Countdown to Plastic Bag Extinction
Ten Countdown supermarkets - four stores in Auckland and one each from Blenheim, Dargaville, Christchurch, Gisborne, Wellington and Whanganui - will begin phasing out single-use plastic bags from May 21.
These 10 stores will no longer offer plastic bags at the checkout and customers will have to bring their own, or buy a reusable bag.
Since Countdown announced its decision to phase out single-use plastic bags last year, and following Stuff's Bags Not campaign, plastic bag use at the supermarket had reduced about 16 percent.
However, Countdown still used 350 million plastic bags a year and changing customer behaviour was the biggest challenge to lower that, said Countdown’s Kiri Hannifin.
"Whatever you bring, we’ll pack it for you. If you bring a bucket or a wheelbarrow … then that's cool, and if you forget, then we'll have some options available."
The remaining 172 Countdown supermarkets will go plastic bag free by the end of the year, and with competitors, New World also committing to phase them out by the end of 2018, New Zealanders face a largely plastic bag-free future.
The switch has also led to grassroots community-led solutions to help the transition away from plastic, like Boomerang Bags.
Sewn by like-minded volunteers from recycled materials in working bees, the bags are recycled within the communities in which they're made.
The shopping bags are meant to be used free of charge, washed if necessary, then returned to collection points across the community for re-use.
The scheme has proved popular in New Zealand, with communities across the country launching their own branches.
Denim, but make it one-of-a-kind 💙
Not every pair of jeans makes it to the rack... but that doesn’t mean their story ends there. Our talented volunteer Annie has been transforming damaged denim into handcrafted bags, hats and aprons in our Onehunga SPCA Op Shop ✂️🧵
This latest batch even features her own hand-sewn designs, and customers have been loving them, they sell almost as soon as they hit the shelf!
It’s creativity, sustainability and community all stitched together, helping animals in need 🐾
📍 217 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga
🕘 9am–5pm, 7 days
Poll: Is Auckland’s economy improving?
The latest reporting from The Post suggests a wave of optimism for 2026. With interest rates finally heading south, businesses are feeling more positive. But for many on the ground, the real-world recovery feels a bit like a slow-moving commute on Auckland's motorways.
We want to know: Are you seeing signs of Auckland's economy improving in your industry or neighbourhood? Whether it's busier shops, new projects kicking off, or just a shift in the mood ...
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0% Yes
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0% No
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100% A little
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
Do you think you know the answer?
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