One year after a major fire tore through the Anamata Shop and main shed at the Aotea Community Recycling Centre (CRC) on Aotea / Great Barrier Island, the team are reflecting on an extraordinary journey of resilience, collaboration, and transformation.
The fire on 17 December 2024 destroyed most of the reuse shop’s contents and damaged critical infrastructure, including dishwashers used for the Single Use Cup Free Aotea scheme and washing machines used to wash donated clothing. The solar power system was mostly destroyed, and the shed was also heavily damaged.
Photos of Anamata immediately after the fire.
Thanks to unwavering community support, engineering assistance, and funding from Auckland Council and the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board, Anamata reopened its shop and main shed in July 2025 and has developed into a safer and more vibrant hub.
“When the fire happened, it presented an opportunity for a reset,” says Brett O’Reilly, who co-manages Anamata with Jo O’Reilly. “Originally, Anamata had been put together ad hoc over time. Now we were able to ask ourselves, what would we do differently? We involved staff in decisions and redesigned the site to future-proof and improve safety.”
The community working together to clean up and salvage what they could after the fire.
The rebuild included relocating the power system to a separate container shed, creating dedicated spaces for washing machines and dryers, and moving sorting activities out of the shop to improve health and safety. Inside the shop, the layout was transformed into a clean, welcoming space with no storage. A fresh coat of paint and attractive displays inspired by other Auckland CRCs has created a more inviting space.
“Every time I walk into the shop now, I think wow,” Jo says. “It wouldn’t look like this without us having been forced to make that change.”
The recovery journey was powered by community spirit and financial support from Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board and Auckland Council Waste Solutions. The funding paid for a heat-triggered alarm system with cameras, new washing machines, a dryer and dishwasher, an extra container, and parts of the electrical fit-out for its solar power system.
“The biggest challenges were cleaning smoke damaged items and constant decision-making. We focused on safety, functionality, and economics, and what’s going to work for the community,” says Brett.
Despite the adversity, there were highlights. The working bee was a powerful show of community support. The reopening of the transformed reuse shop and the unexpected funding provided a boost for morale and operations.
Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Chairperson Izzy Fordham says, “Anamata is a cornerstone of waste minimisation and sustainability on Aotea. Seeing the team and community come together after such a significant setback has been inspiring. The Local Board was proud to support its recovery because Anamata plays a vital role in fostering sustainability, resilience, and zero-waste practices on the island.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Anamata plans to improve its existing services, such as composting, and expand its role as a community hub. On the horizon are a tool library that has more than tools, a learning lounge for waste minimisation education, and more workshops. The team has been exploring collaborations with local trades and mainland suppliers to source reusable materials for construction.
“Long term, waste minimisation will always be at the heart of what we do. But we also see Anamata as a platform for building island resilience. Everything we’ve achieved this year strengthens our ability to reduce waste, reuse resources, and create sustainable solutions for Aotea. It’s been a journey, and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved together,” says Jo.
Anamata thanks the volunteer firefighters and its community, contractors, Auckland CRC family, and Zero Waste Network for their unwavering support.
“Many people went above and beyond, including our dedicated team,” says Brett.
“When someone’s down, this community comes to your aid,” Jo adds. “That’s one of the things that makes Aotea special.”
