JOY IN THE ANTHROPOCENE, by Christine Rose
Posted on March 8, 2026
A trip to Tiritiri Matangi in Auckland’s beautiful Hauraki Gulf led Christine Rose to reflect on how, amidst war and conflict, and the trials of the Anthropocene – we can live principled, healing lives and find joy!
The winds of war blew and so did a cold, strong southwesterly the few days we stayed at Tiritiri Matangi at the beginning of March. But I found joy.
It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism. But as the saying goes,
we have to be the change we want to see in the world. And it’s possible to find joy in the
Anthropocene. In fact, with the world in chaos, it’s essential to sow and harvest peace in our
own lives, and to remake our happiness.
That’s why I’m doing a ‘Marie Kondo’ in my life. I’m stripping out those things that don’t spark
joy, and that aren’t in service of Life. But not just things, experiences and actions too.
Sociologists like Richard Twine research people like me who are sometimes considered
killjoys within the prevailing culture, for what we won’t do. I won’t fly, won’t eat animal
products, try not to drive much, won’t buy brand new. But in the process of being a killjoy, we
remake joy anew.
While human biomass and animals suffering in factory farms outweigh all wild animals, while
the climate crisis inflicts pain, suffering and insecurity, while children are bombed carrying
their school bags, and others starve, time at Tiri can remind us of the good in the world.
I jumped off rocks into the sea, and snorkeled in shallow water. Tāmure – snapper came up kanohi ki te kanohi. The meeting of minds in the water was made even better because those fish are now safe in a new Hauraki Gulf Marine Protected Area.
We were sheltered from wind and sun under the canopies of forest planted by the visionary
Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi. Volunteers guided tours, weeded paths, fundraised for
conservation. A panoply of native birds saved from extinction dropped early autumn seeds
on us, pōpokatea – whiteheads, tieke – saddlebacks, and kokako. We saw a kereru nest – a
loose platform of sticks, perched in a tree. We saw a little blue penguin ‘feather explosion’ at
the entrance to its roost, the downy feathers a sign of the season’s moult.
The island’s current 94 kokako chorused the morning with their haunting calls, and little
spotted kiwi and tuatara graced the tracks. Hihi – stitchbirds, korimako – bellbirds, and tui
were more resonant than any church bell. Especially around the feeding stations where
volunteers feed 8700 litres of sugar water every year- supporting the hihi recovery, which
otherwise only survived at Hauturu.
At night a powerful electrical storm to the east channeled energy in huge lightning bolts that
arced from the sky to the sea. We, sheltered from the wind, were awed viewers of heavenly
theatre. We witnessed the lunar eclipse that turned the moon apricot while meteors shot
overhead and ruru swooped across the valley.
We ate delicious and nutritious home cooked vegan meals.
We lived the mantra from Desiderata – ‘…with all its drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a
beautiful world. Strive to be happy’.
At Tiri, we found joy.
Christine Rose is a former Councillor for the Rodney District Council and the Auckland Regional Council, and was lead climate and agriculture campaigner for Greenpeace. A long time campaigner for the oceans, forests, and creatures of our planet, 25 years ago she founded, and has since run, the Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders organization. Christine is a potter and painter, and says ‘I use art and politics to shape a better world.’
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