Launch for kete in Kaitaia to replace plastic shopping bags

Plastic Free Kaitaia 2020 supporters at work turning old shirts into reusable shopping bags. Photo / Supplied

The Plastic Free Kaitaia 2020 campaigners will launch their Kaitaia Kete reusable bags at Saturday morning's market.

The local alternative to a plastic shopping bag will be changing hands for koha, but only on Saturday, to prepare the town for its part in the global Plastic Free July challenge (plasticfreejuly.org).

Co-ordinator Waikarere Gregory said the PFK2020 campaign was working towards ridding Kaitaia of single-use plastic by the year 2020, and was encouraging local businesses and individuals alike to get behind the campaign by entering the awards for Best Plastic Free Kaitaia Business and Individual.

The awards would recognise the changes people made in their use of plastic next month.
"We need to make as many people as possible aware of the impact plastic use has on the environment, particularly marine life, and our own health, and to get them on board.

"So throughout July, in collaboration with other groups, like Eco Solutions, Para Kore, Papa Taiao, the Kiwi Bottle Drive and Far North REAP, we will have a number of events, free or for koha, for people to participate in," she said.

"These range from a poster competition for tamariki, with prizes sponsored by the Far North District Council, a bamboo straw-making workshop, a screening of the film From the Waste Up.

"This Saturday, and every Saturday in July, weather permitting, PFK2020 will have a market stall offering alternatives to plastic for sale, most locally-made by volunteers at the Far North Eco Centre, and info to help people reduce their reliance on single-use plastic."

Ms Gregory said the real challenge would be keeping the momentum going after Plastic Free July.

Anyone who would like to donate material for bags, or would like to be a Kaitaia kete stockist, can contact Ms Gregory at the EcoCentre (tuituiart@hotmail.com), or Jo, at CBEC Ecosolutions (jo@cbec.co.nz).

Go to the Plastic Free Te Hiku Facebook page.