The Anamata Shop – home to the best of Aotea / Great Barrier Island's upcycling and reusable household items – re-opened today in a new location at 66b Gray Road. The shop has moved to a temporary structure on the new site, which is just on the Claris side of the landfill.
The shop move is another demonstration that the Tikapa Moana Hauraki Gulf Islands Waste Plan 2018 – a plan developed by Auckland Council in consultation with local Hauraki Gulf Island communities – is coming to life on Aotea.
Anamata Shop operators, Brett and Jo O’Reilly, say they’re extremely grateful to Aotea Contractors Limited (ACL) for their support with the site development process.
“Together with ACL staff, the Anamata team worked through Level 3 to make sure that when the government gave the go-ahead for shops to re-open at Alert Level 2, Anamata would be ready to open its doors on the new site,” says Brett O’Reilly.
Locals planning to visit the shop will recognise it by the new upcycled entrance on Gray Road. Customers keen for a bargain can shop for reusable items or drop off unwanted household items that need to be kept out of the weather. Other reusable items, such as building materials, should continue to be dropped to the landfill and recycling centre site at 70 Gray Road for assessment by staff.
Jo O’Reilly says that the shop and recycling centre are both operating under government COVID-19 Level 2 requirements. The Anamata Shop will be accepting cash, with careful hygiene measures in place. Goods dropped off will be stored for at least three days prior to going into the shop. Items unsuitable for re-sale will be redirected to landfill.
There will be restrictions on the number of people allowed in the shop or at the recycling centre at any one time. The Anamata team ask customers to be patient and kind and to follow staff instructions to keep the community safe. Customers are welcome to phone (799) for more information, before visiting.
Further developments on the horizon
The relocation of the shop is the first step in a broader development plan for the Aotea Community Recycling Centre (CRC).
“We have exciting plans underway for a new building at 66b Gray Road. Our vision is to create a real community village atmosphere with facilities that house the Anamata Shop and the rest of the Resource Recovery Centre’s operations,” says Brett O’Reilly.
“When the new building is complete, we’ll celebrate with an official opening. We’re hoping that by the time Spring rolls around, our new Community Resource Recovery Centre will be humming.”
As the new site becomes established and systems are put in place, more CRC services will be moved across.
Local Board Chair, Izzy Fordham, says the CRC development plans are a critical step towards the island’s zero-waste future and growing the island’s circular economy.
“The Anamata and Aotea Contractors’ teams have put in a tremendous effort to make things happen under challenging circumstances,” says Izzy Fordham.
"What they’ve been able to achieve is a real credit to them and shows their dedication to supporting the island to turn waste into resources, divert useful materials from landfill, and ultimately help us on our journey to achieve zero-waste to landfill by 2040."
