A powerful local initiative led by Restoring Rosedale Park is calling on the North Harbour business community to step up and be part of a practical, hands-on solution to waste, soil health, and urban regeneration.
Restoring Rosedale Park is a community-led project transforming underused parkland into a thriving, regenerative green space. Working alongside local partners and volunteers, the group focuses on restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity, and creating systems that turn organic waste into valuable resources.
As project lead Nicky explains:
“We are developing a Take One Action for Nature Campaign in the first half of this year. We need to ask for your support to leverage new business action.”
They are turning waste into value and they need your help
At the heart of the project are innovative composting systems that are simple, low-cost, and highly effective. As Nicky Shave puts it,
“So the bio reactors are just amazing. They’re recycled rebar, recycled PVC spouting and pallets from just off the street. We buy all organic matting… which allows aerobic composting to take place, but for us, not to leach any plastics into the compost. It’s a simple thing that allows us not to have to till any compost, but to get some fantastic outcomes out of waste.”
Alongside this, a new vermicomposting system is helping tackle food waste more efficiently. “We’ve got the new vermicomposter… that allows us to compost a ton of food scraps within about 4 months,” says Shave, noting that “the vermicomposters allow us to separate out food scraps… reducing any rodent risk.”
Together, these systems are already demonstrating a practical shift in how businesses can manage waste. “For the business sector here… it doesn’t take much to change something into something very productive,” Shave explains. “Using food waste from your bin… and converting it to compost.”
What’s needed right now
To scale this work, support from local businesses is essential. The project is currently seeking:
- Volunteer time – Staff teams to help build, clear weeds, plant, and maintain systems.
- Rebar – Any size as can be cut to suit. 50 used rebar sheets in total needed. for structural frames of compost bioreactors.
- Extra-strong pallets – 50 used extra strong pallets, same height and size is best. Used to support heavy compost loads
- Black plastic – Thick used Black Plastic or offcuts any size above 1-2 m2. To be used for weed suppression.
Whether it’s spare materials, time, or expertise, every contribution helps build a more resilient, regenerative local environment.
If your business is based in the North Harbour area, now’s the time to get involved.
To donate, contact Nicky Shave at 027 2702736 or email: hello@restoringrosedalepark.org.nz
www.restoringrosedalepark.org.nz
Michelle Beard – Author – BNH Ambassador
