A zero waste programme designed specifically for marae and Māori organisations has been given an international environmental award.
The Para Kore Programme is also being used in Northland, including at Oturu Marae in Kaitaia (pictured). Photo: Jaroz Popata
Para Kore received the Energy Global award for New Zealand on Tuesday night for its marae-based programme that cuts waste going to the tip by up to 85 percent.
Its general manager Jacqui Forbes said they helped marae set up recycling and composting systems, and the programme was established after they saw the amount of rubbish being collected at a Koroneihana.
Para Kore general manager Jacqui Forbes. Photo: RNZ / Shannon Haunui-Thompson
"All the rubbish was being put into a skip bin when over 80 percent of the rubbish could've been recyclable or compostable and didn't need to be sent to the land fill."
Over 150 marae and organisations are involved in the Para Kore initiative, from Te Hiku o te Ika - Kaitaia to Te Awhina Marae in Motueka.
Ms Forbes said educating marae whānau was the key to the programme's success.
"We also provide workshops to engage and inspire the marae to use the systems properly.
"It's one thing to have great systems set up but it's another thing to use them properly and that's where education is really important."
Ms Forbes said it was the workers at the marae that were the happiest with the programme.
"They say they have happier ringawera, the people working in the kitchen know where everything goes and out the back everything is cleaner, there is less smells because everything is sorted."
She said the programmed also saved marae money.
"If they were paying for waste disposal then those cost can be cut by 75 percent.
However, she said the most important thing for marae was knowing they were being good kaitiaki.
"The marae know they are doing the right thing, they are upholding values of kaitiakitanga and of tiaki taiao, looking after the environment."
Ms Forbes said there had also been many health benefits to the programme.
"There was one marae who were doing a waste check after one of their poukai and they saw all the small plastic fizzy bottles and realised that was a lot of plastic and decided to stop using the small fizzy drink and chose to use another drink that created less waste."
From 1500 entries from 177 countries Para Kore won the award for New Zealand.
Ms Forbes said it was an honour and great recognition for their last seven years of work.