Wairoa District Council picks up the GHD Award for Environmental Leadership

Wairoa District Council picked up the GHD Award for Environmental Leadership at this year’s Taituarā Excellence Awards in recognition of its successful car wreckage removal project.  

Abandoned cars are a common problem in many of Aotearoa New Zealand's rural communities. A convergence of geographical, social, and economic influences contributes to this issue. In lower socio-economic communities, it is common to buy older, cheaper cars that break down sooner. Then, once they have reached their end of use, it is too costly or difficult to remove them from where they have broken down.  Abandoned, stolen cars and the absence of local car wreckers escalate the issue, resulting in a high number of ageing car bodies discarded across the region. The rotting wrecks contribute to contamination of soil and water, which can lead to an increased health risk. 

In response to this problem, Wairoa District Councils established the Toi Te Whenua Manaaki Te Whenua project to target what was a growing need in the community.

Stephen Douglass, GHD’s Future Communities Leader – New Zealand Asia Pacific said, "The beauty of Wairoa District Council’s mahi is in their holistic approach to the problem. By understanding that this was not just an environmental issue, but a socio-economic one too, they were able to apply a whole-of-community lens to deliver immediate benefits, while fostering positive behavioural change. It’s this kind of integrated approach to solving complex issues that will define how we deliver Future Communities for our clients."