Green Waste Products NZ

Green Waste Products NZ is an early-stage Māori clean tech company focused on transforming gorse, one of Aotearoa’s most widespread invasive weeds, into sustainable, high-value products. More specifically, we’re committed to unlocking the potential of gorse oil for innovative cosmeceutical applications. 

Based in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland), our kaupapa is rooted in circular economy principles, whenua regeneration, and unlocking the untapped potential of invasive weeds through innovation, science, and meaningful partnerships.  

We have over 25,000 exotic plant species in Aotearoa, of which hundreds pose a serious threat to our native ecosystems. Gorse alone covers approximately 1.7 million acres and continues to spread.  We’re dedicated to working alongside local communities, Māori, businesses, and groups to help build a more resilient future by turning gorse into gold. 

     It's been 3.5 years in the making but finally we've got some gorsome news to share. Introducing to you the world's first gorse-based bioplastic golf tees, made from a blend that contains 30% gorse and the remaining, a natural agri-based polymer. 

A big mihi to all the believers for your support and there have been many of you from funders, partnerships, gorsome humans with specific skills and knowledge who have offered insights and encouragement and of course family and friends. We're on a mission to turn more of this green waste into gold.

What an amazing event at the Auckland Art Gallery to draw the curtain down on our 8-week Tupu Accelerator Programme https://tupu.org.nz/.

A big mihi to Tapuwae Roa, Sprout Agritech and Callaghan Innovation for providing a platform for Māori innovators to unlock potential, pursue dreams and create impact. 

The programme is only as good as the delivery team and boy did we have the best, and on top of that we had amazing guest speakers who shared real experiences and solutions. 

And lastly to our cohort whanau, you made this journey so much more meaningful.   

CGO stands for Chief Gorse Officer. Koro, hails from the Hokianga, located on the West Coast of the Northland region. Koro has a background in Environmental, Cultural and Community Tourism Development spanning 30 years.

Koro founded the globally acclaimed ecotourism venture Footprints Waipoua, which generated local jobs and supported numerous other businesses in a region known for high unemployment. In 2009, he was part of a team that facilitated the world’s first 'Union of Ancient Trees’ agreement, a project aimed at fostering meaningful connections between cultures, communities, and natural environments.   

 Koro, has a 19-year-old daughter who studied in South Korea in 2024 and has aspirations to work in the field of Science.