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Collingwood - 1st Town in New Zealand to be Plastic Shopping Bag Free
16 August 2005 - a NZ First in Golden Bay
On 16th August 2005, the Prime Minister Helen Clark and West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor met with the Bag Ladies of Golden Bay and several Collingwood retailers to celebrate plastic bag free progress in the small Tasman community.
Col and Trott (Supermarket) Toad (Tinky's Tavern) David (Courthouse Cafe) John (Collingwood Cafe) Nicola (Bag Lady) Tracy (Post Office and Gifts) Paddy (Farewell Spit Eco Tours) Hazel, Alison and Victoria (Bag Ladies).
"Both the Bag Ladies and Collingwood should be congratulated on their commitment and contribution to the environment," said Mr O'Connor. "It's estimated that, although tiny, the Golden Bay community consumes 1 million plastic shopping bags each year and New Zealand-wide, we work our way through 800 million bags a year. With the community right behind them, the Golden Bay Bag Ladies are helping reduce these numbers and educate people about alternatives. Their initiative and progress to date are impressive."In fact, the community had voluntarily reduced their use of plastic shopping bags by about 50 per cent since the Bag Ladies campaign started in January this year, he said.
The Golden Bay Bag Ladies presented the Prime Minister with one of their distinctive cloth bags and discussed their work when they met with her at Golden Bay's community radio studio in Takaka.
At Midday on Tuesday 4th October 2005, the town of Collingwood officially became the 1st town in New Zealand to become Plastic Shopping Bag Free. The community celebrated with a local market and Mike Ward, winner of the 2005 WOW Award, gave out certificates to each of the local retailers.