Green Living Show hits Auckland

Get along to the Green Living Show and NZ Organic Natural Expo on July 5 and 6 in Auckland. Photo / Supplied

Want to lower your energy bills? Renovating? Keen to live a healthier life? The fourth Green Living Show and NZ Organic Natural Expo has mass appeal.

This consumer and trade show will take place at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 to July 6. The event is an opportunity to find the latest and best in eco-friendly and organic businesses under one roof.

Tina Raines founded the Green Living Network - the umbrella organisation behind the show - in 2009

"I was told New Zealand was clean and green but where was the platform for eco companies? After talking to producers, farmers and businesses in the organic and eco industry all over New Zealand, I decided to launch the free magazine Green Living and the success of this publication led to the first two-day show in 2011," she says.

Three years later, the number of exhibitors has doubled from 60 to 120 and footfall has been steadily rising. The last year, 2013, welcomed 7683 visitors and the aim this year is to host 10,000. Raines reinforces that this show has something for everyone - her aim is to appeal to a mainstream audience.

Kiwi women are the eco-drivers, she believes; "Women are concerned with environmental issues. The want safe products for their family and will choose eco or organic first. They are the fastest growing group of creative green entrepreneurs in New Zealand and globally."

Four shows - one event

This year's event is hosting four individual shows under one roof:

1. Organic and natural - Natural and certified organic foods and cosmetics

2. Lifestyle and health - An expo for the mind and body

3. EcoBuild - New builds, renovation, retrofit, new products, and an expert advice centre

4. Innovation - Clean energy and green goods, sustainable business solutions and a sustainability 'boot camp'

Green comedy and eco-fashion

Comedy and fashion combine on Saturday from 5.30pm with a networking event over drinks - entry is free. The Matt and Andy Reduce Your Waste Show is a green comedy so you can have a laugh and be educated at the same time.

Stylist Nora Swann will share tips on how to upcycle your old clothes and she hosts a show of her collection of 20 up-styled contemporary and vintage outfits.

Meet New Zealand's organic and eco champions

A blockbuster line-up of speakers at this year's Green Living Show includes two stars who are leading the fight against unsustainable practices in retail.

New World Remuera owner Adrian Barkla is known as the organic crusader as he has been expanding his organic range for three years. Aidan keeps prices down by buying directly from his organic growers. His seminar takes place at 11.30am on Saturday, July 5.

Belinda Robinson, the owner of natural cleaning range EcoBasik and natural soap brand EcoBeings, will host a seminar that looks at why we need to return to natural, biodegradable products and reduce our use of synthetics.

Robinson says the show brings her face to face with her target market. "It's fantastic as the audience is already interested in natural and green products - you don't have to convert consumers. I completely sold out of my cleaning range at last year's show."

Hear Robinson speak at 10.30am on Saturday, July 5.

What to expect

• Composting - The basics of biodynamic gardening and how to compost

• Eco-Build - Renovating or building? Talk to architects with building certifiers and eco advisors on site to advise you on the best options.

• Tourism - Travel companies will advise you on the world's best eco-destinations.

• Electric cars will be on display with seminars from APEV (Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles). The Holden Volt, Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Tesla Roadster will all be exhibiting at the show, as well as JuicePoint - the largest electric vehicles (EV) charging infrastructure provider in NZ.

• Fashion - Enjoy an eco-chic fashion show on Saturday.

• Food - Pop-up cafes, raw food, biodynamic, fair-trade, artisan, vegetarian, vegan, superfoods, ethical, wholefood, fresh and healthy. The main sponsor - Remuera New World - will be carrying out demos and tastings with lots of delicious free samples.

• Heating, insulation and ventilation and how to become more energy efficient at home

• Organic and natural beauty - An array of eco-friendly products to sample

• Pet food - A new natural pet food company, Healthy Pet Foods, will showcase its new range.

• Recycling advice and tips - Visitors will be told how to reduce, recycle and reuse.

• Seminars - Almost 40 free seminars will take place over the two days with tips and advice from prominent speakers in the industry, covering topics such as eco-building, raw food, business, technology, eco-fashion, health and wellness, dealing with stress, hypnosis and electric cars. These will be taking place in four rooms all day Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 5pm.

Check out the full schedule, sign up for free seminars and book tickets for the show at www.thegreenlivingshow.co.nz. The next Green Living Show will take place in Christchurch in 2015.