Green Waste Products NZ

This is a long appreciation post but only because our journey to turn gorse into compostable golf tees has been supported by so many people. I acknowledge you all.

It was October 2021, and I was searching through my pocket for a Kurol (throat lozenge) while walking up the 13th hole at the Kaikohe Golf Club. Upon not locating one I pulled the entire contents out of my pocket and when I opened my hand I was greeted with a handful of plastic and wooden golf tees and tools and there in the middle of it all was that Kurol also wrapped in plastic.

That was the moment I started thinking about how we remove plastic from golf and what do we replace it with. Fast forward a few months and conversations and the next thing I knew we had landed on gorse.

In February of 2022, although it was still early days, I applied to 'The Pick' a Northland Business Idea Competition supported by Northland Inc and Whariki to test the water. I totally wasn't ready for it and Jesse Henderson from Get Better Problems and the Programme Facilitator knew this also but managed to nurse me as best she could through the
10 weeks.

I wasn't a finalist but went along to support the finalists at that Pitch Night in Whangarei and remember thinking how cool they all were and how far away I was from being one of them. For the next 12 months I went to all the business networking events I could and talked to whoever would listen and then in March of this year it all changed.

We were selected as 1 of 10 National Māori Startup Businesses to participate in the 3-month Kokiri Māori Accelerator Programme. I'm the first to acknowledge that we've got a long way to go but I also know that we have come a long way. It's been an interesting, exciting, challenging and rewarding journey to say the least.

Kokiri was an amazing experience of learning about the startup sector and connecting to it so thank you Saara Tawha for being you and for being an ambassador for Māori startups, Ian Musson our Coach who got me thinking from the get go to build a prototype and so he did on the 3D Printer, Amy, Shaani, and my fellow cohorts for all the support and laughs and follow ups that mustn't have been easy Shaani and to all the insightful speakers for adding knowledge to my kete, to Dave for filming the B-Roll footage and Deija and Jordan for whipping up our very first promo video and to The Wa for hosting our get togethers. Aunty Saara also connected me to our amazing Advisors, Des Topp, Kerry Topp and Simon Lovatt who thankfully enough continue to support and guide me. Thank you, guys, you truly are the essence of gorsome.

I can't go any further without saying a special thank you to Lanie, Niekol, Mama Lu and Dave for putting up with me.

A big mihi to Wade, Vaughan, Lisa, Tukaha, Simon, Moana and Dad for all those meetings and in Moana's case all that poking and prodding. Vaughan, I still can't believe that you came up with those prototypes they were friggin amazing. I'll never forget how impressed I was with that first pic you sent through.

I would also like to acknowledge the following individuals and organisations for your time, wisdom and support. I'm sure I'm going to miss some people out and if I do I apologise in advance. Just know you are appreciated. So here goes, thank you, Sophie, Daniel Mee, Andrea, Andrew, Shane and Daniel Lord from Callaghan; Stefan, Alex, Marc and Jeremey from Scion; Charlotte and Anna from Pledge Me; Des and the team at GMANZ, Karen T and Dad for the connection; Thiem and the team from NZ Golf; Rochelle who recently left Akina to return to study; Katy from Plastics NZ; awesome for reaching out Bronson from NZTE; Sophie T for being our first paying customer; Te Hiku Radio for the interview, Matua Rereata Makiha, Owen Eastwood for taking our tees to the Ryder Cup; the Northern Advocate/Herald, the Scoop and the team at NZ Entrepreneur Magazine; Jayden from ANEW; Rui from Critical: Jason and Zen from Transfibr (glad I went along to Robett's golf fun day), Rob Buchanan, Henare Johnson, Stefan for the timely chat and to all those golfers and Golf Clubs from around the country.

A big thanks to Team Rakai and everyone involved in that raffle fundraiser and the Rawene Golf Club for the koha.

Imagine every invasive weed we extract from our environment becomes a catalyst for change.

Green Waste Products NZ is a circular solution for weeds.

Think weeds, think bioplastics, think changing landscapes.

Bring on 2024.

Koro
 

 This is a massive shout out to two amazing and humble planet ambassadors, Darcy and Mike who have been voluntarily picking up roadside litter in and around Kerikeri, Waipapa and beyond for a number of years between them.

I joined the team one month ago and what I actually didn’t realise was the scale of the problem. I want to acknowledge everyone (volunteers and paid workers) who have and are out there doing the good work. I appreciate you all so much more now.

This is not about highlighting the efforts of Darcy and Mike; I know that they would both prefer to remain anonymous. I can also confirm that they haven’t been doing this for the money, although I’m led to believe they find the odd $5 here and there.

This is about shining the light on our roadside litter problem and given I only have 7 followers it’s more of a flicker than a light.

I also know that this problem isn’t going to change overnight because changing the way we think and act takes time, generational even.

WE NEED TO BE BETTER ROLE MODELS.

Next time you are sitting in the passenger’s seat of the car, take a quick glance over at the roadsides if you haven’t already. I’m so confident that you will see a plethora of examples that I will quite happily give you the next $5 that Darcy or Mike find.

CAN WE PLEASE JUST TAKE IT HOME OR PUT IT IN A BIN.

Because taking it home or putting it in a bin is where the change starts. Some of it I am sure is an accident but there’s just too much of it, for it all to be an accident.

A big shout out to Alf and the team at Green by Nature previously Recreational Services for supplying the bags and giving us access to the skip and to Hugh and the team at Northland Waste - Kerikeri for also allowing us to drop our bags. We really appreciate your support.

If you are an early riser, and keen for a walk and a chat then reach out to us, the more the merrier.

Please feel free to help me shine more light on our roadside litter problem by liking and sharing this.

Have a wonderful festive season with whanau and friends.