Our History

Pathways of change

Our Story

2016
Dunedin City Council decides to convert the Waikouaiti landfill into a Transfer Station and consults the community on future use of the area.
A local sustainable living group steps forward — this becomes the beginning of OneCoast.

2017–2018
The group grows and develops with support from Progress of the Waikouaiti Area (POWA), helping fund a part-time facilitator through a Place Based Community Grant.

2019–2020
Focus on community education and waste reduction:

• Green Gold Days workshops promote simple ways to keep garden and kitchen waste out of landfill

• Wardrobe Workout second-hand clothing sales (co-hosted with POWA) become hugely popular

• Ongoing support for the Rural Rummage shed at the Transfer Station

Late 2020
Work begins on transforming the site — paddocks are developed into gravel platforms for future use.

April 2021
The first container is installed, funded by Dunedin City Council waste minimisation funding; later that year a second container is donated by Port Otago. Together, they form the foundation of a covered community hub space.

2022
?

2023
We added a third container, which is now our office and sorting space.

September 2024
We bought a 40 foot container that now stores all our clothing.

January 2026
We had a proper and safe parking area for our visitors installed. 

Today 

• OneCoast is now an incorporated society with: A "Memorandum of Understanding" with Dunedin City Council

• A strong working relationship with Waste Management

• A growing community hub and shop

• A small office space in the Waikouaiti Events Centre