Mammoth Marae waste minimisation for Waitangi Day

DATE: 2nd February 2016 - for immediate release

This year's Waitangi Day celebrations at Te Tii Marae in Waitangi, attended by thousands of people, will involve a mammoth recycling and waste minimisation effort.

"Kaimahi from Para Kore and EcoSolutions are aiming to divert as much waste as possible from landfill through recycling and collecting food scraps in and around Te Tii Marae" says Para Kore waste advisor Jaroz Popata.

From the 4th to the 6th of February, Ms Popata and her team will be at the marae supporting the waste minimisation efforts.

"Te Tii Marae has recently joined 97 marae across Aotearoa who are part of the Para Kore (Zero Waste) movement. Incorporating Zero Waste principles into Waitangi Day was a natural step in caring for Ranginui and Papatūānuku. We are confident that we will divert hundreds of kilograms of food scraps and recyclables from landfills."

"There will be eight recycling stations where volunteers and kaimahi will educate people on the spot and help them dispose waste into the appropriate bins. We are sorting the waste at the point of disposal and at the same time educating people about what things don't need to go to landfill: it's a win-win situation."

Para Kore is a call to action that aims to end the current take, make, and dispose mentality that we have now become accustom to. In its simplest form it is Kaitiakitanga in practice, caring for Ranginui and Papatūānuku. The Para Kore programme is supported by the government’s Waste Minimisation Fund and local councils.

ENDS

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