We are privileged to work with some fantastic folk!

Here are just some of the wonderful people who make up our Waiwaste team…

Victoria Ross

Manager

I have lived in the Wairarapa for over thirteen years now, moving here from Wellington via London, and have developed a great love for the area and the people in it. Having been a librarian for nine years, I saw the job at Waiwaste advertised and thought ‘That’s my job!’.

I absolutely love the kaupapa of the organisation as it’s both environmental and social, and am proud to be working for such a busy non-profit. I currently live in Greytown with a husband, two children and a menagerie of pets and garden beds.

Laura Garland

Operations Manager

Born in London and raised in a village in the Cotswolds, I travelled to NZ after university. I have lived in NZ for 35 years, mostly in Wellington, more recently in the Wairarapa.

My experience of food was that it was mostly grown in a garden, protein was from eggs or from meat sourced locally. Food waste was a bucket for compost in the kitchen, meat bones went in the fire to be later spread in the garden. Vegetable scraps were made into stock for soup and any excess food was preserved or shared with neighbours. Seeing consumable food, often wrapped in plastic in a rubbish bin is a shock!

Working at Waiwaste, I see food waste being actively minimised. Consumable food prevented from entering our landfill, distributed to community groups and plastics cleaned and recycled. It is a privilege to be working alongside volunteers, donors, food producers and community groups with a shared passion and common goal.

Elise Sadler

Secretary/Founding Member

I am NZ born, with many years overseas working in education, mostly in Asia. 

When returning to NZ 8 years ago I came to the Wairarapa and helped to create Waiwaste in its early days. It was a fantastic way to rapidly become a part of this fantastic community, and feel that I was contributing to our environmental wellbeing 

I was employed in the role of coordinator just before Covid arrived and, with govt funding, we were able to transition Waiwaste from a mobile service to having a well equipped base and electric vehicles.

It’s always felt good to be reducing our food waste and consequently our methane emissions, and also feeding people. 

My contribution is now at Board level, supporting the kaupapa in whatever way I can. Or I can be found in my garden!

Jeremy Logan

Chair/Founding Member

The seeds of WaiWaste were planted after a presentation about the work of Kaibosh in February 2013. A small group of us who attended that meeting were inspired to start a local food rescue venture which began with small steps collecting from local cafes.

My main motivation for establishing Waiwaste was to reduce landfill waste and the associated greenhouse gas emissions, and that we could provide good food for people experiencing food poverty was a real bonus. For the last twenty years I have been the manager of ChangeAbility. We now have a food pantry, with food from Waiwaste, for our clients who are experiencing financial hardship.

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside so many wonderful people who have helped grow Waiwaste to what it is now.

Joanne Waitoa

Board Member 

Ko Hikurangi te maunga

Ko Waiapu te awa

Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi

I am a mokopuna of Te Tairāwhiti, born and raised in Whakaoriori/Masterton, on the whenua of Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu.

My day job is advising on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and environmental policy. I have worked for the Ministry for the Environment and the Department of Conservation. Prior to this my mahi was focused on education and research.

I am passionate about circular economies and kaupapa Māori solutions. I am also a board member for Para Kore, a trustee for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, and a board advisor to the Repair Network Aotearoa.

I feel privileged to contribute to this mahi at a local level through Waiwaste, and am so proud of all that has been achieved in collaboration with generous individuals, community groups and businesses.