WRT | What We Do

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What We Do

There’s no shortage of work that needs to be done to improve the environment both locally in the Hauraki Gulf but also nationally and internationally. At the WRT we have chosen to work towards sustainability for Waiheke Island with the aim of showcasing Waiheke as a sustainable community in action. We work with individuals, households, businesses, schools and community groups by providing information and practical advice in a number of core areas: food, water conservation, energy, waste & recycling, transport and the natural environment. Some of our current projects and events include:

Sustainable Community Organisations Project

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We are working with community groups to improve their ‘carbon footprint’ by reducing food waste and saving energy. Watch the video below made as part of the project and featuring local people talking about how they work towards sustainability. This project was funded by the ASB Community Trust.

Shop space

We have a small shop at our office that sells bulk cleaning products (BYO container), Bokashi composting products and upcycled crafts made by local artists. Our shop is located off the courtyard at Artworks and is open from 9am to 4pm. Come and visit us!

Environment Centre

This is our grand vision! We are applying to the Ministry for the Environment for funding to establish an environment centre that would be the ‘nerve centre’ of sustainable practice on Waiheke. It will include displays, a resource library, shop, demonstration gardens and composting, a data base of relevant community groups, services, businesses and individuals, and workshop space.

The Garden Project

A ‘grow your own’ initiative undertaken in partnership with the Waiheke Budgeting Service. Teams of volunteers dig over garden beds and grow seedlings and we have written an introductory booklet so families can start to produce their own vegetables. Check out the garden project on Facebook or here. If you’d like to volunteer in a garden or raise seedlings for the project contact us.

Sustainability Festival

We are expanding our iconic Junk to Funk event into a festival that will take place from the 16th to 22nd January 2012. The festival line-up will include movies screenings, a Sunday market, pecha kucha (small talks), Junk 2 Funk 7 Day Challenge, Oxfam climate change photographic exhibition, Ready Steady Cook Waiheke style, workshops and more. Get in the festival or we will see you there! Keep up to date with festival news on our facebook page.

Children’s Activities

We enjoy running recycled art workshops for children such as paper making and simple sewing projects during the school holidays. Check out our events page for upcoming kids workshops.

Electric Powered Vehicles

We have recently completed a collaborative research project between the WRT and School of Engineering at the University of Auckland to assess the most viable low-energy private transport option for Waiheke Island.

Engineered Composite Board

ECB (Engineered Composite Board) is a building material made from waste plastics and fibres - things like coffee cups, toothpaste tubes and tantalized timber. It is able to be worked using normal hand tools and so far we have successfully made a compost bin and an edging product that can be left in situ when pouring concrete. We have applied to the Ministry for the Environment Waste Minimisation Fund to develop the concept.

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Toward Zero Waste Tool Kit

This ‘kit’ of signs, T-shirts and containers includes everything needed to set up recycling stations (including food waste) at public events. We have applied to Waiheke Rotary for funding to expand and promote the kit to event organisers on Waiheke.

Sustainability Database

We are building a comprehensive database of sources of information, education, action, and goods and services, all related to creating a more sustainable way of life on Waiheke. Click to sign up to our database to receive regular e-newsletters from the WRT or register your interest in volunteering for us.