They say good things come in threes, and that couldn’t be truer for a dynamic trio who are championing waste saving in Papatoetoe.
Volunteers Ayla Brockes, Alena Lui and Nazihah Buksh have been recognised at the 2024 Tāmaki Makaurau Waste Awards for their efforts in repurposing food waste from local shops.
Photo credit: Pacific Vision Aoteroa.
Even with their busy schedules as school and university students, the trio, known as Food Hub Gang, dedicate time each week to divert 1.5 tonnes of waste from landfills, support the Papatoetoe local community garden, and champion the importance of waste reduction.
Food is a valuable resource, however, when food goes to landfill it produces methane and CO2 which are harmful greenhouse gases.
Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board Chair, Apulu Reece Autagavaia, extends a heartfelt malo fa'afetai (thanks) to the Food Hub team, expressing pride in their efforts.
"The Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board congratulates Pacific Vision Aotearoa's Food Hub Gang - Nazihah Buksh, Ayla Brockes, and Alena Lui. They’ve have been collecting food scraps from the New World supermarket in Papatoetoe, to create compost for the Papatoetoe Food Hub.
“These are young people finding solutions at a local level,” says Apulu.
Held in late October, the awards night celebrated outstanding contributions to zero waste initiatives from people across Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, including individuals, groups, schools, marae, businesses, and social enterprises.
Apulu adds, "The local board has long supported the Papatoetoe Food Hub in its work to repurpose food waste from nearby shops, such as New World, and provide affordable healthy kai for our community. It's inspiring to see these young women actively involved in this cause too and making a real difference in the community today! The work of the youth has been important to how Papatoetoe Food operates.
"There is a Sāmoan saying: 'E fofo le Alamea le Alamea’ - we have the solutions to our own problems'. These young people are a great example of this."
Photo credit: Pacific Vision Aoteroa.
The Papatoetoe Food Hub, spread the kaupapa of affordable, nourishing, and culturally rich food, from the community for the community and are thrilled by the trio’s efforts.
The Papatoetoe Food Hub kaupapa.
Judges Charmaine Bailie (Uru Whakaaro), Ngarimu Blair (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei), Parul Sood (Auckland Council) and Carla Gee (EcoMatters) selected winners as well as highly commending several other entries in each of the six categories.
The awards feature six categories:
Community Engagement - Food Scraps Service Rollout (Rukenga Kai)
The joint winners are A Fool's Company and the EcoMatters Food Scraps team.
Innovation Award (Anga Whakamua)
The winner is Clevaco.
Cultural Connection Award (Whīria te Ahurea, Whīria te Kaitīakitanga)
The winner is PlanetFM, a not-for-profit community radio station.
Community Collaboration Award (Hā Ora, Hāpori)
The winner is Junk2Go, a rubbish collection business in Avondale.
Growing the Movement Award (Whakakanohi i te Kaupapa Para Kore)
The winner is Brigitte Sistig, co-founder of Repair Cafe Aotearoa NZ.
Rangatahi Leadership Award (Rangatahi, Rangawhenua, Rangatangata)
"We celebrate the work and success of Zero Waste Award winners and nominees. We had a record number of nominations this year which is testament to the ingenuity and aspirations of every Aucklander working in this space,” says Parul Sood, Deputy Director Resilience and Infrastructure at Auckland Council.
This year’s awards were organised by EcoMatters Environment Trust, in partnership with Auckland Council, as part of the broader goal to make Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland a zero-waste city by 2040.
Stay connected
Sign up for our Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board e-newsletter and get it delivered to your inbox each month.
