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: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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17.5% Hmm, maybe?
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9.5% Yes!
Have you seen Rowena?
Police are urgently appealing for sightings of Rowena, 39, reported missing from Christchurch.
She was reported missing to Police on 22 October 2025, and was last seen on 14 August 2025. Rowena hasn’t been in contact with her children and her family are worried for her safety.
Police investigating her disappearance have identified her as being in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch in the recent months prior to her missing person report being made.
If you have seen Rowena, or have any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact us immediately.
You can contact us via 105 either over the phone or online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” and referencing file number 251022/9026.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
We want to know: Have you thought about cutting your insurance cover to save costs?
Senior business reporter Rob Stock tackles a big question many of us have wondered about: “What are the pros and cons of cutting back on insurance?”
So we’re curious… What are your thoughts on trimming your insurance cover? Have you ever considered it?
Want to dive deeper? Rob Stock has the full breakdown.
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