. [It's] the natural home for this course," Mr Henry said.

The qualifications will help both private and public sectors reap financial, environmental and social rewards, he said.

While the courses are based in Wanaka, the qualifications can be earned anywhere in New Zealand.

"This is a model of education with a difference.

"The course is for everyone but particularly for those who want to focus on practical outcomes they can bring to their employment places and communities," Mr Henry said.

The roadshow is being supported by Biodiesel New Zealand and Queenstown businesses Nomad Safaris and Ziptrek Ecotours.

It started in Auckland last Saturday, and makes its way south to Queenstown on November 5, for the Queenstown Lakes Sustainable Business Expo.

The tour will finish at the Otago Polytechnic Council offices in Dunedin on Tuesday, November 9.