Have a read of some of RNZ's latest upbeat news. Photo: RNZ
A native riverside paradise, a new Wellington City Mission facility and a cancer patient on a mission to save lives are among this week's feel-good stories from RNZ.
Ashburton meatworker creates a native riverside paradise
Ross Hawthorne is transforming a stretch of Ashburton River into a flourishing native forest. Photo: JULIE MOFFETT / ASHBURTON GUARDIAN
Local biodiversity and pest management projects in Ashburton have received a $50,000 funding boost, and one project benefiting from the funds is that dreamed up by local Ross Hawthorne.
For the past three years, Hawthorne has been transforming a stretch of Ashburton River into a flourishing native forest. He has already planted 4900 native seedlings with the help of volunteers. Now, with this extra funding in pocket, he will plant a further 1690 natives to complete the project.
"I hope that the day will come and as the trees get bigger, that other native birds will make themselves at home here," he says.
New Wellington City Mission facility to open
Whakamaru opens on 18 November. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
There is no "us and them" at Whakamaru, Wellington City Mission's new $50 million facility. After six years of dreaming, planning and building, the facility is finally complete and ready to help the public.
Funded largely by the community, with support from the government and Wellington City Council, Whakamaru is a place for people from all walks of life to gather, get a coffee or kai, or seek help. It opens to the public on 18 November.
Mahi tokens launched in bid to regrow native habitats
Te Kautuku beef station on the far East Coast, Tairāwhiti, is being used as a test case for a native habitat regeneration project by startup Toha Network, allowing supporters to purchase Mahi Tokens to fund the environmental work. Photo: Supplied/ Toha Network
Landowners are being paid to return their land to native forests and wetlands, in a pilot project launched in Tairāwhiti.
To test the new project by the Toha Network, a Māori-owned beef station will be regenerated into native species. As well as beef pasture, the farm has beehives, a large protected area of original indigenous forest, and waterways flowing directly to the Pacific Ocean.
Companies wanting to fund restoration of nature buy Mahi digital tokens, and the people doing the work can access the money by uploading evidence of their efforts via a digital platform.
Pancreatic cancer patient on a mission to save lives
Nyree Smith's cancer is terminal, but during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, she's on a mission to get Kiwis to their doctors before it's too late. Photo: Supplied
For seven years, Nyree Smith has lived with deadly pancreatic cancer. Her goal now isn't her own survival, but to save others.
In 2017, Smith had no symptoms, just a new "pushy doctor", who insisted on her getting a full checkup. Her cancer is normally among the deadliest - from diagnosis to death is four to nine months, on average. But she is defying those odds.
Smith is in stage four, meaning her cancer is terminal, but she is still full of life and on a relentless mission to ensure anyone with a stomach ache goes to their GP.
Te Kōhao Health celebrates 30 years of serving Hamilton
Lady Tureiti Moxon. Photo: Supplied / Sarah Sparks
Decades on from starting as a 'one stop shop' for out-of-towners, a kaupapa Māori health clinic is celebrating 30 years of serving the Hamilton community.
In 1994, Te Kōhao Health was just a seed on the Kirikiriroa marae - now it is a staple for Hamilton.
Back in the early years, no one paid with money but rather with eggs and bartering, Lady Tureiti Moxon says. The clinic had one part-time doctor and a practice nurse until staff and contracts trickled its way. Te Kōhao now serves more than 8500 whānau with both western and Māori models.
Purpose-built youth hub opens in Christchurch
The new Youth Hub is officially opened. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
After more than a decade of planning, fundraising and construction, the Christchurch-based Youth Hub is open.
Youth Hub Trust chair Dame Sue Bagshaw has spent her career fighting for young people, including as a primary care youth specialist, opening the city's first free youth health centre and dedicating herself to bringing the Youth Hub Te Hurihanga ō Rangatahi to fruition. The hub offers wrap-around care for the city's youth, including mental health, medical and educational services, employment and training, recreation, creativity and social entrepreneurship.
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