Stronger Together: A New Chapter for Community Reuse in Mercury Bay

Whitianga Reuse and Resell Organisations Meet

From long-standing op shops and volunteer-run charities to individuals quietly helping families behind the scenes, the meeting room represented decades of combined experience. Some organisations at the meeting have been serving the community for more than 30 years; others are newer, responding to growing needs around waste, affordability, and access.

What they all share is a common purpose: keeping useful items in circulation, supporting people locally, and reducing what ends up in landfill.

Every group represented is powered largely by volunteers. The funds raised through their efforts are reinvested back into our communities, supporting families, services, and local wellbeing. Whether it’s clothing, furniture, toys, appliances, or building materials, these groups are doing vital work that often goes unseen.

Shared Challenges Highlighted

The February hui identified some very real, shared challenges. The sheer volume of donated clothing to local community organisations has become overwhelming. Many groups identified that they were all dealing with similar issues including:

• dumping, contamination, and the cost - both financial and emotional - of managing rubbish that can’t be reused
• unwanted donations
• limited storage space
• people breaking into rubbish skips. 

Focusing on How to Work Better together collectively

Once the problems groups faced were identified the meeting focus quickly shifted to more informed understanding of each groups processes, and how to make stronger connections. In particular discussions turned to:

• what physical donations each group can and can’t receive 
• where materials might be redirected
• and how skills and resources could be shared

The conversation opened up new possibilities. Ideas were exchanged. Relationships were strengthened. And perhaps most importantly, a commitment was made to stay in touch - to keep talking, collaborating, and learning from one another.

It was clear that there are no silver-bullet solutions yet. But this hui marked the beginning of something important: a more connected reuse network, built on trust, shared values, and a belief that we can do better together.

Megan - Operations Manager, Mercury Bay Resource and Recovery Centre. 

And, this is just the start. With ongoing collaboration, these grassroots groups hope to reduce waste even further, support more people, and keep strengthening the circular economy in Mercury Bay - one relationship, one conversation, and one reused item at a time.

Want to be part of the conversation and mahi?

This collaboration is just getting started, and there’s plenty of room for more voices, ideas, and energy. If you’re a community group, organisation, or individual working in reuse, repair, resell, or waste reduction — or if you’d simply like to be kept in the loop as this network grows - the Wahi Tukura team would love to hear from you.

Get in touch with Megan at the Wahi Tukura team at operations@wahitukurua.co.nz to join the conversation and help shape what comes next!