Who We Are – Go Eco

Our history

How we got here

1993 - 2009

We began as a little kano (seed) — in 1993, Hamilton City Council established the Hamilton Community Environmental Programme. The Programme was based on growing community interest and developed into a forum comprised of members of existing environmental groups and organisations.

Nearly ten years later in 2002, Hamilton City Council successfully applied for government funding to set up an environment centre in Hamilton. The Hamilton Environment Centre Trust was formed, and from 2003, the Centre in Ward Street operated as a hub for community environmental groups, setting the focus for what is still some of our core operations today: education and resources around conservation, waste minimisation, energy efficiency, and sustainable living.
2010 - 2013

Sprouting into a tipu (seedling), in 2010 the Trust, in line with more regionally focussed funders’ expectations, broadened its focus from Hamilton City to the greater Waikato region, changing its name to the Waikato Environment Centre Trust. In 2015, The Waikato Environment Centre led the establishment of the national Environment Centre organisation, Environment Hubs Aotearoa (EHA).
2014 - 2016

Growing into a kōhuri (sapling), after over a decade upstairs in Ward Street, the Trust moved to a high profile site in Peachgrove Road in 2014. The new site enabled the Centre to branch into new activities supporting environmental well being including Kaivolution food rescue, e-waste recycling, running a sustainable living retail outlet and providing in-community education.
2017 - Now

By 2017, the Centre had outgrown its premises at Five Crossroads and in July relocated to bigger premises in the former Post Shop building in Frankton Village. This provided much needed larger spaces for Kaivolution which was previously bursting at the seams and for events and workshops which were growing in popularity.

The interior of the building had some updating and brightening up, but held on to some of the original features, adding character and a reminder of the building's history. Along with the larger premises came a decision for a rebrand to increase awareness of the activities of the Centre. The name changed to Go Eco - and a new look for the Centre that better reflected the expansion of the Centre and the scope of its activities.

As a beautiful, mature rākau whai hua (tree), we support a regional ecosystem of communities, groups, ideas and projects that bear the fruit of healthy environments and thriving communities.