Good Green Fairy Gives Away Free Shopping Bags
The "Bag Ladies of Golden Bay" are launching their Plastic Bag-Free Initiative at 12.00 midday on January 1st at the top
of the Takaka Hill, at the entry point into Golden Bay.
They will be first community in New Zealand to say NO to plastic shopping bags.
The Good Green Fairies will be giving away free cloth shopping bags to visitors and returning residents and urging them
to make it their New Year’s Resolution to change their shopping habits – and adopt alternative sustainable shopping bags
such as bags made of cloth or recycled material, boxes and baskets.
Rod Donald, co-leader of the Green Party and Jo Knight CEO of the Zero Waste Fund will be on the Takaka Hill with the
Bag Ladies and Good Green Fairies and joining in the New Year event, to start the New Year off with a smile.
"We have had a great response to the Plastic Bag-Free Golden Bay campaign from most businesses, with a $2,000 donation
from Lone Star Farms enabling us to give the cloth bags away FREE to kick start the change in shoppers’ habits" said
Nicola Basham, one of the Bag Ladies.
“We realize that it will take time to change people's habits and for them to remember to take their own bags with them
when they go shopping, so we are planning a one year transition with lots of cunning incentives and spot prizes given to
“green shoppers."
Research shows that New Zealanders are among the world biggest wasters, using over 3 million plastic shopping bags every
day. They create both litter and landfill, and can be lethal to stock and wildlife. Being a “good green shopper” and
being aware of the resources we use, allows each individual to make their small contribution to making our planet clean
and green.