23 December 2014
Zero waste for Waiheke’s big art event
If you’re visiting Waiheke’s spectacular headland Sculpture on the Gulf this summer, the organisers are doing their best to ensure it’s easy for you to be a tidy Kiwi.
headland Sculpture on the Gulf (hSOTG) has been working with Waiheke Resource Trust (WRT) to establish a Zero Waste event plan in 2015.
The key aim of both organisations is to ensure the event has a minimal impact on the Waiheke environment, says event and
marketing coordinator Alice O’Sullivan.
“By doing so we will set a benchmark for future hSOTG events to measure themselves against. We also want to encourage
visitors to Waiheke to respect the natural environment that is such a large part of making the event unique.”
Funding received from Auckland Council is ensuring there’s a Zero Waste station onsite and convenient free water refill stations on the walkway and at the headland Pavilion.
A Zero Waste station on site will be manned to assist visitors to dispose of their waste correctly and also ensure they
understand the impacts of their waste disposal habits.
The funding will also enable hSOTG to place water stations at two key points along the walkway and at the headland
Pavilion offering free drinking water refills for visitors. Ms O’Sullivan says to aim is to ensure the number of
disposable water bottles is significantly reduced.
Dawn Jeffery who manages the WRT Zero Waste Events programme says she is thrilled to be able to support hSOTG in 2015.
“The event attracts tens of thousands of visitors so it’s is a wonderful opportunity to make a real reduction in waste
and support the Zero Waste culture on Waiheke Island. It is very important for the sustainability of our special island
community that is also a very attractive Tourist destination. We are very grateful for the Waste Minimisation and
Innovation Fund grant to make this possible,” Ms Jeffery says.
About headland Sculpture on the Gulf
headland Sculpture on the Gulf was established in 2003 by the Waiheke Community Art Gallery, and quickly became New
Zealand’s premier outdoor sculpture exhibition. The biennial event features 30 -35 major sculptures along a spectacular
two kilometre coastal walk above Matiatia Bay on Waiheke Island and attracts visitors from around New Zealand and
overseas. More than 45,000 people attended the event in 2013; and the next headland Sculpture on the Gulf exhibition,
which is free to the public, will run from 23 January to 15 February 2015.
ENDS