The Junction is a place for the Taranaki community to connect, collaborate and find new ways to reduce waste. Its Reuse Shop sells preloved goods at affordable prices.
In January, The Junction moved into a new, purpose-built facility on Colson Road. General Manager Petunia Twala says it has already made a huge difference for staff and customers.
“Previously we operated from a temporary container shelter with very limited display space. During winter it could be cold and exposed to the weather, making it challenging for both our team and customers.
“Now we can showcase our goods properly, and the feedback from the public has been fantastic. We’ve seen an increase in items being dropped off and in sales because people can easily see what we have.”
The Junction is one of several enterprises operated by WISE — Waitara Initiatives Supporting Employment — a charitable trust that creates employment and training opportunities for people who may otherwise struggle to find work.
“We take on people who may not have qualifications, upskill them and give them valuable experience. They often come to us with a blank CV, and our goal is to help them build the skills and confidence to move on to bigger opportunities. Then we can open that same door for someone else. ” said Petunia.
Toi Foundation funding supports WISE initiatives that provide employment while helping to reduce the effects of poverty.
“We started with land care and cleaning services, and added home insulation in the early 2000s, helping Professor Phillippa Chapman who was conducting research into the effects of insulation in homes.
“Now, we also run a healthy homes initiative for eligible families, where we assess the home and help them strengthen its thermal envelope — reducing heat loss and dampness, insulating, removing mould and so on. It makes a massive difference to the health of those families.”
The Junction and WISE’s Healthy Homes initiative work hand in hand. Reusable building materials collected through The Junction are used for the home repairs, while its Curtain Bank refurbishes and double-lines donated curtains.
Items that might otherwise go to landfill are instead providing employment opportunities and helping to create warmer, healthier homes.
