Events and workshops

Want to reduce your waste but not sure where to start?

Join our exclusive FREE online course for Waikato District residents. Inspiration and simple hacks to kickstart your waste reduction journey.

Course starts Tuesday 24 June 2025 and will run for four weeks.

Register now

Want to learn more? Check out our Zero waste online learning webpage.

Are You Tossing Out More Food Than You’d Like? It’s time to change the way you think about food waste—and we’re here to help! Join our Food Lovers Masterclass and learn how to store food like a pro, decode best-before dates, get creative with leftovers, and discover clever tricks to save money (and maybe even enough to buy a yacht...okay, maybe a canoe).

This fun, interactive session will leave you with life-changing tips that will reduce food waste in your home and level up your kitchen game.

Tickets: $10, and you get a gift pack worth $40

Book your ticket.

We'll see you on Wednesday 21 May 2025, 6pm-8pm at the Te Kauwhata RSA | Lions Hall, 42 Mahi Road, Te Kauwhata 3710.

Te Aakau residents’ recycling drop-off trial

10 May 2025 
9:00am – 12:00am 

Te Aakau Community Hall carpark
953 Te Aakau Road 

As part of council’s long term plan consultation, we are offering the Te Aakau community the change to trial the proposed recycling drop-off service.

This one-off trial service is free. If there is support for this event council proposes having it as an ongoing once a month service, with an associated annual rates charge. Come along and let us know what you think of the proposed service.

What recyclables can I bring? 

• Glass - separate your glass from the rest of your recycling and make sure the containers you bring your glass in aren’t too heavy. Our drivers need to lift them safely. 
• Tins, cans, plastics #1, 2 and 5 - Your household tins, cans, and plastics #1, 2, and 5 can be together in the same container.
• Cardboard and paper – flatten and bundled together.
• No lids - Ensure all lids and bottle tops are removed.
• Clean! - All your recyclables must be clean.
  

Councils’ recycling contractors will collect your recycling and sort it into a recycling truck. 

While you’re here you can also provide feedback to us on other topics currently being consulting on in the Long Term plan and the Waste Minimisation and Management Plan. 

Do you have a loose scrape metal hanging around that you've been meaning to get rid of? Pop along to our free scrap metal drop-off to safety disposed of that unwanted metal!

We will be holding one-off collections throughout our communities to provide residents with convenient and accessible options to dispose of hazardous waste.

The goal is to reduce the environmental and health risks associated with abandoned scrap metal and raise awareness about the benefits of recycling and environmental responsibility.

Learn more

As a community, we are committed to overcoming the environmental challenges that we face today, from the growing issue of waste to limited awareness or recycling practices.

Join us for a guided tour of Green Gorilla's Huntly Recycling Centre and learn how we can create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for generations to come.

PS: Attend the tour and you could be in to win one of two bikes for kids or four $100 supermarket gift cards!

When: Saturday 5 April 2025
Time: Starting at 9am - 12.30pm
Where: 137A Rotowaro Road, Huntly

What to expect

• An introduction - An overview on the importance of recycling and its impact on the environment.
• Guided tour - See the different stages of the recycling process, including collection, sorting, processing, and distribution.
• Interactive demonstrations - Hands-on activities, such as sorting recyclables and observing machinery in operation.
• Fun activities - Face painting!
• Q&A session - An opportunity for an open discussion.
• Educational materials - Participants will be provided with resources to support continued learning and encourage positive sustainable behaviour.

Register here

Come and get your creaky or cracked furniture repaired under the guidance of a furniture restoration specialist at our community repair-cafe style event! No more squeaky chairs!

Brought to you by the Waikato District Council Waste Minimisation Fund, and in partnership with The ReCreators!

What to expect

The day starts with a 45-minute talk and demonstration of repair techniques, including:

• Learn how to repair breaks, cracks, splits, and bora.
• The 4 stages of wooden furniture restoration: Strip/ Sand/ Stain/ Seal. 
• A walk through all the repair tools and products.
  

Following this there is 4 hours of repair cafe time where the participants repair their furniture with the help of our specialist. Please bring a piece of furniture from home with you to restore.

Tickets are $5 each - Places are limited so book your place so you don't miss out!

Get your tickets!

Waikato District Council has commissioned EnviroNZ to hold a free household hazardous Waste drop-off on Saturday 22 March 2025 from 9.30am to 2.30pm in Ngaaruawaahia.

Items that will be accepted are:

• Paint waste
• Solvents
• Oils and automotive waste
• Household chemicals
• Aerosols
• Mixed batteries
• Pesticides
  • Herbicides, fungicides and insecticides
  • Ograno Phosphate, Organo Nitrogen, adn Organo Chlorine
  • Stockholm based POPs

Event is now fully booked.

Are You Tossing Out More Food Than You’d Like? It’s time to change the way you think about food waste—and we’re here to help! Join our Food Lovers Masterclass and learn how to store food like a pro, decode best-before dates, get creative with leftovers, and discover clever tricks to save money (and maybe even enough to buy a yacht...okay, maybe a canoe).

This fun, interactive session will leave you with life-changing tips that will reduce food waste in your home and level up your kitchen game.

Tickets: $10, and you get a gift pack worth $40

Book your ticket.

We'll see you on Tuesday 4 March 2025, 6pm-8pm at the Pookeno Community Hall, 69 Great South Road, Pookeno.

Waikato District Council has commissioned EnviroNZ to hold a free household hazardous Waste drop-off on Saturday 22 February 2025 from 9.30am to 2.30pm in Huntly.

Items that will be accepted are:

• Paint waste
• Solvents
• Oils and automotive waste
• Household chemicals
• Aerosols
• Mixed batteries
• Pesticides
  • Herbicides, fungicides and insecticides
  • Ograno Phosphate, Organo Nitrogen, and Organo Chlorine
  • Stockholm based POPs

This event is now fully booked.

To enable all material to be safely contained, registration is essential, drive ups will not be allowed.

Only those registered will be communicated the location of the event.

Come and get your creaky or cracked furniture repaired under the guidance of a furniture restoration specialist at our community repair-cafe style event! No more squeaky chairs!

Brought to you by the Waikato District Council Waste Minimisation Fund, and in partnership with The ReCreators!

What to expect

The day starts with a 45-minute talk and demonstration of repair techniques, including:

• Learn how to repair breaks, cracks, splits, and bora.
• The 4 stages of wooden furniture restoration: Strip/ Sand/ Stain/ Seal. 
• A walk through all the repair tools and products.
  

Following this there is 4 hours of repair cafe time where the participants repair their furniture with the help of our specialist. 

Places are limited so book your place NOW. Don't miss out!

Get your tickets!

The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

As a community, we are committed to overcoming the environmental challenges that we face today, from the growing issue of waste to limited awareness or recycling practices.

Join us for a guided tour of Green Gorilla's Huntly Recycling Centre and learn how we can create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for generations to come.

PS: Attend the tour and you could be in to win one of four $100 supermarket gift cards!

When: Saturday 30 November 2024
Time: Starting at 9am - 12.30pm
Where: 137A Rotowaro Road, Huntly

What to expect

• An introduction - An overview on the importance of recycling and its impact on the environment.
• Guided tour - See the different stages of the recycling process, including collection, sorting, processing, and distribution.
• Interactive demonstrations - Hands-on activities, such as sorting recyclables and observing machinery in operation.
• Fun activities - Face painting!
• Q&A session - An opportunity for an open discussion.
• Educational materials - Participants will be provided with resources to support continued learning and encourage positive sustainable behaviour.

Are you tired of throwing un eaten food away? Then it's time to level up with our Food Lovers Masterclass! You'll learn how to store food like a boss, decode those pesky best before dates, and save enough to buy a yacht (okay, maybe just a canoe).

Tickets: $10, and you get a gift pack worth $40

Book your ticket.

We'll see you on Wednesday 20 November, 6pm-8pm at the Raglan Bowling Club, 19 James Street, Raglan.

Are you tired of throwing un eaten food away? Then it's time to level up with our Food Lovers Masterclass! You'll learn how to store food like a boss, decode those pesky best before dates, and save enough to buy a yacht (okay, maybe just a canoe).

Tickets: $10, and you get a gift pack worth $40

Book your ticket.

We'll see you on Wednesday 13 November, 6pm-8pm at the Elsies Bar & Restaurant, Function Room , 3 George Street, Tuakau

The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

We have partnered with ChemCollect to host a free household hazardous Waste drop-off on Saturday 2 November from 9.30am to 1.30pm in Tuakau.

Items that WILL be accepted:

• Household: cleaners, poisons, solvents, and batteries
• Automotive waste: antifreeze, brake fluids, fuel, motor oil and batteries
• Herbicides, fungicides and insecticides
• Pool chemicals: chlorine
• Paint

Items that WON'T be accepted:

• Asbestos
• Cooking oil
• Electronic waste, including mobile phones
• Explosives or ammunition
• Fertilizers
• Light bulbs
• LPG gas cylinders
• Pharmaceuticals

Register

Registration is essential, drive-up's will not be allowed.

Only those registered will be communicated the location of the event.

Tuakau drop-off: Register now!

The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

Join us for the VERY FIRST repair café in Ngaaruawaahia!

Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

Keen to get a sewing kit at home for running repairs?  Pop along and make your own sewing kit.

Free of charge!