Positive Ōtaki initiatives celebrated in new book

Louise Ludlow with a copy of her book, which highlights some great initiatives in Ōtaki. Photo / David Haxton

A new book, with the spotlight on Ōtaki, is celebrating what a small community is doing to ensure better future outcomes.

Louise Ludlow has championed the book Utopia Rising Ki Ahau — Count Me In.

She said the idea of writing the book with a utopian theme came about as a reaction to the dystopian literature that was flooding the market.

Ludlow is part of the Greenaway Writers Group which, while discussing its own and others' writing, often discusses the state of the world too.

She suggested the group, as an exercise, write stories with a utopian theme.

Then Covid came along, the group stopped meeting for a while, and the idea was shelved.

But when the group reassembled, Ludlow said she was keen to write/edit a utopian-themed book "about all the great things that are happening around this area".

Writing friend Susan Connolly offered to help, Andrea Cook and Glenn Hooker offered generous sponsorship, and the book project started in earnest.

The book features a variety of stories from people she interviewed and others who made a contribution.

"The stories mushroomed.

"I would talk to someone and they tell me about another person to talk to.

"It was sort of word of mouth."

The book starts with Leigh Ramsey and his pyrolysis machine, which breaks down plastics into hydrocarbon fuel such as gas, oil and coal.

Not only does cooking plastics create a fuel source, but it tackles the problem of waste plastic.

"Pyrolysis is a really fascinating process.

"Leigh had been in Solomon Islands making these machines out of bits and pieces, but now has this huge machine, which he has brought into New Zealand from China and is working through regulations to be able to use it.

"It cooks plastic in a double chamber container, which also doesn't have emissions coming from it."

Deidre Kent then writes about surviving the future economy including the idea of a local currency system.

Utopia Rising Ki Ahau - Count Me In.

The 200-page book also features, as highlighted in the intro, stories about the "Ōtaki Māoriland Hub and māra [garden] Ōtaki Repair Cafe, the right-to-repair movement, Energise Ōtaki, solar energy and the electricity structure, wood recycling, regenerative farming, the importance of local libraries, the revival of a local flax industry, the advantages of emulsified fuels, Ōtaki rangatahi youth group, and biodynamic farming".

"Also included are ideas on early childhood education, healthy literacy practices, workplace wellness, nostalgia for small-town industry, a Buddhist monk's poetic view on life, tamariki wellbeing, and a look into how promoting te reo in the streets of Ōtaki can make our community stronger and more connected."

The cover artwork is by youngsters Beck and Angus Marshall, whose mother Charmead Schella writes in the book.

"I saw the artwork on Charmead's wall when we were having a writers' group meeting and immediately liked it."

Louise was happy with the finished book.

"I just want it to be something that people can look at and be proud of some of the things happening in our community.

"There's a lot more happening in the community but I've only had a certain amount of time to get this done.

"I hope to use topics in the book as a platform for further debate and would like to encourage open round-table discussions.

"I love the strength of interconnectedness in small communities, and feel this is also possible in clusters in cities."

• Utopia Rising Ki Ahau — Count Me In is available at the Māoriland Hub, 11 Raukawa St, and Books and Co, 216 Main Highway, Ōtaki.