11 May
Auckland Council Media Release
Local Board first to make Fairtrade Swap
Auckland moved a step closer to becoming a Fairtrade City yesterday with the Waitemata Local Board voting to become a Fairtrade workplace.
Deputy Chair, Pippa Coom, made the announcement as part of the board’s support for ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’, taking place from 7 – 22 May. The commitment of the board means Fairtrade-certified tea and coffee will be served in all meetings and made available at the board’s offices.
Mayor Len Brown attended his first Waitemata Local Board meeting last night. Members encouraged him to take up the challenge of leading Auckland to achieving Fairtrade City status.
“As a board we wish to ‘Show off our Swap’ – the theme for this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight – by taking the first step of serving Fairtrade products at our local board offices,” says Ms Coom.
“There are already many cafes and businesses within our local board area that have already made the swap, and many residents who appreciate having the option to shop ethically.
“Fairtrade Auckland is doing a great job promoting fair trade and has already collected over 2000 signatures supporting Auckland becoming a Fairtrade City. The petition will be presented to the Mayor when they reach 10,000,” she says.
Fairtrade benefits communities in developing countries, including the Pacific Islands, by providing decent working conditions, local sustainability, security and stability with fair terms of trade and prices.
Pippa Coom says the board agreed unanimously to be the first local board to make this step and it believes that by adopting Fairtrade City status, Auckland’s international reputation will be enhanced.