ENM is the environment hub for the Manawatū region, connecting and inspiring communities to take environmental action.
We provide sector leadership, build capacity and capability, and create community.
ENM is proud to be Palmerston North City Council’s go-to group for environmental work. As a member-led group, we work alongside our network to share ideas, get things done, and push for positive change. We lead by example, supporting everyone in their mahi and making sure they have what they need to achieve their goals.
We believe in bringing people together. We help strengthen community connections, provide opportunities to meet others, and create spaces where people can talk about what’s needed and work together to find solutions.
We’re passionate about protecting the environment, and we know that to make a real difference, we need to stay strong ourselves. We focus on getting the right resources for the community and helping our network groups and locals build their skills. By encouraging learning, working together, and supporting volunteers, we help everyone make a positive impact.
Our Pou
Our four pou are the key priorities that guide everything we do at ENM. By focusing on these, we believe we can achieve our vision and make a real difference. These pou, and their actions are outlined in our 2024 – 2027 strategic plan.
Climate Action
Our goal is to raise awareness about climate issues and help to hold both local and central governments accountable. Climate action involves taking steps to slow down climate change, such as reducing emissions, reducing wastefulness and overconsumption, having clean air, pushing for climate-friendly policies, and helping build sustainable, living cities.
We recognise that climate action is closely connected to the other pou, but it needs special attention because it’s so important.
Biodiversity Protection and Enhancement
We aim to protect and increase native birds, insects, and plants, while also improving water quality. we focus on preserving and restoring the natural environment in our region. Our network in this area, including the Source to Sea (S2S), is working together to improve the health of the Manawatū River catchment—the area of land where rainwater and streams flow into the Manawatū River.
Community Food Sovereignty
Our goal is to ensure everyone has access to healthy food that is grown in sustainable ways. Community food sovereignty is about ensuring that communities have access to healthy, culturally appropriate food that is grown locally and sustainably. Our network in this area, including the Manawatū Food Action Network (MFAN), works together to help communities grow their own food, make healthy food more accessible, reduce food waste, and provide free or affordable food to people.
Circular Economy
We want our planet to thrive and continue to provide us with resources for generations to come. We bring people together to support and inspire their efforts to create positive change toward a circular economy. We support groups and activities that provide circular economy education, and endeavour to build a strong network of community groups who work together to improve local circular economy practices. We support the development of initiatives that inspire collective understanding and community sharing, that offer opportunities to get involved, that educate, that upskill the public to make their own contributions and that increase understanding of consumer choice/power.
Our Key functions
Critical to the achievement of our goals are our key functions which support and strengthen our pou, and enable us to show sector leadership, build capacity, and capability and create community. Ensuring ENM is being efficient and effective in these key functions is pivotal and underpins all our other roles across the four Pou.
ENM prioritises strengthening relationships with mana whenua and exploring our role as Tangata Tiriti, working towards becoming trusted partners. We focus on supporting and equipping our membership, providing connection, training, and promotion. We help to scaffold projects in their initial stages, while supporting the development of their long-term financial viability. We distribute the Environmental Initiatives Fund and aim to progress the vision for an Environmental Centre, improve volunteer coordination, and advocate for environmental change. We need to increase our financial resilience and maintain and improve our systems and processes while continuing to collaborate and build relationships within our membership and beyond.
Our full Stategic Plan
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Our Story
Environment Network Manawatū (ENM) was started on 18 June 2001 to help people in the Manawatū work together for a better environment. It began with a small group of pioneers, who cared about the land, rivers, and nature around them to promote a network of collective community action. Over time, ENM has grown to include more than 65 groups from all over the region. Today, we are a unique environmental group in Aotearoa, powered by volunteers who bring their skills and knowledge to help us make a positive difference.
We are grateful to our many supporters
- Palmerston North City Council (PNCC)
- Lottery Community
- Eastern and Central Community Trust
- Community Organization Grants Scheme (COGS)
- Horizons Regional Council (HRC)
- The Mazda Foundation
- The ANZ Staff Foundation.
- Shanlyn Family Trust
- Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord
- Lion Foundation
- Mainland Foundation
- EHA
- Estate of Gordon Lindsey Isaacs
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