About Plastic Free Wānaka
How it all began.
In 2016 local mum of two Anna van Riel forgot to take her own bags to the supermarket.
Although Anna took a box that day for her groceries, she was struck by just how many bags were making their way out of supermarket doors and straight to landfill.
Due to a lack of awareness around the dangers of single-use plastics, and a need for a change in policy Anna went home and created a social media post on a community chat, and discovered that hundreds of others were feeling the same way.
Plastic Free Wānaka was born soon after.
It followed in the wake of Wānaka initiative ‘Bag the habit’, a campaign initiated by Sophie Ward, who went on to become a founding member of PFW.
With the support of community and a core team of passionate waste crusaders, the group formed as a social enterprise company with charitable status in 2018.
They have since launched a series of waste-free initiatives to support community, such as SUCfree Wānaka (single-use cup free Wānaka), a stage show and children’s superhero Waste Free Wanda, and educational videos with mascot Plastic Free Paula. The team have delivered a variety of community workshops and events, including the waste free fair, beeswax wrap and produce bag workshops, and have developed a Wanaka waste free shopping guide.
Meet the team
Plastic Free Wānaka
Sophie Ward
The driving force behind SUCfree Wānaka; Soph has been with us every step of the way. As a Project Manager at Wānaka Wastebusters for more than ten years, she is a leader in the community for zero waste and sustainability.
Aviette Musin
Aviette has a wholehearted desire that everyone can enjoy better health and wellbeing. An experienced leader, coach, and facilitator, she helps individuals and organisations to realise their potential.
Chrissie Lahood
In 2016, Chrissie threw in a career in advertising to devote herself to her great love; food. She and her sister started Big Fig, a cafe as passionate about flavour as it is about reducing waste. In 2019, Big Fig was one of the first cafes to become 100% SUCfree.
Emma Ioannou
As our ambassador and all-round people’s person, Emma is the one you’re most likely to see out and about promoting our work. After years spent in hospitality, she knows first-hand the struggles faced when it comes to dealing with waste.
Sarah Allen
Sarah’s keen enjoyment of tramping, biking and running drives her involvement in sustainability and conservation. Plastic Free Wānaka is an opportunity to apply her skills in finance to further the cause and engage with the local community.
Daisy Watford
A whizz for words, Daisy knows how to put what we want to say down onto paper. When she isn’t typing away at the keyboard, she’s busy having fun with her three-year-old boy and ten-month-old baby.
Brona Parsons
Owner of Federal Diner and Fedeli, Brona certainly knows a thing or two when it comes to the hospitality industry. As one of the brains behind SUCfree Wānaka, she is fully committed to helping local cafes reduce their waste.