New Year Resolutions
I was intrigued to take a look at the origin of New Years resolutions this week
Historically, the first recorded people to set new year pledges (later known as resolutions) are the Ancient Babylonians around 4,000 years ago. New Year was celebrated in March at the start of Spring. They believed if they fulfilled their new year promises, then the Gods would look favourably upon them in the new year.
But it’s the Roman adaptation of this earlier tradition that really catches my imagination. In 46 BC, the emperor Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, which declared January 1 as the start of the new year. This new date was to honour the Roman god, Janus.
Now, Janus has two faces, to look back on the previous year and to look forward into the new year. Janus was the protector of doors, archways, thresholds and transitions into new beginnings.
For me, the looking back to look forward is the kernel of New Year and ultimately New Years resolutions.
Looking back at 2023, I recall huge struggles of a magnitude that affect us as global citizens, such as wars in Ukraine and Gaza, humanitarian crises, post COVID hardships, climate crises. Nationally we have suffered cyclones and unprecedented weather events, economic hardship and bitter political polarisation. And locally, we have had storms and cyclones, flooding and key road outages, economic hardship and ongoing COVID impacts.
For Wahi Tukurua these have culminated in further delays and uncertainty. Not as devastating as those macro events outlined above, but soul destroying all the same. We are entirely beholden on the Council to deliver the Refuse Transfer Station (RTS) site – and this continues to make no progress. There has been some review of the project to date and a redesign process – but there is no funding at present. And best-case estimates mean a 2025 horizon for establishing the Resource Recovery Centre.
It’s hard to BE a Resource Recovery Centre when there is no Resource Recovery Centre site.
How then do we look back on that year and pivot to turn 2024 into a greater year? What New Years resolutions can we make to bring about greater optimism and better outcomes?
Our main thing, is still the main thing! We need a site.
It is obvious that we cannot wait the additional 12 – 24 months indicated by the Council’s recent update. We have been waiting three years already, after all. Think of the tonnes of useful material going to landfill unnecessarily across what will be a five year period. It’s the stuff of nightmares…
So, our number one New Year’s resolution is to find an alternate interim site. We resolve to have a drop off centre up and running by the AGM in August – come hell or high water!
We are in discussion with Council and Waste Management (who have the kerbside collection and waste management contract with TCDC) to set up a small drop off centre in the existing RTS site. Failing that we will be looking further afield. If you know of anywhere that might be suitable, please get in touch and we would be pleased to explore any lead hello@wahitukurua.co.nz.
Are you contemplating your own New Years resolutions? Maybe it’s to get out into your community and do something of meaning, that introduces you to locals and builds connections. Maybe its to live your values and make a difference?
Our other New Year’s resolutions, take the form of five key projects – they need volunteer support. See our article on the benefits of volunteering by our own Elvisa x (add the link here). Volunteering can be a one off thing at an event or a more sustained contribution on specific project. Would you like to find out more about any or all of these? We would love to help you make your New Years resolutions come to life, while helping our community and beautiful environment thrive.
Single Use Cup (SUC) Free Whitianga campaign
Liquid Paperboard collection (saveBOARD)
E-Waste Drives at WhitiCity Market
Construction and Demolition Waste Recovery Pathways
Inaugural Whitianga Repair Café.
Come join us – reach out via our socials or hello@wahitukurua.co.nz
Tracey Bell - Chair - Wāhi Tukurua
