Whirika

01/06/2026

"People won't go out of their way to recycle — convenience always wins"

Before we designed Dunedin's inner-city recycling hubs, we actually tested this assumption. We surveyed residents in the neighbourhoods where we were working.
What they told us: they would walk a couple of blocks to drop off recycling — if the facilities were easy to use, close by, and felt safe.

That's not "convenience always wins." That's people who want to do the right thing, and just need the infrastructure to make it possible.

So we built it. Working with ZealSteel and local artists, we designed a series of public recycling hubs for Dunedin's inner city — laser-cut steel housings reflecting the heritage and character of each location, LED-lit for 24-hour access, and placed where people actually are.

The pilots worked. Then came more hubs for Moray Place, Clyde Street, Forth Street, Castle Street. Each one a visible, functional, beautiful part of the neighbourhood.

The insight that drove it is worth sitting with: the gap between intention and action on recycling usually isn't about motivation. It's about infrastructure. People want to participate — they just need somewhere to go.

Read more: https://www.whirika.co.nz/case-studies/dunedin-city-recycling-hubs

26/05/2026

ICYMI: Turning Pest Control into Kai
Did you catch this one in our last newsletter? In this blog post, Senior Environmental & Biophysical Systems Specialist Solis Norton asks: what if pest management could also help tackle food insecurity in Aotearoa?

From modelling local micro-abattoirs to a voluntary Dunedin-based system already delivering healthy protein to food banks -- the links between biodiversity, pest control, and food systems are stronger than you might think.

We're also working alongside Common Ground Hunters here in Otago, and drawing inspiration from Hunters For Hope in Canterbury, who deliver around a tonne of mince every month to hungry whānau.

It's the kind of circular thinking we love -- good for the environment, good for native wildlife, and good for our community.

https://www.whirika.co.nz/blog/pest-management-as-a-food-source

12/05/2026

Coming up this week: First presentation and discussion following the pest management feasibility study.

Friday 15th May 12pm Hindon Hall - Light lunch provided
.. other meeting dates
Friday May 15th at 4pm at Strathburn farm, 545 Gladbrook road, Middlemarch 9597
Monday May 25th at 4pm in Hyde at the Cafe. Catering will be provided.

If you are unable to make it but would still like to give feedback it is most welcome!

If you would like a copy of the study please message the page or email [email protected]
Whirika

05/05/2026

"Decarbonising old or heritage buildings is too complicated, it's not worth the bother"

We hear this a lot. And we understand why. Old buildings carry restrictions, sensitivities, and layers of history that can make any intervention feel fraught. The instinct is to leave well enough alone.
But Melrose House in Nelson, a stately 19th-century home, heritage-listed, much-loved by the community, proved otherwise.
The building had been quietly burning around 3,400 litres of diesel every year to heat its water boiler. That's 8,700 kg of CO₂ annually, from a building whose whole identity is about preservation and community.
With funding from Meridian Energy's Community Decarbonisation Fund, the team replaced the aging diesel system with an 18kW electric heat pump. Clean, efficient, lower running costs, and no compromise to the building's character.
The heritage didn't get in the way. It became part of the point. Preserving a building for future generations and reducing its footprint for future generations are, it turns out, the same goal.

Read more: whirika.co.nz/case-studies/decarbonising-a-historic-landmark

03/05/2026

Help shape the Otago Regional Council's new regional pest management plan. Take our pest survey and tell us what pests worry you the most in Otago.

28/04/2026

Most food waste is avoidable – and small changes go a long way.

Here are 5 simple ways to cut food waste this week:

1. Plan a few meals ahead – buy with a purpose, not just good intentions
2. Know your dates – "best before" is about quality, not safety
3. Use your freezer – bread, leftovers, even veg. Freezing buys time
4. Store food properly – a few tweaks can double shelf life. Try herbs in a glass of water, greens sealed in a damp cloth, cheese wrapped in baking paper, and onions and potatoes stored separately (they make each other go off faster)
5. Eat what you already have – try a "use-it-up" meal before your next shop. Search what you have on hand online, or use sites like Love Food Hate Waste - New Zealand, for recipe ideas.

None of this is about being perfect. It's about wasting a little less, week by week.
Bonus: your grocery bill will thank you.

21/04/2026

Earth Day isn't a campaign for us, it's a Wednesday.

If you own or manage land in Aotearoa, here are three small things that make a real difference:

💧 Fence off a waterway – even a small stream counts
🌱Plant a native
🌾 Leave a low-use corner unmowed or unsprayed this season

Over time, the little steps add up to cleaner water, healthier soils and more resilient landscapes.

21/04/2026

Become a citizen scientist by helping document wild nature across Ōtepoti!

Ōtepoti Dunedin is part of a global four-day Bioblitz, helping document nature and support biodiversity research.

Get involved by photographing wild nature across Dunedin:
24–27 April: Take photos
28 April–10 May: Upload observations
13 May: Results announced

Join a local Bioblitz:
24 April, 9am–4pm
University of Otago (Union Lawn)

24 April, 10am–noon or 2–3pm
Dunedin Botanic Garden

26 April, 2–4pm
Wild Dalmore Reserve (limited spaces, DM to book)

Free, family-friendly, and open to all. Every observation counts.

20/04/2026

In our first newsletter of 2026, we share stories that highlight how much care sits behind effective environmental action. As projects mature, the focus shifts toward judgment, responsibility, and the evidence needed to support good decisions. From assessing confidence when detections disappear, to introducing new technology with the trust of those it affects, to considering pest management within a broader social context, these examples reflect the thoughtful balance needed when ecological outcomes, people, and place are closely connected.

🔗Read the full newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/303d12d28f50/6shmzwg3nd
📧 Sign up: https://mailchi.mp/whirika/newsletter-sign-up

14/04/2026

Curious about how communities, iwi, councils, and businesses across Aotearoa are tackling complex environmental challenges?

On our website you’ll find:
✅ Real world case studies
✅ Thought provoking blog posts
✅ The option to sign up for our quarterly newsletter

👉 https://www.whirika.co.nz/