Stronger Together: A New Chapter for Community Reuse in Mercury Bay
Last week, a diverse group of community reuse and resell organisations came together in Whitianga for a collaborative hui, and it was clear from the outset that this was something special.
From long-standing op shops and volunteer-run charities to individuals quietly helping families behind the scenes, the room represented decades of combined experience. Some organisations 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 present is powered largely by volunteers. The funds raised through their efforts don’t disappear into corporate pockets; they’re reinvested right here in our community, 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.
The hui also surfaced some very real, shared challenges. The sheer volume of donated clothing has become overwhelming. Many groups are dealing with dumping, contamination, and the cost - both financial and emotional - of managing rubbish that can’t be reused. Dealing with unwanted donations, limited storage space, and people breaking into rubbish skips are issues nearly everyone in the room recognised.
But rather than stopping at the problems, the focus quickly shifted to connection.
By better understanding what each group can and can’t take, 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.
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.
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 this 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 - we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch with Megan at operations@wahitukurua.co.nz to join the conversation and help shape what comes next.
