Wanaka Wastebusters staff-members

Gina Dempster

What do you do in your job? Write anything and everything for Wastebusters: press releases, newsletters, radio and newspaper ads, leaflets, website copy.
How long have you been in Wanaka? Seven years, but I grew up in Dunedin, so I spent lots of summers and weekends here as a child.
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I was ready to start back at work part-time as my kids were getting a bit older. I’d always really liked Wastebusters and their commitment to the community and to using resources well.
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? I can live in a small town and have a job with a big perspective. I love the way Wastebusters wants to make a difference and the energy of the place. Anything is possible.
What do you do on your days off? Garden, hang out with my family and friends, bike, snowboard, cook, do yoga, read (if I have any time left)
Who do you admire? Barbara Kingsolver

James Bryan

What do you do in your job? Hand-sort recycling coming in from black crates. I’ve been doing it most holidays for the last two years, except when my grandparents are here from the UK.
How long have you been in Wanaka? Five years
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? My parents wanted us to get a job, and we ended up here.
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? Annoying Simon (Wanaka Wastebusters’ Education for Sustainability facilitator)
What do you do on your days off? Skiing, football, sleep, Year 11 at Mt Aspiring College
What music are you listening to? Anything, Jimmy Hendrix, ACDC, Linkin Park, Pendulum.

Cory Bryan

What do you do in your job? Same as my brother
How long have you been in Wanaka? Same as my brother
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? Same as my brother
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? Annoying Simon and annoying Duncan (Guardian in the yard). Everyone else here is pretty cool.
What do you do on your days off? Snowboard, football, futsal, Year 11 at Mt Aspiring College
What music are you listening to? Same as my brother, all the music comes off my computer
Who is your hero?Simon

Ivy Willmott

What do you do in your job? Turn crazy ideas into reality, help out in the shop or as a runner, manage Get Real tours, create the education area, organise video shoots, I have fingers in many pies.
How long have you been in Wanaka? Five years
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I was lured by the amazing team and bright lights of the Wastebusters city.
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? I get to make dreams into reality, I get to be creative every day and I love the good team.
What do you do on your days off? Gather mussels and eat them on the beach, run away to the sea, cause mischief and do my laundry.
What music are you listening to? Reggae, dub, anything that makes me dance and a good splash of cheese.

Sophie Ward

What do you do in your job? Try and make sure we do all the jobs we’ve said we’d do. Keep the department of dreams and ideas on the ground.
How long have you been in Wanaka? Three and a half years
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I’d done a bit of work for the council and I was volunteering for Sustainable Wanaka. I had a meeting with Sue, she told me about the history of Wastebusters for two hours and then she offered me a job.
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? It’s so cool to work for an organization that does such great things for our community.
What do you do on your days off? Work for Sustainable Wanaka. On my real days off – ski in the winter and climb in the summer
What music are you listening to? A band called Nouvelle Vogue.

Les McArdle

What do you do in your job? Collect business recycling while composting poems about climate change, plastic bags and other topics for Wastebusters ads
How long have you been in Wanaka? Six years
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? Through Scotty (our operations manager), I looked at him across a crowded bar room and I knew we were meant to spend time together.
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? Scotty! No, it’s the variety of people, good working conditions and it’s a happy place to work.
What do you do on your days off? Polo! No, hunting and fishing, relaxing, snowboarding, bugger all else.
What music are you listening to? Warren Zevon

Duncan Fulford

What do you do in your job? Do the bike round with the trailer in town, look after the front yard, any site projects
How long have you been in Wanaka? Four years in March
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? My old flatmate told me there was a job here, and I knew it would be working for Scotty so I applied. I knew I’d get treated well working for Scotty.
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? It doesn’t feel like work. Good job satisfaction.
What do you do on your days off? Golf, tramping, diving, dog-walking
What music are you listening to? Minimal techno with a splattering of classical

Naomi Gilchrist

What do you do in your job? Assist customers, help run an organized shop, be a friendly face around the place.
How long have you been in Wanaka? Five and a half years
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I was a frequent customer and loved the whole Re-Store purpose. Wendy-Anne asked me “Why don’t you get a job here, you’re here so much you might as well work here.” I think she was joking, but it started me thinking.
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? A good team, and I like being able to live cheaply in Wanaka and help other people to do that too.
What do you do on your days off? Tend to my three boys and many animals: pigs, deer, sheep, chickens and ducks
What music are you listening to? Johnny Cash

Angus Ho (Mr Top Tips)

What do you do in your job? Promote and design projects and campaigns. I set up the green Christmas presents campaign and the recycled envelope campaign. I’m also doing the waste check-ups for households and businesses.
How long have you been in Wanaka? Three months
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? Two years ago I was on a working holiday in New Zealand visiting different green groups. We did a survey of plastic bag usage in different supermarkets in different areas, and I was interviewed for TV1 and TV3 news and Breakfast. Then I met Sue from Wastebusters, and I got a job here.
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? The whole team of people, and finding lots of good stuff in the shop.
What do you do on your days off? Hiking, travelling around, sightseeing and enjoying the scenery.
What music are you listening to? Not much
Who is your hero? Al Gore

"Sideshow" Dave Farr

What do you do in your job? I run alongside the kerbside collection truck, picking up recyclables. When that’s done, I return to the yard and help to process everything
How long have you been in Wanaka? 18 months
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I ‘manifested’ the job when I was traveling around the South Island at Christmas/New Year. I returned to Wanaka, applied than started working the next day. It’s true, don’t laugh.
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? The main thing for me is to work at a job with a true purpose, a job that I feel good doing and that offers huge personal rewards. I got that here. Also, there is the bond I have with the staff & it is a job that keeps me fit.
What do you do on your days off? Snowboard, Juggle, Read, the odd bits of socialization & to try and better myself.
What music are you listening to? Ha, an ever increasing list. Easter Chillout, reggae, breakbeat, funk & I love listening to WANAKA BEATS
Who is/are your hero(s)? Every person who fills me with inspiration

Bruce Shanks

What do you do in your job? I compress sorted recycling into bales using a hydraulic press.
How long have you been in Wanaka? 11 years
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? The other job was closing -I wanted to change anyway. I heard they needed people so I applied. I like this job better.
What’s the best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? I find the people here are like a family. And a lot of them have lovely smiles –a good sign.
What do you do on your days off? Oh far out, lots of things…Fishing, housework, and visiting friends, mostly
What music are you listening to? Herb Albert, Neil Diamond
Who is/are your hero(s)? Friends

Pete Simpson

Jeremy “Bis” Bisson

How long have you been in Wanaka? Over 12 Years
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I came to help out in 2005 because of driver shortage-and stayed there ever since
Best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? Working for the community, and see how people actually help out and react positively to what we do. It’s a socially worth wile job.
What do you do on your days off? Garden and paddle my canoe-hang out with my son Noel
What music are you listening to? Just about any NZ music, particularly Fat Freddy’s Drop, Tiki and Che FU
Who is your hero? Elliot Colman, author of “The New Organic Grower”
 

Ayako Matsuda

Processor

How long have you been in Wanaka? About a year and a half
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? My boyfriend worked here, and told me about it
Best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? I find a lot of good and cheap stuff
What do you do on your days off? Housekeeping, fishing
What music are you listening to? Crystal Kay
Who is your hero? My boyfriend
 

Simon Williams

How long have you been in Wanaka? 2.5 years

How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I was in town desperately trying to stay here to snowboard, and I needed a job. I ended up working on the rubbish truck through the job agency. Two days turned into six weeks, then when I finished on the truck, kerbside recycling was just starting. I was one of the first runners for Wastebusters, well, I was pretty much the only person in town with experience looking for a job.

Best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? All the fantastic people that I work with. A limitless supply of cheap books.

What do you do on your days off? Summer is all about the bike, winter brings the snowboard and when it gets windy it's time to windsurf. You'll also find me with my head buried in a book or just hanging out with my mates.

What music are you listening to? A mix of funk, soul, jazz, hip hop and breaks. The latest trip to the CD store saw me emerge with remixes of Roy Ayers and Graduation by Kanye West. Back to Black by Amy Winehouse is currently being played the most.

Leanne Parkinson

How long have you been in Wanaka? 4-5 years

How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I just asked. I always liked coming here, I was a bit of a regular and I thought it would be a great place to work. So I just asked.

Best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? The people. Everyone who works here is just fantastic. We’re just a big family. And the whole recycling thing, it goes along with it.

What do you do on your days off? Help other people with their gardening.

What music are you listening to? Everything except opera or hiphop.

Who is your hero? My Mum, she’s just done so much for me over my lifetime.

Scotty Opetaia

How long have you been in Wanaka? Five years
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I was a general manager at a bar in town and Pat pointed out the advert to me.
Best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? The variety and dealing with people, both staff and customers. Wanaka Wastebusters has a good vibe and a good reputation.
What do you do on your days off? Coach the under-nine Upper Clutha rugby team on Saturdays. Spend time with my family on Sundays.
What music are you listening to? Everything, R&B, Michael Buble last week.
Who is your hero? Mal Meninga
 

Wendy-Anne Copeland

How long have you been in Wanaka? 18 years
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I love old stuff and second-hand stuff.
Best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? The customers coming in, they’re really diverse and genuine. They all have that love of scavenging and old stuff – you either have that or you don’t.
What do you do on your days off? Housework, hang out with friends
What music are you listening to? A jazz compilation
 

Marilyn Steel

How long have you been in Wanaka? 8 years
How did you end up at Wanaka Wastebusters? I’d had enough of working in a full-time role as the assistant manager at the Golf Club, and I was looking for more flexibility and fewer hours.
Best thing about working at Wanaka Wastebusters? There’s always something going on.
What do you do on your days off? Play golf, garden, baby-sit the grandchildren
What music are you listening to? I’m learning the keyboards, so that’s what I’m listening to, and the rest of my household. I played the piano for years, but we don’t have one anymore. People told me once you switch to the keyboards, you won’t go back, and it’s true. I play jazz and swing, like ‘I’ve got rhythm’.
Who is your hero? Nelson Mandela