Meet our Upcyclers

  • A woman wearing glasses and a neon green safety vest working with paint at a workshop station, surrounded by tools and supplies.

    Wai-o-Taiki Furniture Redesign

    Wendy from Wai-o-Taki Furniture Redesign is an artist who transforms unwanted furniture into bespoke, upcycled treasures. She specialises in hand-selected, quality vintage furniture redesigns and sustainable remodeling — giving each piece of furniture a fresh purpose, and a beautiful second chance. Wendy works out of our Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub, where she also runs workshops.

  • A smiling man wearing an orange safety vest inspecting a shiny chrome motorcycle frame inside a workshop.

    Octalien

    Artist Sean Boyd of Octalien creates sculptures of sci-fi objects such as ray guns using trash metal and appliances collected in Auckland Council’s inorganic rubbish collections. Sean usually has several sci-fi-themed artworks on the go and has sold his sculptures worldwide. His work is fun and playful but also a social commentary about the amount of waste sent to landfills.

  • A woman in a pink hoodie and black slippers wearing a yellow safety vest, smiling and standing next to a decorated sign that reads, 'R THE RESTYLIST.' She is in an industrial-style space with shelves and furniture in the background.

    The Restylist

    Sam Noon is a furniture restylist, specialising in upholstery and the restoration of Mid Century design, with a studio space and workshop at the Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub. Sam has a passion for breathing new life into timeless pieces of furniture, using techniques such as chalk painting, which she teaches in workshops alongside Wendy from Wai-o-Taki Furniture Redesign.

  • A man in a yellow safety vest and red cap standing next to a black cargo bike loaded with multiple bicycles, with a wooden cargo box, in front of a brick building with parked cars nearby.

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  • People in bright yellow and green vests up-cycling chip packets to make thermal blankets at a large indoor event space.

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  • A smiling man wearing a neon safety vest and black gloves working on a small engine outdoors on a workbench, surrounded by tools and equipment.

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People working at a thrift store or donation center, sorting and organizing items, with blue shelving and various furniture and household goods visible in the background.
Two workers in orange safety vests are loading or inspecting items in a large wooden crate inside a warehouse. One is standing outside the crate with a bag, while the other is leaning inside the crate.
A woman in an orange safety vest and glasses on her head is painting a wooden chair with a small brush in a workshop filled with chairs, paint supplies, and fabric rolls.
A man riding a motorized bicycle with a wooden platform on the back, carrying a bicycle. He's wearing a yellow safety vest, a black cap, and beige shorts, and is waving with a smile. The background shows a sidewalk, street, trees, and houses.
Two elderly volunteers working together to fold colorful fabric in a warehouse or storage facility, surrounded by boxes and supplies.
A man in a safety vest standing next to a partially disassembled motorcycle frame in a workshop with shelves of boxes in the background.
Two people working in a warehouse, one handling Christmas-themed fabric and one managing other materials, surrounded by boxes and supplies.
Interior of a large warehouse or storage facility filled with furniture, boxes, and various items on shelves and carts.
Various children's bicycles and tricycles parked inside a warehouse or storage room, with shelves holding backpacks and other items in the background.
A man wearing a reflective safety vest and black gloves working on a small engine or mechanical device outdoors, with tools and equipment around him.