Whāingaroa Environmental Initiatives

Our place, our environment, our people.

Tiaki
Promise

The Tiaki Promise is a commitment by everyone who lives in and travels through Aotearoa New Zealand to protect and care for this land – now and for future generations.

By following the Tiaki Promise, you are pledging to act as a kaitiaki (guardian) by protecting nature, keeping Aotearoa clean, being prepared in the great outdoors, driving carefully, and showing respect.

The promise was born from a shared desire to foster a deeper connection with the natural world, inspiring visitors to travel safely, thoughtfully, and with care.

He kōrero he whakapapa, ki tēnā maunga, ki tēnā awa, ki tēnā tai. Every mountain, river and sea is embedded in hapū histories/narratives. For Māori, every mountain, river, and tree has a story.

In Aotearoa, people have a strong relationship with the environment around them. Tangata whenua (people of this land) see nature as inseparable from their own lives. For Māori, every mountain, river, and tree has a story; they shape our identity and our sense of belonging.

Tiaki invites us all to see the world through this indigenous lens – to form a deeper connection with place and reflect that in our attitudes and actions.

When you travel through Aotearoa, you become part of this story. We all share the responsibility to protect it.

The Tiaki tohu (symbol) represents four atua (Māori spiritual beings) that signify the key elements making this place so special: Ranginui (sky father), Tāne Māhuta (forests), Papatūānuku (earth mother), and Tangaroa (ocean).

At its heart, Tiaki means to care for people, place, and culture.

Xtreme Zero Waste

Founded in 2000 by local whānau, Xtreme Zero Waste (XZW) has spent the past 25 years working toward a waste-free Whāingaroa.

Raglan’s resource recovery journey began in the 1950s with a landfill on Te Hutewai Road. By the late 1990s, it had evolved into a community-led waste management initiative, supported by local groups like the Whakanaua-te-Aio Trust. Today, XZW’s is recognised as a world-leading zero-waste organisation, diverting 75–80% of waste from landfill.

Contracted by Waikato District Council to operate the Raglan Resource Recovery Centre, Xtreme’s main goal is to foster a circular economy and empower the community to reuse.

XZW offers a wide range of services that keep valuable materials in circulation and out of landfill. From Kaahu’s Nest, a popular second-hand store for clothing, household goods and DIY materials, to the Organics Yard, which processes 250 tonnes of organic waste into compost each year, the centre is a go-to resource recovery hub for locals and visitors alike.

Introduced in 2017, XZW’s food scrap kerbside collection service was the first of its kind in New Zealand. This innovative initiative allows households to separate food scraps for composting, transforming what was once landfill waste into nutrient-rich compost that helps grow fresh produce.

Alongside garden waste collection, skip bin hire, and rural recycling depots, these services provide practical options for responsible waste management.

Xtreme Zero Waste exists through community aroha and mahi. Every time you wash and squash, sort your loads, shop at Kaahu’s Nest, or choose to reuse, you’re helping create a waste-free future for Whāingaroa.

Community Energy Whāingaroa
Te Hiringa O Te Rā

Empowering Whāingaroa with local renewable energy, energy-efficient homes, and community-led solutions to reduce hardship, lower carbon emissions, and build climate resilience.

Community Energy Whāingaroa (CEWh) is driving a brighter, fairer energy future for our community, with a focus on renewable power, energy-efficient homes, and community-led solutions.

Always working with the community’s best interests at heart, CEWh designs local responses to the way we generate and use energy. Their vision is simple – a thriving, resilient Whāingaroa where everyone, regardless of income or circumstance, lives in a warm, energy-efficient home, benefits from local renewable energy, and feels empowered to take part in collective climate action.

Their projects bring this vision to life. At Xtreme Zero Waste, 35kW of solar panels now power the processing site – cutting emissions, lowering costs, and reinvesting energy savings back into the community. At the Raglan Community House, a 13kW solar system and 10kW battery reduce energy bills, store clean power, and keep essential community services running with renewable energy. The battery also provides backup energy during outages, helping our community stay connected and resilient in times of need.

Beyond renewable energy, CEWh is creating healthy homes across Whāingaroa by conducting home energy assessments and providing support retrofits such as insulation, curtains, and draught-proofing. Practical steps that make homes warmer, healthier, and more affordable to live in.

Through education and hands-on support, CEWh is helping our community save power, cut costs, and take climate action right here in Whāingaroa.

Science Night – monthly talks at the Harbour View Hotel featuring inspiring environmental experts.

Whāingaroa Environment Centre

Founded in 1997 by locals passionate about protecting Whāingaroa Harbour, the Whāingaroa Environment Centre (WEC) has grown into the beating heart of community-led environmental action in Raglan.

Through hands-on projects, workshops, and shared knowledge, WEC inspires people to live sustainably and care for the place we call home.

From beach cleans and community gardens to repair cafés and seed banks, WEC brings people together to take practical steps towards a balanced, resilient future.

Join the movement through one of their many initiatives:

Raglan Timebank – exchange time, skills, and services with others; no money needed.
Whāingaroa Tool Library – offers an inclusive lending system for everything from power tools and gardening gear to sewing machines and crockpots.
Repair Café – bring broken belongings to the pop-up repair sessions and learn from local volunteer fixers.
Community Garden – grow fresh produce, learn new skills, and connect with others.
Oram Park Orchard – lovingly maintained by volunteers who share their knowledge of fruit tree care and pruning.
Seed Bank – preserving heritage seeds acclimatised to Whāingaroa’s unique climate.
Tamariki Mahi Māra – helping kids get their hands in the soil while learning about food, sustainability, and care for the earth.
Science Night – monthly tiwealks at the Harbour View Hotel featuring inspiring environmental experts.
Land Sharing for Food Growing Project – connecting people with land to those eager to grow food.

The WEC team believe that every action – big or small – contributes to a thriving Whāingaroa.