Hello my dear Frankies!

It’s been a week, hasn’t it? School holidays are officially here, and if you peek at the events section, you’ll see there are heaps of classes, workshops and local happenings to help keep the kids entertained this week - which, frankly (see what I did there!?), feels like a public service from our amazing local groups and businesses helping us out!

Mother’s Day is sneaking up too, so we’ve put together a little round-up of local photographers offering mini sessions. I actually think mums are far too often the ones taking the photos and never actually being in them. And I know for me, when I look back at pictures from when my little one was super little (e's 16 now but he'll always be little to me ♥), I really wish I’d made more of an effort to get in front of the camera with him. Yes, I usually hate photos of myself too, but that does feel like exactly the sort of problem a professional photographer was invented for.

There are some really gorgeous options in all different styles and settings, so have a look and maybe treat yourself - or your mum - to something special.

I also got to meet Sandy and Carrie from Waiuku Zero Waste this week and have a proper tour of the place, and man, I was so impressed.

I think a lot of us imagine Zero Waste as a spot where you drop things off and they disappear into the mysterious recycling universe…but it is so much more than that. They’re repairing, restoring and refurbishing all sorts of unwanted goods in their community workshop, then giving them a second life through the Junktion secondhand store. And that’s just the start. There’s also the tool library, education workshops, the monthly Repair Café, and so much more woven into what they do for the community. Safe to say, I am now fully converted, which is why I apparently cannot stop going on about it.

So I will stop talking here, and let you read it for yourself!

See you out there!

R. and the Frankie team x

🌿 Meet Waiuku Zero Waste - the place where “waste” gets a second chance

​Waiuku Zero Waste looks (and sounds!) like a recycling centre from the outside - but what’s actually happening inside is something much bigger (and cooler!).

This week, I was super excited to meet Sandy and Carrie - two busy mums working behind the scenes to keep this little hub running, and helping Waiuku Zero Waste give back to the community along the way.

♻️ So, what actually is Waiuku Zero Waste?

As Carrie puts it:

And in fact, Waiuku Zero Waste has built a whole ecosystem around one central idea:

What if we didn’t just throw things away…but learned how to fix them, reuse them, and rethink them instead?

So instead of everything heading straight to landfill (like it often does at other transfer stations), locals bring in all sorts of things - recycling, broken items, green waste, bits of wood, things they no longer need - and it’s all carefully sorted, separated, and sent to the right place.

Whether that’s recycling, repurposing, reusing, or fixing…it’s all about giving things another chance.

But that’s only half the story! Beyond the recycling yard, there’s a whole other side to Waiuku Zero Waste that a lot of people don’t even know exists.

🔧 The Repair Café: “Fixing, not ditching”

One of the coolest things they do here is the Repair Café. Once a month, locals bring in broken items - anything from vacuums to jewellery to clothing - and a team of volunteers helps repair them.

Carrie still remembers her first one this year:

Saving money is a great bonus, but the real win is being able to keep something that matters to you - and stepping away (even just a little) from that throw-away mindset.

And for Sandy, it’s those little shifts in mindset that make it all worth it:

And talking with Sandy and Carrie, you can really picture it - someone walking in ready to throw something away…and walking out with it fixed, AND a completely different way of thinking ♥

🛠️ The Community Workshop: where confidence grows

Tucked behind the recycling yard is one of my personal favourites - the Community Workshop.

This busy little space was buzzing on Wednesday afternoon when I visited. Volunteers were working away repairing items saved from the scrapyard and refurbishing them to be sold in the Junktion op shop - fixing up bikes, painting chairs, restoring drawers, and helping each other along the way.

The Community Workshop is also a place where locals can bring their own projects, get support from the volunteers, and use the tools on hand. Skills are shared across generations, and people start to realise they’re more capable than they thought. As Carrie says

One of the volunteers, Mike, told me about a local who’s been doing DIY on her home and now comes in every week - learning from the team, getting a bit of help when she needs it, and connecting with the people in the space.

There’s such a cool vibe in the workshop - so much knowledge, experience, and willingness to help, just waiting to be passed on to the next person who needs a hand ♥

🎓 Learning by doing (and trying, and sometimes failing)

Then there are the educational workshops!​

And these aren’t your sit-down-and-listen kind of workshops - they’re get-your-hands-dirty and super useful. You’ll find sessions on:

• Composting and reducing food waste
• Making your own cleaning products
• Sewing, upcycling, and mending
• Creative projects (for both adults and kids)

Sandy runs a lot of these workshops and brings a mix of maker skills and her background as a science teacher into everything she does:

These workshops - and Waiuku Zero Waste in general - aren’t about doing everything right - they’re about starting somewhere, with no pressure to be perfect! Carrie puts it beautifully:

🛍️ Junktion: the shop full of second chances

And then there’s Junktion - the op shop, and probably the most famous part of Waiuku Zero Waste!

This is not your average op shop. It's the centre of the hub, selling items that have been donated, rescued, repaired or refurbished ready to find a new home! (I recently saw a Pit Boss smoker cabinet for sale in there 😮)

Sandy describes it as:

And that’s exactly what it feels like! A treasure trove of second chances ♥

🌱 More than waste

When you zoom out, Waiuku Zero Waste is building something much bigger than a recycling system. Along with employing 19 locals and 20+ volunteers, it's also creating space for connection, learning, and creativity, and helping people feel part of something meaningful.

As Carrie says:

And that’s exactly what Waiuku Zero Waste is. Not somewhere you just drop off your trash - but somewhere that builds a stronger, more connected community ♥

Make sure you stay up to date with all the goings on at Waiuku Zero Waste, y following them on Instagram!

neldog rhuo

Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!

💐 Mother’s Day mini shoots we’re swooning over 📸✨

Mother’s Day is just around the corner!! Which means it’s officially the season for beautiful local photo sessions celebrating motherhood in all its messy, lovely, fleeting magic ♥

If you’ve been meaning to book something special, here’s a little round-up of mini shoots happening locally!

🍂 Fall Minis with Ila. creative​
20 minutes • 10 photos
📍 Ernie’s Reserve
📅 April 26 and May 2
A cosy autumn session in the soft morning light.

🤎 Motherhood Mini Sessions with Marie Clare Creative​
20 minutes • 8 images
📍 Sandspit Beach, Waiuku
📅 April 11
A sweet beach setting, with a copy of In the Frame to help mums feel super comfortable in front of the camera.

🌿 Motherhood Sessions at Sweetgum Cottage with Wild Muse Studio​
15 minutes • 10 images
📅 April 11 and 12
Set in a lush garden, these sessions have a relaxed, warm feel and are all about capturing genuine moments between mums and their children, whether little or grown.

🌸 The Motherhood Portrait Session with Casey Van Liefde​
Studio portrait session • 10 images
📍 Glenbrook Beach studio
📅 Saturday, May 2
A studio session with a gorgeous floral set by Poppy in April, with full posing and gentle direction to capture the love and connection that makes your family unique.

💐 Mother’s Day Mini Sessions by Captured by Shannon​
15 minutes • 10 images
📍 Little Batch Wax Co
Each session includes a beautiful mini dried flower bouquet for Mum from Harris Blooms.

School Holidays in the Square - is bringing a big day of free fun to Pukekohe Town Square and the Roulston Hall carpark on Wednesday 15 April from 10am–2pm. Families can expect everything from circus activities, science fun and hot lap simulators to bouncy castles, carnival rides, mini golf and giant games! There’ll also be community activities from groups including Community Police, St John Cadets, Life Education, Bike Pukekohe and Counties Energy. You can find more details on Facebook.​

☕ Have you read Coffee News this week? - Pick up a copy in your favourite café or scan the QR code to read on your device:

👉 Want a featured note on the notice board? - Simply book your feature here or just send us a quick email and we'll help you out!

Thursday

👕 Zero Waste T-Shirt Tote Bag Workshop
Waiuku Library, 10 King St | 10:30am
Turn an old t-shirt into a tote bag! Check it out!​

🍹 Cocktail Happy Hour at Little Ed
Little Ed | 6–7pm
All your favourites, just a little bit cheaper!

🧠 Quiz Night at Pukekohe Golf Club
Pukekohe Golf Club | 6:30–8:30pm
Weekly quiz night with fun and prizes! More info here​

Friday

👕 T-Shirt Tote Bag Workshop
Pukekohe Library | 10:30am
Turn an old t-shirt into a tote bag! Check it out!​

Saturday

🌿 Forage & Bake with Franklin Food Forest
Your Local Bakery, 7b Glasgow Rd | 9:30am–12noon
Forage in the Franklin Food Forest then turn your finds into a delicious treat! All the details here​

🏎️ Franklin Street Rodders Show and Swapmeet
Mauku School | 10am
Hot Rod & Classic Car display, food & coffee! More info here​

🥦 Karaka Markets
Karaka | 9am
Indoor and outdoor markets - all your favourite food stalls, artisan, crafters and produce. Check it out!​

🌾 Northern FMG Young Farmer of the Year Regional Final
Pukekohe A&P Showgrounds | 8:30am
An action-packed day as contestants battle it out for a place at the Grand Final. All the details here​

🛒 Tuakau Community Market
Central Park, corner of George St and Jellicoe Ave, Tuakau | 9am–1pm
Weekly, local market with all your faves

🔧 DEANZ Repair Cafe
Pukekohe Library/Franklin Arts Centre, 12 Massey St | 10am
Bring your broken items and get them fixed! More info here​

🏺 Hand Building Pottery Workshop with Ara Design Studio
Stable Light Gallery, 40 Queen St, Waiuku
Learn coiling and pinching methods to build organic ceramic forms. Check it out!​

🌙 Moon Bloom Markets: Easter Spirits
Spookers, 833 Kingseat Rd | 2pm
A fun and unique alternative market, in the coolest location! All the details here​

Sunday

🌳 Franklin Country Market at Pukekohe Park Raceway
Pukekohe Park Raceway | 8am
Homegrown produce, handmade crafts, antiques, collectables, food trucks, live music and more. More info here​

🧘 Sunday Stretch Sessions with The Stretch Collective
RXFitness235, 42 Belgium St, Waiuku | 9am
45-minute stretch session, all welcome. Check it out and book!​

🐾 Pound Pups Pool Party 2026
Tuakau Centennial Pools | 10am
An awesome pool party just for dogs! All the details here​

♻️ Free Intro to Composting Workshop
Waiuku Zero Waste | 1pm
Learn all the ins and outs to start composting at home. More info here​

🎮 Open Airsoft Game at W.A.R.
58 Bird Rd | 8:30am
Fun open day to have a go at airsoft! Check it out!​

🕺 Kids Disco at Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club
Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club | 4pm
Lots of holiday fun! All the details here​

🤠 Hoedown at the Ranch — Waiuku Cossie Club
Waiuku Cosmopolitan Club | 4–11pm
Line dancing, karaoke, lasso throwing, prizes and more — wear your best cowboy/cowgirl attire!

monday

☕ The Wellness Run Club
At Your Local Coffee, West St | 5:45am
5km loop, all levels welcome. Grab a coffee afterwards ♥

🎨 Mosaic Art Workshop for Kids
Waiuku Library | 10:30am
A fun holiday activity for the kids! More info here​

🫙 Mason Jar Workshop for Kids
Pukekohe Library | 10:30am
Learn new ways to make art from mason jars! Check it out!​

🎨 Young at Art — Kids Watercolour Painting Workshops
117 Valley Rd, Pukekohe | 9am and 1pm
Create animal villages or nature-inspired watercolour art in your own personal style. All the details here​

🐦 Waiuku Shorebird Raft Session and Bird Count
Waiuku Yacht Club | 2pm
Fun bird-related crafts, take part in the bird counting, and learn about conservation! More info here​

🍺 Monday Quiz Night at Good Home Pukekohe
65 Edinburgh St, Pukekohe | 7pm Booking recommended.

Tuesday

🫙 Mason Jar Art Workshop for Kids
Waiuku Library, 10 King St | 10:30am
Make art with mason jars! All the details here​

💐 DIY Paper Flowers Workshop for Kids
Pukekohe Library | 10:30am
Learn to make gorgeous paper flowers! More info here​

🎨 Young at Art — Paper Mache & Acrylic Painting Workshops
117 Valley Rd, Pukekohe | 9am and 1pm
Paper mache sculptures and acrylic painting on vinyl for kids. Check it out!​

🏐 Free Netball Skills Session with The Stars
Paerata Rise, Rise and Shine Cafe | 10am–12noon
Skills sessions with The Stars netball team — all levels welcome, no registration needed, giveaways included!

🏃 STRIDE TRIBE Run Club 21 Martyn St, Waiuku | 7pm Fun, free, pressure-free 3km walk or run — all paces welcome. Check it out!​

Wednesday

🧶 Soft Toy Sewing Workshop for Kids
Pukekohe Library | 10:30am
Make your very own soft toy! All the details here​

🌿 EcoFest School Holiday Programme @ Awhitu District School
Awhitu District School, Matakawau Rd, Awhitu | 10am–12pm
Fun eco crafts with the Franklin Community Hub team and Waiuku Zero Waste. More info here​

🎡 School Holidays in the Square
Pukekohe Town Square & Roulston Hall/Carpark | 10am–2pm
Free action-packed day with juggling, science club, hot lap simulators, bouncy castles, carnival rides, mini golf, bike track and more!

🏐 NetFit Clinic
Waiuku Netball Courts | 9am–3pm
Fun, fitness and netball for ages 6–12. Includes a NetFit t-shirt. Spots limited, registration required. Check it out!​

🌱 Celebrating Our Growers and Horticultural Community: Pukekohe
Pukekohe Indian Community Centre | 5:30pm
By Waikato Rural Support Trust. All the details here​

🎮 Warhammer 40K Taster Session (12+)
Pukekohe Library | 2pm
Perfect chance to find out more about Warhammer! More info here​

🔥 Fire Station Run Club
Waiuku Fire Station | 5:30pm
2.5km and 5km options, spot prizes, bar menu discounts.

🏃 Flying Mullet Run Group with Carl Read
Waiuku College Running Track | 5–6pm
Run technique, intervals, race prep and more. $5 per session — contact Carl at reado79@gmail.com​

🍺 Malt N Steel Quiz Night
Malt N Steel, Waiuku | 7pm
Teams of 2–8, prizes to be won! Check it out!​

🎤 Comedy Quiz Night at The Village Bar
The Village Bar, Patumahoe |
Free to play — call 09 236 3571 to book.

Word Scramble answer: Golden Hour

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