| 123 Beautification Trust T T Kim Newth Trust engaging with the community The recycling centre is serving as the central hub for the social enterprise’s innovative Zero Waste Programme for South Aucklanders. COMMUNITY Smart Planning for Your Resource Management Needs Due Diligence | Resource Consents | Assessment of Environmental Effects | Designations | Consent Processing | Hearing, Caucusing and Environment Court Representation | Policy and Plan Changes | Practice and Training Proudly Supporting Beautification Trust +64 9 889 8382 | contact@colabplanning.co.nz Commercial & Industrial duty Waterblasting Equipment Designed for NZ conditions. Unbeatable after Sale Service & Parts back-up 09 271 4782 info@aesblasters.co.nz aesblasters.co.nz Celebrating the first anniversary of the Manurewa Community Recycling Centre in November 2023 was a significant milestone for the Beautification Trust, which has been leading beautification projects, community events and environmental education in South and East Auckland since 2001. The recycling centre is serving as the central hub for the social enterprise’s innovative Zero Waste Programme for South Aucklanders, who are responding strongly to this community waste reduction initiative. In the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards 2023, the Beautification Trust was named as a finalist (for South and East Auckland) in multiple categories – Excellence in Innovation, Employer of the Year, Excellence in Community Contribution – as well as being voted as a People’s Choice finalist. “People’s Choice is selected by way of public vote, so that comes from people recognising us for what we do and giving their vote to us – it’s very exciting,” says Trust CEO Daniel Barthow. “The commitment from our team and our volunteers is amazing and the community support is very encouraging. This is a really positive South Auckland story: we are working together and connecting and empowering people to learn, love and look after the environment.” Daniel says their Zero Waste Programme was driven by community demand and people wanting to better mitigate waste and address issues like illegal dumping. “It gave us a really good opportunity to engage with people and develop projects that could work closely together such as repair cafés, our Reuse Store and working with our community Boomer Shed [for people over the age of 50, who often take in damaged items received at the Manurewa Community Recycling Centre and restore them]. “So much as happened around our Manurewa Community Recycling Centre, such as the Pātaka Kai, our free community pantry and our on-site community garden that regularly contributes to the pantry. “We have had so many new volunteers stepping up from around the community who really want to engage, contribute and work together with others. “We couldn’t do what we do without our wonderful volunteers and the skills they bring on board are so diverse.” Some volunteers have gone on to become staff members with the Beautification Trust, which is an Accredited Living Wage Employer. Daniel says both staff and volunteers are empowered to learn, grow and to engage with the Trust’s environmental objectives. The Trust employs around 25 people and is supported by hundreds of volunteers. A recent new initiative has been the launch of a pop up fruit and veggie shop utilising produce that may be a little wonky, too big or too small, to provide access to fresh produce at low cost. With today’s cost of living pressures, it has been a welcome addition. “Sometimes we are selling out everything within 20 minutes. It’s really showing what the appetite is from the community for it, along with that desire to eat well and reduce food waste.” Other significant achievements for the Trust in 2023 were renewing its contract with Auckland Council for graffiti removal; launching the first ever Auckland-wide EcoFest in collaboration with three other environmental hubs, (being a month-long festival from mid-March to mid-April 2023 that featured over 300 events); and acquiring a new contract to facilitate a Pest Free South Auckland programme in Manurewa and Papakura.
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