South Auckland youth awarded for diverting 1.5 tonnes of waste from landfill

Three young South Aucklanders have been awarded the Tāmaki Makaurau Waste Awards for recycling food waste from local shops.

Ayla, Alena and Naziha, whose group is called the Food Hub Gang, collect food waste from the New World supermarket in Papatoetoe to create compost for the Papatoetoe Food Hub.

Despite their busy schedules, they dedicate time each week to diverting 1.5 tons of waste from landfills, as well as supporting a local community garden and promoting the importance of waste reduction.

Otara-Papatoetoe Apulu Local Council chairman Reece Outagavaya says the group’s ability to find unique local solutions to reduce waste is admirable.

“Malo faafetai Food Hub gang!” – said Apulu.

“Otara-Papatoetoe Local Council congratulates the Pacific Vision Aotearoa Food Hub gang – Naziha Buksh, Isla Brox and Alena Louis. These are young people who find solutions at the local level.

“The local council has long supported the Papatoetoe Food Hub in its work to recycle food waste from nearby stores such as New World and provide affordable, healthy kai for our community. Youth work is important to the work of Papatoetoe Food.

“There’s a Samoan saying: “E fofo le Alamea le Alamea – we have the solutions to our own problems.” These young people are a great example of that.”

Auckland Council is committed to making Tāmaki Makaurau zero waste by 2040. On Thursday 24 October, more than 170 individuals, groups, schools, marae, businesses and social enterprises were nominated for their commitment to waste reduction and sustainability across the region.

The Zero Waste Awards recognize outstanding contributions to zero waste initiatives across Auckland. Repurposing and transforming waste to minimize waste has resulted in innovative creations such as wobbly cherries turned into cola, discarded fishing nets repurposed into kitchen panels, and a trash can used for street cleaning. These creative composting efforts have won awards.

Charmaine Bailey (Uru Whakaaro), Ngarimu Blair (Ngati Whātua Orakei), Parul Sud (Auckland Council) and Carla G (EcoMatters) were the judges who selected the winners in each category. Highly rated entries were also highlighted in each of the six categories.

Awards are presented in six categories:

Community Engagement – Deployment of food waste service (Rukenga Kai)

The joint winners were A Fool’s Company and the EcoMatters Food Scraps team.

Innovation Award (Anga Wakamua)

The winner was Klevako.

Cultural Connection Award (Wiria te Ahurea, Viria te Kaitiakitanga)

The winner was PlanetFM, a non-profit public radio station.

Community Collaboration Award (Ha Ora, Hapori)

The winner was Avondale trash removal company Junk2Go.

Increase in premium for movement (Whakakanohi and te Kaupapa Para Kore)

The winner was Brigitte Sistig, co-founder of Repair Cafe Aotearoa NZ.

Rangatahi Leadership Award (Rangatahi, Rangawhenua, Rangatangata)

The winner was Pacific Vision Aotearoa’s Food Hub gang.

This year’s awards were organized by EcoMatters Environment Trust in partnership with Auckland Council.

Auckland Council deputy director of sustainability and infrastructure Parul Sood said the awards recognize the achievements of Zero Waste Award winners and nominees in reducing waste and supporting the circular economy.

“We had a record number of nominations this year, which is a testament to the ingenuity and drive of every Aucklander working in this industry. Auckland Council congratulates the winners and thanks everyone committed to a zero waste future,” Sood said.

– LDR is local journalism jointly funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.