Clean, green reward scheme

No good deed, so they say, goes unrewarded – and, thanks to a pioneering group of Kiwi environmentalists, some of those rewards have become quite attractive.

In a move that mirrors efforts by supermarkets and petrol companies, EcoMatters Environmental Trust is offering incentives such as free coffees or e-bike rentals in return for time given towards the environment.

Its new Guardians of the Gulf website launches tomorrow, funded by philanthropic trust Foundation North, and aims to address issues published in the State of Our Gulf 2017 report.

The report revealed that more than half the marine life in the Hauraki Gulf – a 4000 sq km body of water and coastline from Auckland to the Coromandel – had vanished in the past 93 years.

EcoMatters Environment Trust chief executive Damon Birchfield said charities could list new or existing campaigns that benefit the Gulf on the website, businesses could get involved by donating rewards and people could claim those rewards for volunteering time or donating money.

Charities launching their campaigns on the website include the Waiheke Resource Trust, which runs a cafe that makes free meals from recycled food and will reward a Resene thermo-bottle for leftover food and discounts on magazine subscriptions for financial donations.