Five new bilingual waste stations have been installed at Waiohiki Marae – one of a number of Hastings District Council initiatives aiming to help reduce waste and protect the environment.
Ngāti Pārau of Waiohiki Marae is leading as kaitiaki (guardians) of the environment, taking action to reduce waste and protect te taiao, with support from Council’s Waste Minimisation Fund.
The opening of the new whare kai last year was a significant milestone for the marae, prompting the rōpū to reflect on how they could reduce waste and lessen what ends up at Ōmarunui Landfill.
Previous trials of Hastings District Council’s waste event trailer across a range of kaupapa at the marae helped identify the right long-term system to suit their needs.
Now, with Council funding support, five bilingual waste stations have been installed, colour-coded to national bin standards:
- Yellow: Mixed recycling (plastics and cans)
- Blue: Glass (bottles and jars)
- Green: Food scraps (for pigs)
- Red: Landfill rubbish
Beyond setting up the bins, Ngāti Pārau is looking ahead, planning to host waste minimisation and composting wānanga with Council’s Mātanga Mukupara (Waste Minimisation Specialist), Jordy Wiggins, to support whānau and continue their journey toward oranga taiao (environmental wellbeing).
Any other marae interested in setting up waste systems or learning more about composting and recycling can contact reducewaste@hdc.govt.nz.
For more information on the Waste Minimisation Fund, visit: https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/hastings/grants/waste-minimisation-fund/.
