22 Oct 2026 Maria Lamb has driven significant environmental change in Christchurch through her grassroots initiative, Tidy Kiwi Ōtautahi. For nearly a decade, she has focused on local collaboration in a volunteering capacity. Her community efforts include routine plogging, organizing major cleanup events, volunteering with Sea Cleaners, Bird & Forest, Sustainable Coastlines, Keep Christchurch Beautiful, Keep Rangiora Beautiful, E-Can Canterbury Regional Parks, and more! Maria works full time as a Waste Minimisation Advisor, has more pets than grown teens, climbs high peaks in her spare time and yet always makes time to support community events. Being the solo eco warrior that she is, the mahi over the years is something else. Maria solely set up collection points in Ashburton, Rakaia, Methven, and Otautahi to divert wine tops, beer tops, can tabs from landfill, to fundraise for charity. Her collections also include foil chip packets, batteries, and plastic lids; again, for different organisations with alternative take-back schemes. Some folks have a true passion for doing the right thing and that seems to sum up Maria, who also runs a Facebook page promoting waste minimisation, rubbish clean ups, recycling, community, and the rest! If you are in Christchurch and want to do some good, head over to Maria’s page and connect with her.https://www.facebook.com/TidyKiwiNZ She says, “Aotearoa is a country that I’m proud to call home. Love where you live and protect your surrounds — Kaitiakitanga.” Thank you, Maria for Keeping New Zealand Beautiful Share this page
