ZERO WASTE FUND OPEN

Groups with innovative ideas for reducing waste to landfills can apply for grants of up to $5000 from an Auckland Council zero waste fund until April 30. The Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund is funded through a levy of $10 per tonne on all waste sent to landfill and supports a variety of waste reducing activities. Grant recipients must meet at least half the cost of their project and can apply for funding between $250 and $5000.

BIG WIN FOR AUCKLAND LACROSSE

The Auckland women’s lacrosse team won the national competition in Whangaparaoa on Sunday March 26, beating Waikato 11-3 in the final. Auckland went through the tournament unbeaten with wins over North Harbour, Wellington and the New Zealand under 19 team en route to claiming their fifth national title. They boast a number of NZ Blax, who will travel to England next month to compete in the 2017 Women’s Lacrosse World Cup.

ADELE BREAKS PUBLIC TRANSPORT RECORD

Public transport records were broken during Adele’s visit. On Thursday, the day of the first concert, there were almost 400,000 trips made on public transport, a one day record for Auckland. That night Auckland Transport carried 80 per cent of the crowd to and from the concert. There were close to 27,000 people on the trains and 7600 on buses after the show. On Saturday night 21,000 people travelled on the trains back to the city after the show and around 8000 took buses.

CALL FOR MAORI INNOVATORS

Budding Maori digital entrepreneurs are urged to get in quick and submit their entries to the DIGMYIDEA Maori Innovation Challenge. Individuals or teams of up to five people can enter. $10,000 worth of business startup assistance will go to the winning entries. Entries can be anything from an app to a web programme and should have the potential to create economic opportunities for Maori and other New Zealanders.