If you are an experienced business person who understands the challenges faced by small business and you want to give something back to the small business economy of New Zealand through sharing your business knowledge and experience, then you should consider mentoring through Business Mentors New Zealand. Source: Business Mentors NZ User Comments: Great to see an official system set up for this process.

NZBCSD members and other businesses are encouraged to participate in fostering business and school partnerships through initiatives that match their resources with the needs of individual schools. Source: NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development User Comments: The link to the guide does not work.

Enviroschools is a huge network of people working in hundreds of schools and organisations nationwide working together to create healthy and viable schools communities and eco systems. This website lets you know everything there is to know about Enviroschools Source: Enviroschools User Comments: Well set out. Very informative

New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisation. (NZFVWO) Source: NZFVWO User Comments: Easy to use has a section where you can order publications such as law scene etc Also has a lot of information which can be downloaded

Corporate Citizens, holds details of New Zealand businesses that are committed to building relationships with community and voluntary organisations. The Funding Information Service is an organisation collecting and distributing information about community funding through three databases: FundView, BreakOut and CorporateCitizens. Source: Funding Information Service User Comments: The site looks like you have to pay, but after contacting them found out all listings are offered free of charge. If you would like to list your business and promote the work you do in your community email info@fis.org.nz. Community groups can access the database for free in their local library to look up businesses that may be interested helping with their projects.

New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development (NZBCSD) perspective on social responsibility. Source: NZBCSD User Comments: Easy to use informative

Information about Kiwi Saver Source: Sorted User Comments:

Guide to help you identify how you can improve Source: Department of Labour User Comments: Contains a good checklist to prompt thought.

Media report on how to get staff to be more productive Source: NZ Herald User Comments: Interesting reading

Work-Life Balance section of the DOL website. Source: Department of Labour User Comments: Easy to Use has a good selection of case studies relating to work-life balance flexible work etc

Application of Low Impact Urban Design and Development (LIUDD) Principles, with a Biodiversity Focus, for New Zealand Developers and Homeowners. Source: NZ User Comments: This is really cool to see how you can encourage biodiversity even amoung built structures.

The GreenPages project is a collaborative effort by people involved in different groups in the New Zealand environment movement. This includes Greenpeace, Native Forest Action, DoC, Environment Centres. Source: Greenpages User Comments: Very basic not very eye catching

QEII Trust helps private landowners in New Zealand to protect significant natural and cultural features on their land through open space covenants in perpetuity. Source: QEII National Trust User Comments: Some useful information on covenants on the resources section

Founded in 1980, the NZ Native Forests Restoration Trust is New Zealand's leading organisation involved in forest restoration. Since then, the Trust has acquired land at the rate of 250ha a year to protect important species, restore their habitats and to improve the quality of our waterways. It now has 25 reserves throughout the North Island with a total of nearly 6,000ha of protected native forests. Source: NZ Native Forests Restoration Trust User Comments: Their reserves are mainly up on the North Island, so I suspect DOC or Forest and Bird would be better organisations to align with in Southland.

Formed in 1923, Forest & Bird has about 40,000 members in 50 branches that work on a variety of conservation activities, from re-forestation to lobbying, bird monitoring to weed-busting. Source: Forest and Bird User Comments: Great to see the range of stuff you can get involved in as well as donate to.

The New Zealand National Parks and Conservation Foundation aims to challenge and enable business, private individual and visitors to contribute to the conservation estate for the benefit of all. The Foundation operates as the strategic partner to the Department of Conservation in conservation fundraising. Source: New Zealand National Parks and Conservation Foundation User Comments: The website is just a home page with no further information. Does this organisation actually exist??

These Plant Me Instead booklets profile the environmental weeds of greatest concern to those in your region who work and volunteer in local parks and reserves, national parks, bush remnants, wetlands and coastal areas. Suggestions are given for locally-sold non-weedy species, both native and non-native, that can be used to replace these weeds in your garden. Source: Weedbusters User Comments: This was really helpful, I didn't know some of these were weeds.

These factsheets give advice on what to plant in order to attract native birds into your garden and the months of the year when New Zealand plants provide food for native birds. Source: Department of Conservation User Comments: Great resource, nice to know how to attract birds to your garden and do your bit for bio-diversity!

Southland Ecological Restoration Network (SERN) A network of Southland Community Conservation projects. Source: Southland District Council DOC ICC ES User Comments: Has a comprehensive list of projects for anyone looking at supporting a local ecological restoration project.

Information sheet on the benefits of conservation and examples of businesses involved with conservation projects. Source: Department of Conservation User Comments:

Online social network that aims to teach children about a greener, less purchase-driven future. Source: Minos User Comments: Finally, social networking site for children based on good values.

Details on the Sustainable Living Programme. Links to different councils who are involved in the programme information on courses avaliable. Source: Sustainable Living New Zealand User Comments: lots of information avaliable well set out

These care codes provide advice about ways you can help to ensure our natural environment remains pristine, our historic relics are preserved, and our cultural values respected. It is important to also respect the rights of other people for quiet enjoyment of the outdoors when undertaking activities. Source: User Comments:

New Zealand is a beautiful country. Help keep our towns, cities, parks, beaches and native bush free from pollution and waste. Please also respect our unique flora and fauna. Be active and get involved in caring for the environment. It is everyone’s responsibility. Here are some tips on how to be eco-wise and leave gentle footprints when travelling in New Zealand Source: User Comments: Well set out and easy to follow

This user guide lists the locations of more than 600 dumping stations across New Zealand for motor home users. Source: Ministry of Tourism User Comments: Southland locations near the end of the document

Global Stewards website - full of environmental tips and sustainable solutions for a healthy planet Source: Global Stewards User Comments: Easy to use full of great tips and resources

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Website. Has all you need to know about this organisation from news and events to current vacancies Source: Greenpeace User Comments: Easy to use packed with information

Neighbourhood Disputes Information Sheet Source: The Law Foundation NZ User Comments: Straight Forward

Updates on Our Way Southland, a joint council community consultation process. Source: Southland Councils User Comments: Interesting reading