Huirapa runaka (sub-tribal council) office manager John Youngson holds a recycling bucket and demonstrates a bokashi system used to turn food waste from the Puketeraki marae in Karitane into organic compost for gardening. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON
Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki (sub-tribal council at Puketeraki) manager Suzanne Ellison said the runaka had a climate change strategy.
"The sorting of rubbish along with the bokashi system has been extremely successful reducing our waste to a minimum," Ms Ellison said.
The bokashi system involves a recycling bucket inside another bucket into which any fluid drains from the food waste in the first bucket, which has been treated with sawdust and specialised bacteria break it down.
"The food waste is transforming into compostable material, which will be put to good use in our runaka maara [vegetable gardens]," she said.
"We're thrilled with what's been achieved and will be continuing the system for all hui held at the marae."
