“Congratulations, because what you have built here is a company and what you are doing for New Zealand really matters.”
That was among the first sentiments expressed to the assembled staff of East Tamaki headquarters of Waste Management New Zealand by Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon when he visited its expansive premises on October 1.
Luxon met with the company’s senior staff, including managing director Evan Maehl and board chairperson Murdo Beattie, and was shown part of its facility.
His meeting with the senior staff saw them discuss the key challenges facing Auckland’s waste infrastructure, the industry’s role in reducing emissions, and how businesses like Waste Management NZ are investing to support a more sustainable, circular economy.
Luxon then spoke to the company’s large East Tamaki team before enjoying a shared morning tea, chatting with the staff, and posing for selfies.
He said he believes people get one thing to do with their life, “but you’re actually working in a business that has a real mission and purpose, and that’s obviously to make sure we do waste management really effectively and very efficiently”.
“It’s a real challenge,” he said. “How do you meet all those customer expectations, and how do you make sure you make money through the process but also protect our environment and do the right thing by New Zealanders for the long-term.
“The application of technology and smarts that you’re bringing to the business to be able to build out a great company that gets better and better is just really impressive.
“It was great to spend time with the guys today going through some of the challenges you’re encountering and also some of the opportunities you have, and then to get a very quick sense of what you’re doing on-site here in Auckland, but also across the country as well.
“I want to say ‘thank you very much’ for what you do. Congratulations on the company that you’re building together.
“You’ve got a great culture going on here and a great focus and a great mission, so long may it continue, and I want to wish you all the very best and all the great success that you deserve.”
Waste Management New Zealand is the country’s largest waste and environmental services provider.
It manages more than 1.4 million tonnes of waste annually through a nationwide network of 94 sites.
Its East Tāmaki headquarters is home to about 400 of the company’s 2,000 staff.
The company says leadership in waste and resource recovery will be vital to Auckland’s future and it’s committed to playing its part through investment, innovation and collaboration.
