Abilities Group

16/10/2026

A fence post has one job: to hold things up.

For years, Future Post have done that for recycling in Aotearoa, turning the soft plastics we collect from our clients into posts that last for decades.

This year, after a deliberate fire caused more than $1 million in damage to their site, they needed some holding up of their own.

More than 10,000 Kiwis answered their call, many of them buying $5 “virtual fence posts” through Givealittle. We were proud to help support our partner with $5,000, as we know when fire hit our site last year, other businesses held us up.

It's the kiwi way. We're all in this together.
Kia kaha, Future Post. We’re proud to stand alongside you. 💚💙

11/10/2026

Ever wondered where your old water dispenser goes to retire? Well, if it’s a Zenith Water one, it comes to us!

For the past few years our team has been giving their old water dispensers, HydroTaps and other gear a responsible end of life, recovering the good stuff and keeping it out of landfill.

We recently had the Zenith team out to show them around, and they kindly shouted everyone morning tea. They’re a fantastic partner, and we’re proud to help them hit their sustainability goals.

We’d say we’re overflowing with gratitude, but that’s probably one water joke too many.

Thanks for the ongoing support, Zenith. Come back anytime!

21/09/2026

♻️ Come meet the team today at Takutai Square, 12 to 1PM.

It's Britomart Sustainability Week, and today only, our e-Waste Recycling crew are on-site over lunch. Bring your old electronics down, drop them off for free, and hear what this mahi means to the people who do it: a charity creating real work for disabled and neurodiverse Kiwis for nearly 70 years.

Can't make it today? No stress. The collection bin's at Takutai Square all week (22 to 27 September), so bring your old phones, cables and gadgets down any time and we'll keep them out of landfill.

But today's the day to come say kia ora in person, 12 to 1PM. 💙

A big thank you to Cooper and Company for hosting us in Takutai Square and making this possible. Ngā mihi nui.

📍 Takutai Square, Britomart
🕛 Meet the team: today only, 12-1PM
♻️ Bin available: all week, 22-27 September

Discover sustainability in action at Britomart Sustainability Week. Celebrating the businesses and organisations driving positive change across the precinct, the programme features panel discussions, behind-the-scenes tours, fashion workshops, food offers and more. There's something for everyone to....

04/09/2026

A visit that reminded us where we started 💙
Recently we had the privilege of welcoming Helen Waite back to Abilities, along with her grandson Dan. Helen was married to Des Waite, one of the very first employees at Abilities when it began in the 1950s.

Des broke his back in a diving accident at just 21 and was given as little as six months to live. He went on to prove that wrong for more than 60 years, and spent much of his life creating work and dignity for disabled people.

In 2001 he received the Queen's Service Medal for his service to the disabled community. He passed away in 2015, but the work he helped build in those early days is still going strong.

Helen and Dan brought in a wonderful collection of old newspaper clippings and photographs from the early days, including shots of the very first Abilities premises (that's it in the sepia photo, a long way from where we are now). It was an incredible privilage to have see these treasured memories.

Visits like this remind us why Abilities exists: creating real jobs and opportunities for disabled people, just as Des and the early team set out to do. Ngā mihi to the whole Waite whānau for keeping his story alive 🕊.

04/08/2026

We've seen the light... and it's solar powered! ♻️

Big news from our Rosedale e-waste recycling site - we're now running on 100% solar power! 🌞

That means we're completely off-grid and self-sufficient, with the sun keeping the lights on, the lunchroom fridge humming, and our team powered up for another day of recycling.

Rosedale is our new site where we process e-waste for our corporate and business customers across Auckland. While it's not a public drop-off site, it's an important part of how we recycle responsibly and create meaningful employment for people with disabilities.

It's a win for our team, a win for sustainability, and another step towards reducing our environmental footprint. We think that's something worth celebrating!

Please note: this is a commercial site, and not open to the general public, so please no drop offs for your safety and ours.

02/07/2026

🎉💙 Celebrating 67 years of Abilities! 💙🎉

This month, we celebrated an incredible milestone - 67 years of creating meaningful employment and opportunities for people with disabilities. What a journey it's been, and what better way to celebrate than with the amazing people who make Abilities so special.

A huge thank you to our friends at Endless Metal Recycler, who surprised our Albany e-waste team with their legendary pie van, serving up hot pies and plenty of smiles. 🥧

We also loved welcoming PHAB to Takapuna, where their nutritionist shared practical, easy tips for healthy eating and feeling your best. 🥗✨

As we celebrate 67 years, we're reminded that none of this would be possible without the incredible people who have been part of our story. To our dedicated staff, valued customers, generous partners, trusted suppliers and our wider community - thank you for your support, encouragement and belief in what we do.

Together, you've helped build an organisation that continues to create opportunity, purpose and impact every single day.

Here's to the next chapter. 💙♻️

08/06/2026

♻️ 100 Containers and Counting! ♻️

This week, we celebrated a major milestone at Abilities - the shipment of our 100th container of e-waste for recycling in Japan!

For years, our team has worked hard to ensure valuable materials are recovered and recycled responsibly, helping keep tonnes of waste out of landfill while creating meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

This achievement represents so much more than a number. It's a testament to the dedication of our incredible team, the support of our customers and community, and our shared commitment to a more sustainable future. 💙

A special thank you to our long-standing recycling partner, Umihira Metals Co. Ltd. in Japan, for helping us give valuable materials a second life and supporting our journey to this incredible milestone.

And of course, a huge thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far. Here's to the next 100!

07/05/2026

💙🎉 Celebrating an incredible milestone at Abilities!

A huge congratulations to Beth and Pia, who are celebrating an amazing 45 years of service with Abilities. 🙌

For decades, these two incredible women have been part of the heart of our organisation - bringing dedication, kindness, hard work, and plenty of laughs along the way. We’re so grateful for everything they’ve contributed to the Abilities whānau and the countless lives they’ve impacted over the years. 💙

We celebrated the occasion alongside the end of our Healthy Eating April challenge, where staff who committed to healthy eating (and skipped the soft drinks!) went in the draw to win one of 10 healthy food hampers 🥦🍎

Thank you Beth and Pia for 45 remarkable years! What an achievement! 👏✨

01/05/2026

Saturday Drop-Off is back - and we couldn’t be more grateful.

After a challenging year, we’re incredibly thankful to be in a position where we can once again open our doors to the public on Saturday mornings.

Our Saturday Drop-Off service is officially back, making it easier than ever to recycle responsibly with Abilities.

We’re now accepting:
✔️ Electronic waste
✔️ Polystyrene
✔️ Documents & paper
✔️ Cardboard
✔️ Batteries
✔️ Soft plastics

📍 16 Kaimahi Road, Wairau Valley
🕖 Every Saturday, 7am – 1pm

Every drop-off supports meaningful employment for people with disabilities while helping keep valuable materials out of landfill - and we’re so grateful to be able to offer this service again to our community.

We’d love to see you this Saturday. 💙♻️

18/03/2026

We've got your plans sorted for next Saturday!
Start gathering up your unwanted electronics and household appliances - anything with a plug. We're back next Sat. 28th March with our e-waste pop-up. See you there!