Dear Friends,

Last year, a new member called Kate joined the Soil & Health Association. Kate is a young mum who simply wants her child to grow up with safe, healthy places to play.

One day, while at her local playground with her child, Kate watched a council contractor spraying chemicals around the park. She was shocked and worried. Were the chemicals safe? Should children be playing there? Who could she contact? What could she do?

Kate connected with our team at Soil & Health, and soon discovered she wasn’t alone. There are many parents around the country who share the same concerns about pesticides being used in playgrounds, parks and public spaces. They want answers, and they want change – and we want to help them.

That’s why Soil & Health’s Annual Appeal this year is focused on Safe Playgrounds as part of our wider Pesticide Action Campaign.

Our goal is to raise $30,000 to kick-start this campaign and help parents make real change in their communities.

Together with Kate and others, we’re creating a practical action kit for mums, dads and local communities, supporting them to work with councils to advocate for spray-free playgrounds. Just as importantly, we want to independently test playgrounds around New Zealand for pesticide residues. Reliable testing gives communities the evidence they need to ask questions, encourage change, and hold decision-makers accountable.

Safe, healthy playgrounds are at the heart of it. Every child deserves the freedom to run, climb and explore without being exposed to harmful pesticides. Together, we can help keep our tamariki safe, support families like Kate’s, and encourage councils to do the right thing by choosing healthier, chemical-free management.

So, we’re asking you to make a donation today, help us get this work underway – test playgrounds, support communities, and create safer places for our children to play.

Your donation, large or small, brings us one step closer to our goal of $30,000. Whether you can give $10, $20, $50, $100 or more – or whether you can make a small weekly contribution, your generosity will help turn these ideas into action.

Thank you for standing with us!

Asha Andersen – Pesticide Campaign Co-ordinator

contact: asha.andersen@soilandhealth.org.nz

The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand

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How to make your donation:

Credit card: fill in your details at https://soilandhealth.org.nz/donate-sh/

Internet banking: The Soil and Health Association of New Zealand

Account: 02 0108 0058415 001 / Use “Appeal” in the reference

If you include your name in the transaction and let us know, we can make sure you receive a receipt – please email info@soilandhealth.org.nz so we can email it to you.