This creative initiative is one of the many things that Organic Wealth does with communities across the motu to educate and encourage people to divert waste from landfill.
After 20 years of dedication to this mahi, Organic Wealth has grown exponentially. The team doesn’t just lead waste minimisation at events like Gardens Magic 2025 – where they diverted huge amounts waste over 18 days by educating and meticulously sorting the waste with a find toothed comb – they also provide education, resources, and conduct waste audits for schools, communities, and government organisations.
Wellington City Council is partnering with Organic Wealth to promote the Love Food Hate Waste Food Critics campaign as they plan to hold a stall at the Harbourside Market on Sunday 30 March, where they will share tips and tricks for meal planning and making kai go further.
One in three kiwis say they regularly plan their meals, yet as a nation our households throw away $3.2 billion worth of kai every year, says James.
“This campaign is exciting because it can make a really big difference in people's lives, and it can save a lot of money and help the environment.
“It’s got this double whammy effect because people might need to stretch their food further at the moment and the campaign starts with implementing things they can do at home.”
James emphasises that the campaign is all about community involvement, sharing knowledge, and making small but effective changes. Here are some of his top food-saving tips:
- Keep apples in the fridge – they’ll last eight times longer.
- Line your vegetable drawer with a paper towel – it keeps greens fresh four times longer.
- Freeze your bread – Kiwis throw away 20 million loaves every year. Just eat more toast!
- Save brown bananas – pop them in the freezer for smoothies and baking.