So here is an idea for our council.
New Plymouth upcycling centre, the Junction is getting upcycled
Saving 350 tonnes of rubbish from ending up in a landfill is no easy feat, but Douglas Hopkins and his team at the Junction have helped the New Plymouth community do just that.
”It’s the very challenging task of changing the way that our community interacts as consumers,” Hopkins said.
“The way we shop, what we purchase, and in particular, what we do with the waste that’s created as a result.”
The Junction is no ordinary op-shop. The team of 15 staff spend their days fixing and up-cycling products to save them from ending up in the bin.
”I’ve picked items out of skip bins that I have brought down here, the team has made a little bit of a change and they’ve sold the same day and gone back out to the community,” said Hopkins.
“So those moments are really rewarding.”
Education is a big part of minimising waste in the community.
”The goal is to make it more of a destination so people are coming out not only to shop, but they can learn in the process. They then take that home and start making those changes in their own home.”
Since opening in 2019 the Junction has sold more than 150,000 individual items, creating 15 jobs along the way.
”We don’t just give them a job, we also put them through a learning pathway so they receive all forms of training certificates.
www.nzherald.co.nz...
Works for others so why not here as well.
Perhaps they could fund their new offices from this!
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
-
36.5% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
-
63.5% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Loading…
