Okarito Kayaks used the time they had from the COVID-19 downturn to address a thorny problem – a widespread gorse invasion around Ōkārito Lagoon. They put the word out about ‘GorseBusters’, hoping for a few volunteers. What they got instead was nationwide media coverage, generous donations of supplies from major businesses, and 90 volunteers from across the country.

In the future, what do we do with our pee and poo? That’s the billion-dollar question the Palmerston North City Council asked their ratepayers over the last year.