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Introduction to EcoCare in the Pacific

EcoCARE Pacific Trust is a New Zealand registered, non-profit, charitable organisation

Mission Statement

“Supporting Health, Education and Environmental Well-being in Pacific Communities”

Background

In 2004 a small group of Kiwi friends set out to holiday in Tonga. These people were all well reputed in their various professional fields; two General Practitioners, a partner in a law firm, another a research consultant in aquatic ecology and finally a geneticist / molecular biologist. Two things of consequence happened. Firstly they fell in love with the country and its people; secondly they were struck by a number of issues obviously impacting negatively upon the health and well being of the Tongan people and their environment. Hence the creation of the EcoCARE Pacific Trust: a trust designed to initiate and facilitate cooperative relationships between those people, organisations and available funds and support which may help address key issues. The trust is mainly active in the areas of educational, environmental and medical needs. As many of the issues identified in Tonga are common throughout the Pacific, the longer-term vision would see EcoCare extending its support to other Pacific nations as well.

Vision

• To acknowledge, respect and honor the culture and unique qualities of Pacific Island communities, and to support processes that protect and maintain the integrity of these unique qualities.
  
• To be of service to Pacific Island communities in ways that are deemed appropriate by local communities and their governing bodies.
  
• To identify and support processes and sustainable development that promotes the health and well-being of Pacific Island communities and their environments.To investigate and develop alternative environmentally sustainable industrial processes and practices.
  

EcoCARE is working, in collaboration with the Tongan Government on the following areas which have been identified as requiring immediate attention:

• Providing safe drinking water to communities
  
• Herbicides and pesticides
  
• Discarding of plastics
  
• Discarding of used disposable nappies
  
• Introduced species
  
• Deforestation
  
• Restoration of coconut crab populations
  
• Development of sustainable energy technology
  
• Diabetes and heart disease
  
• Identifying local resources and developing processes that enable those resources to be used for the benefit of all but in a sustainable and practical way
  
• Facilitating access to and education in the use of current technologies
  

EcoCARE Pacific Trust is negotiating the development of self sustaining, emergency response communications units that can be erected and functioning within one hour. These units would have wind and solar power and a bio-digesting toilet.

We are developing projects that will involve the supervision of Tongan Masters and Ph.D. students by University of Canterbury researchers on mangrove restoration, fisheries and human health related topics.

Endorsements

Since its inception EcoCARE has been endorsed to facilitate and initiate relationships that might assist the people of Tonga by:

• The government of Tonga (Ministers of Health, Education and the Cabinet of Tonga)
  
• The University of Canterbury
• NZ High Commissioner to Tonga
• NZ Minister of Health and director general of health

Collaborative working relationships

We are currently involved in projects with:

• World Health Organisation
  
• University of Canterbury
  
• Aqua Pure Water CF consultancy
  
• Christchurch City Council Libraries and IT
  
• Rotary NZ, Tonga and Australia
  
• Air New Zealand
  
• Contract Logistics
  
• Xerox
  
• LIANZA
  
• World Bank Health Sector Support
  
• Critical Ecological Protection Fund
  
• Dr. Supileo Foliaki Foundation for Integral Family Development
  
• South Moana Hospital Trust
  
• Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
  
• Tongan Community Development Trust
  
• Founder Foundation of People of the South Pacific International
  
• Tongan Tourist Association and the Government and people of Tonga to name a few

Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health has formally requested the support of EcoCARE Pacific Trust in the implementation of the Tongan Health Strategy.

The trust is initiating and facilitating closer relations between the University of Canterbury and the Ministry of Education in Tonga.
EcoCARE Pacific Trust is establishing some excellent networks and creating formulas that can be used in other developing countries and the intention is to do exactly that, by developing programs and projects in other Pacific and Pacific Rim nations.