More than 1,800 fence posts are being donated to support flood recovery efforts in the North Island town of Wairoa, with locals and groups impacted by floods encouraged to apply for an allocation of posts to help rebuild damaged infrastructure.

In the wake of severe flooding earlier this year, The Packaging Forum and several of its scheme members have come together to make a $25,000 donation of Future Post fence posts, which are made from recycled soft plastics, including materials collected through the Forum’s Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme (SPRS).

The posts will help rebuild the equivalent of almost 10km of fencing in Wairoa, helping restore essential infrastructure and support those working hard to rebuild. The Forum is partnering with the Wairoa District Council and FIRST72 to ensure the materials reach the areas of greatest need.

Packaging Forum CEO Craig Miller says the donation has been made possible thanks to funding from committed scheme members including Essity, Griffins, James Crisp, Mondelēz, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Sanitarium and Woolworths - demonstrating how industry collaboration can deliver meaningful support when communities need it most.

“Communities like Wairoa have been through a lot this year, and seeing the resilience and determination of local people is inspiring. We’re proud to donate fence posts made from recycled plastic to support their recovery, while also keeping soft plastics out of landfill,” says Mr Miller.

Mr Miller says the donation demonstrates how product stewardship and circular economy initiatives can deliver tangible benefits to New Zealand communities.

“From households dropping off their soft plastic at their local supermarket, through to our recycling processors and Packaging Forum members, this is a great example of collaborating to create solutions that give back. As a voluntary stewardship organisation, we’re pleased that recycled materials are being turned into something that helps the Wairoa community recover and get back on its feet.”

Manufactured by New Zealand business Future Post, the posts are made from 100 per cent recycled plastic waste. They are strong as timber, but won’t split, rot or crack, and can be re-recycled at end of life to last for generations. Each fence post contains approximately 1,500 soft plastic bags and wrappers, meaning this donation diverts more than 1.8 million plastic bags – more than 10 tonnes of soft plastic – from landfill.

The delivery of the fence posts will be distributed through a local application process. The posts will be stored locally, with FIRST72, council and partners supporting on-the-ground coordination.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little extended a huge thank you to the Packaging Forum and its members.

“Wairoa is an isolated community, and it is heartening that this national organisation recognised that our district has been hit hard and that they were willing to help us out,” says Mayor Little.

“This is a significant donation of recycled soft plastic posts, which will be used to make a real difference moving forward. Thank you again to everyone who made this possible.”

This is one in a series of donations from The Packaging Forum in 2026 on behalf of the donor group, aimed at supporting disaster preparedness and recovery in communities impacted by severe weather events. Further donations are being made to communities of Gisborne, and also to the Hauraki Rail Trail.

The Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme is a voluntary product stewardship programme, operated by the Packaging Forum, and is 100 percent funded by its 250+ Scheme members. An estimated 87% of New Zealanders now have access to soft plastic recycling, within 20km of home or work, at more than 320 public drop off points across the country.

The Packaging Forum thanks FIRST72 for assisting with logistics and on-ground coordination of the donation in Wairoa.

Wairoa locals and community groups can find out more information, and register interest in receiving an allocation of the fence posts, by following the link here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/YJ9QBFJLFT and lodging their application by COB Wednesday 8 April 2026. Those without internet access can access a paper copy of the survey from Wairoa District Council or email haley@packagingforum.org.nz

23 March 2026

Back to Home