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Waikato District Council - Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato

Getting to grips with what’s in your rubbish bin and creating a more sustainable lifestyle is easier than you think! 

We work alongside our local communities, schools, waste experts, marae and organisations to provide events and workshops to help you better manage your waste and develop great sustainability practices.

Upcoming events and workshops

  • As a community, we are committed to overcoming the environmental challenges that we face today, from the growing issue of waste to limited awareness or recycling practices.

    Join us for a guided tour of Green Gorilla's Huntly Recycling Centre and learn how we can create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for generations to come.

    PS: Attend the tour and you could be in to win one of four $100 supermarket gift cards!

    When: Saturday 30 November 2024
    Time: Starting at 9am - 12.30pm
    Where: 137A Rotowaro Road, Huntly

    What to expect

    • An introduction - An overview on the importance of recycling and its impact on the environment.
    • Guided tour - See the different stages of the recycling process, including collection, sorting, processing, and distribution.
    • Interactive demonstrations - Hands-on activities, such as sorting recyclables and observing machinery in operation.
    • Fun activities - Face painting!
    • Q&A session - An opportunity for an open discussion.
    • Educational materials - Participants will be provided with resources to support continued learning and encourage positive sustainable behaviour.

    Register here!

    Choose your preferred session time below. Session are 20 minutes, numbers per sessions are limited to 15 people and is first-come-first-serve.

    Participants are responsible for their own transport to and from the tour.

    Register here

    Catch the bus from Ngaaruawaahia!

    Jump onboard the bus, leaving Ngaaruawaahia at 11.30am, head to the Recycling Centre for your tour and return to Ngaaruawaahia at 12.50pm

    Register for the bus

     

  • Got old tyres lying around taking up space? Here's your chance to dispose of them responsibly and help the environment at the same time!  

    We’ve teamed up with Treadlite New Zealand, a Waikato-based tyre-recycling company, to bring you a convenient tyre drop-off event that supports sustainability and keeps our community clean.  

    Passenger car tyres, light truck tyres, and SUV tyres can be brought along for recycling or proper disposal, commercial and tractor tyres cannot be accepted, with a maximum of 10 tyres per customer. Please ensure that the tyres brought along have been cleaned and had their rims removed. 

    The event has limited capacity so be sure to register your interest today! 

    The location will be shared upon registrations, drive-up's will not be allowed.  

    Register now

  • The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

    Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

    By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

  • Come and get your creaky or cracked furniture repaired under the guidance of a furniture restoration specialist at our community repair-cafe style event! No more squeaky chairs!

    Brought to you by the Waikato District Council Waste Minimisation Fund, and in partnership with The ReCreators!

    What to expect

    The day starts with a 45-minute talk and demonstration of repair techniques, including:

    • Learn how to repair breaks, cracks, splits, and bora.
    • The 4 stages of wooden furniture restoration: Strip/ Sand/ Stain/ Seal. 
    • A walk through all the repair tools and products.

    Following this there is 4 hours of repair cafe time where the participants repair their furniture with the help of our specialist. 

    Places are limited so book your place NOW. Don't miss out!

    Get your tickets!

Past events

  • Are you tired of throwing un eaten food away? Then it's time to level up with our Food Lovers Masterclass! You'll learn how to store food like a boss, decode those pesky best before dates, and save enough to buy a yacht (okay, maybe just a canoe).

    Tickets: $10, and you get a gift pack worth $40

    Book your ticket.

    We'll see you on Wednesday 20 November, 6pm-8pm at the Raglan Bowling Club, 19 James Street, Raglan.

  • Are you tired of throwing un eaten food away? Then it's time to level up with our Food Lovers Masterclass! You'll learn how to store food like a boss, decode those pesky best before dates, and save enough to buy a yacht (okay, maybe just a canoe).

    Tickets: $10, and you get a gift pack worth $40

    Book your ticket.

    We'll see you on Wednesday 13 November, 6pm-8pm at the Elsies Bar & Restaurant, Function Room , 3 George Street, Tuakau

  • The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

    Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

    By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

  • Do you have something sitting around the house that needs to be fixed? Pop along this Saturday to the Raahui Pookeka repair cafe!

    Organised by Friendship House Huntly Community Charitable Trust, bring your items along for repair advice and practical helps.

    Check out their Facebook event for more information.

  • We have partnered with ChemCollect to host a free household hazardous Waste drop-off on Saturday 2 November from 9.30am to 1.30pm in Tuakau.

    Items that WILL be accepted:

    • Household: cleaners, poisons, solvents, and batteries
    • Automotive waste: antifreeze, brake fluids, fuel, motor oil and batteries
    • Herbicides, fungicides and insecticides
    • Pool chemicals: chlorine
    • Paint


    Items that WON'T be accepted:

    • Asbestos
    • Cooking oil
    • Electronic waste, including mobile phones
    • Explosives or ammunition
    • Fertilizers
    • Light bulbs
    • LPG gas cylinders
    • Pharmaceuticals


    Register

    Registration is essential, drive-up's will not be allowed.

    Only those registered will be communicated the location of the event.

    Tuakau drop-off: Register now!

  • The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

    Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

    By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

  • Join us for the VERY FIRST repair café in Ngaaruawaahia!

    Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

    By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

  • Keen to get a sewing kit at home for running repairs?  Pop along and make your own sewing kit.

    Free of charge!

  • Come join a room full of repair inspiration and happy crafters tackling that pile of un-wearables. Learn helpful stitches to repair, and more creative ones through visible mending techniques. A bonus part of repairing is also refashioning, there will be loads of inspiration and examples to look over.

    Sarah Sew Love will be hosting you in this 3 hour morning workshop to cruise into your Sunday, soothed by the whirring of sewing machines, slow hand stitching mindfulness, and more of our own clothes returned to the wardrobe to be worn again!

    Adults Sewing Class (Age 15+)

    BYO machine, but let us know if you don't have one and need to borrow a machine. 

    Supplied: 

    • Fabric scraps for mending, interfacing, embroidery floss, threads, needles, chalk, pins, irons.  
    • Hot tea & treats provided, BYO bevvy of choice!

    Get your tickets here

     

  • How many garments can we repair? It’s a Sew-a-thon!!   Plus join our mini how-to workshops - sewing machine maintenance, darning, basic stitches are more!

    Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

    By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

    Get your tickets here

  • Come get sewcial and join a room full of crafters, tackling that repairs pile, getting creative with some refashioning, or start a new project from scratch. 

    Sarah Sew Love will be hosting you in this 3 hour evening workshop to wind down the week, hands-on fabrics, connecting with others & learning some new sewing skills. 

    Adults Sewing Class (Age 15+)

    BYO machine, but let us know if you don't have one and need to borrow a machine. 

    Supplied: 

    • Fabric scraps for mending, interfacing, embroidery floss, threads, needles, chalk, pins, irons.  
    • Hot tea & treats provided, BYO bevvy of choice!

    Get your tickets here

     

  • Join us to learn simple sewing skills including darning, adding a patch, repairing zips and sashiko – the Japanese art of highlighting rips and tears with contrasting thread.

    This event is free.

  • Join Nicola Turner from Mainstream Green for a fun and interactive sustainable wardrobe tour. You'll get a sneak peek into her fashion choices, some good chat about finding your style, and time to have your own personal wardrobe questions answered.

    You'll leave armed with lots of easy and practical ways to simplify your wardrobe and be a bit lighter on the planet. You might just save some time and money too.

    Once you register you'll receive a Zoom link for the live event at 7.30pm on Monday the 16th of September. If you can't join live, it's all good - we'll share a recording after the event.

    We'd love to see you there.

    Get your tickets here

     

  • The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

    Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

    By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

  • Join us for an evening of sustainable fashion and style inspiration.

    Hosted by professional stylist Caitlin Taylor and renowned sustainability speaker Nicola Turner, get ready to discover real-world tips and practical advice to grow your personal style confidence and curate a simpler, low-impact wardrobe full of clothes you love.

    With a passion for keeping it real, Nic will weave sustainable style insights and tips throughout the evening. In her humourous and engaging style, she will show how simple changes to our fashion approach can reduce our impact, save us time and money, and even bring a newfound ease and balance to our lives.

    With her celebrated upbeat energy, Caitlin is passionate about using style to grow confidence and empower people.
    She will share her '5 steps to style' - a brilliant introduction to style, with a focus on useful tips and tricks for everyday no matter your age, shape, size or budget.

    You'll leave the event with a newfound appreciation of the clothes you already own and armed with easy ways to make smart and sustainable style choices. 
    Whether you're looking to discover your personal style, simplify your wardrobe, or live a bit lighter on the planet, this event is for you.

    Oh and we'll provide some sustainably sourced refreshments and nibbles to add to the vibe. 

    Get your tickets here

     

  • Learn to sew on a simple project, a headband from recycled fabric.

    $10 per person – Email syldevlin@gmail.com if you’d like to have a go.

  • Upcycle and repurpose second-hand clothing, reducing textile waste in landfill.

  • Learn the art of upcycling and printmaking within fashion with international fashion designer Jeanine Clarkin.

    Bring along your old clothes, blankets or curtains and explore how to give them a new lease on life.

    Cost: $25 per person - spots are limited!

    For enquiries email arts.huntly@gmail.com

     

  • Looking to explore fresh op-shops, be a bit lighter on the planet, and keep your wallet happy? This is the event for you!

    Join us for an inspiring sustainable fashion bus tour, brought to you by Waikato District Council.
    We’ll pick you up in Ngaaruaawahia and travel to Cambridge sharing our favourite second hand shops, sustainable fashion tips and pearls of op shopping wisdom along the way. You’ll enjoy a leisurely morning browsing the racks, meeting new locals and hopefully leave with a couple of bargains.

    PICK UP DETAILS:
    Please assemble 8.45am: Waikato District Council Car Park, 15 Galileo Street.
    The bus will return to Ngaaruawaahia at approximately 1.30pm

    HOSTS:
    Nic from Mainstream Green and Lianne from Waikato District Council.

    WHAT TO BRING:
    We’ll make at least one stop so that we can visit some outlying stores, but please note that this tour will involve walking around the town centre, so a comfortable pair of shoes and weather-appropriate clothing is recommended. If you have any particular access needs, please let us know and we will do our very best to accommodate you.
    Your ticket includes a free coffee from a selection of nearby cafes - make sure to remember your reusable cup!

    This tour is now SOLD OUT.

    Get your tickets here

     

  • Learn to sew on a simple project, a headband from recycled fabric.

    $15 per person – Spots are limited! Book here.

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