WaiWaste Food Rescue was the 2024 Masterton Trust Lands Trust Not-For-Profit award winner at the Wairarapa Awards.
Waiwaste collects surplus food from local businesses and distributes it to food banks and other community groups. From Pahiatua in the North to Featherston in the South, Waiwaste ensures that everyone in our community has something to eat and that good food isn’t needlessly being wasted. Over the last year, Waiwaste has rescued and repurposed almost 150,000kg of food.
Like most not-for-profit organisations, Waiwaste uses an army of volunteers to collect, sort, and deliver food. Volunteering NZ estimates that volunteering contributes around $4 billion per annum to our economy. The real value of volunteering runs much deeper than a dollar value.
Without volunteers, and Not-for-Profit organisations catering to health and social services, educational programmes, environmental initiatives, and sporting clubs, Wairarapa wouldn’t be the wonderful, community-minded place we all know and love.
A special mention to category finalists; Featherston Community Centre Charitable Trust and Te Āwhina Cameron Community House. Their impact on Featherston and Masterton communities is invaluable and appreciated.
Find out more about Waiwaste Food Rescue here.
Photographer: Lucia Zanmonti
Pictured (left to right): Elise Sadler, Jeremy Logan, Christine Brewster (MTLT Chair), Victoria Ross, Laura Garland, Jo Waitoa, and Karina Gough.