Zero-waste program for marae getting extra support to expand into new regions

A grant of $528,000 from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund (WMF) will help the marae-based Para Kore program to expand to four new regions: Te Tai Tokerau (Northland), Wairoa, Maniapoto (Waikato/Waitomo) and Wairarapa.

A project with a zero-waste vision for marae is getting extra support to expand into new regions as part of the Government's plan to tackle New Zealand's long term waste problem announced Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage in Raglan today.

A grant of $528,000 from the Ministry for the Environment's Waste Minimisation Fund (WMF) will help the marae-based Para Kore program to expand to four new regions: Te Tai Tokerau (Northland), Wairoa, Maniapoto (Waikato/Waitomo) and Wairarapa.

"It's great to mark ten years of the Para Kore flax-roots kaupapa, which has begun a revolution in how Māori communities minimize their waste," Eugenie Sage said.

"Since its humble beginnings with volunteer pilot programs running on three Waikato marae, Para Kore now has a vision for all marae to be working towards zero waste by 2025."

Since 2008, Para Kore:

has expanded to operate in almost 400 maraes, kohanga reo, Kura or other Māori community organizations throughout much of the North Island.

has provided education, wānanga, events, and training in waste management to more than a quarter of a million participants.

has been responsible for more than 350 tonnes of waste being diverted from landfill.

now employs 25, including 17 kaiārahi/regional waste advisors

has received almost $1.5m from the Ministry for the Environment's contestable Waste Minimisation Fund.

Eugenie Sage congratulated Para Kore for its outstanding leadership in community waste minimization.

"Para Kore whānau are passionate and committed to achieving a zero-waste Aotearoa by working together at their marae, the heart of their communities.

"And they do it through māturanga Māori, te reo me tikanga Māori – that is Māori knowledge and the Māori way of doing things.

"The Para Kore model has been so successful that there are now marae, kohanga, and Kura throughout the country on waiting lists to become part of the program.

"The new funding round will add Te Tai Tokerau (Northland), Wairoa, Maniapoto, and Wairarapa to Gisborne, East Coast, Rotorua, Tūwharetoa, Hawke's Bay, Greater Wellington, and Manawatū/ Whanganui, where Para Kore programs are already well established.

"There are many lessons to learn from Para Kore, not just in Te Ao Māori, but for all in Aotearoa who have a deep love for our land and want a sustainable future for our mokopuna."

Eugenie Sage said she encouraged more Māori organizations with an interest in doing work in the waste minimization space to apply for funding in the 2020 WMF round.

(With Inputs from New Zealand Government Press Release)