Skip Content
Kope kore

Ngā Kākano o Te Mānuka Puna Whakatupu in Māngere is trialling cotton nappies for tamariki to reduce the impact on landfill.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa ngā Puna Whakatupu are cottoning on to a sustainability trial that aims to say “ka kite” to disposable nappies.

From June 11, Māngere campus early learning centre Ngā Kākano o Te Mānuka, will be part of a pilot programme to implement the use of cloth nappies to reduce landfill waste.

TWoA Lead Early Learning Tracey Mansell says the transition is being made with support from Auckland Council, who will conduct a waste audit before the new system is introduced and then again after the trial.

“There has been lots of positive feedback from families about our decision to do this as it gives them the confidence to try it at home too," says Tracey.

As well as attending waste workshops, Ngā Kākano o Te Mānuka staff also held their own wānanga to air their whakaaro around the upcoming changes. 

One major benefit identified, alongside the waste reduction, was the immediate savings to families, with estimates that up to $4000 can be saved per child by using cloth nappies.

The centre may also be eligible to bulk purchase their own nappies through Auckland Council’s Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund.

The pūtea supports projects to reduce and minimise the amount of waste going to landfill and has already helped pay the cost of Māngere Campus to conduct its own waste audit.

Tracey says in 2012, the council worked with several Auckland early childhood centres to ascertain the feasibility of operating with cloth nappies rather than disposables.

The idea proved so successful that the majority of participants switched permanently.

“Not only will the council loan us a kit of modern cloth nappies, they’ll also provide us with expert advice and support,” Tracey says.

Auckland council Waste Planning Advisor Nicola Strawbridge says a bilingual Samoan early childcare centre in Māngere reduced their rubbish by a third each day after taking part.

They are now sending 300kgs less waste to landfill every month which is a much more environmentally-friendly option.

“In Auckland, approximately 12 percent of waste to landfill is sanitary waste including single use nappies,” she says.

“If every baby had just one cloth nappy change per day, this would prevent 1 million disposable nappies from going to land fill every week in New Zealand.”

After the trial Tracey says Ngā Puna Whaktupu will be in a better position to make an informed decision about their commitment to the kaupapa, that they hope to roll out across the other early learning centres in Gisborne, Hamilton, Tokoroa and Te Awamutu.

 Back to news & events

Published On:

Article By:



Other Articles

  • 06 December 2024

    Embracing local learning and teaching at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

    Whangarei local, Tom Brooker, joined Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in February this year as a kaiako, but also as a tauira. Tom teaches Kāwai Raupapa Level 4 and last semester he completed He Puāwai, Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching.

  • 4 December 2025

    Teaching: A gift that keeps on giving

    Salote Panapa was on her way to study law at Victoria University when a plea from her church for more educators led her to change her career path.

  • 2 December 2024

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa appoints Evie O’Brien as new Chief Executive

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is pleased to announce the appointment of Evie O’Brien (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Maniapoto) as its new chief executive.

  • 26 November 2024

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa backing our future stars

    On Saturday, the 34th Trillian Trust Māori Sports Awards will be held at Mercury Baypark Arena in Mount Maunganui and for the sixth year, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is continuing its sponsorship of the Te Tamāhine-ā-Papatūānuku, the junior sportswoman award.