The Norfolk Wave ripples out to the Festival of Pacific Arts!

A world first is happening here on Norfolk, with state-of-the-art recycling and resource recovery at the forefront of waste management accountability. Norfolk is a perfect pilot project. It presents challenges like isolation and logistical barriers, which warrant the development of creative solutions. It is the home of a proud community with diverse needs and perspectives to accommodate. And it is small enough that we can scrutinise each waste material to find the most efficient recycling method.

After a few years of brainstorming, many months of community consultation, behind-the-scenes planning, and six months of operations, we're proud to call The Norfolk Wave Recycling Centre ours! The Norfolk Wave is our way of caring for Norfolk's salan, environment, and culture while providing solutions to other communities that might face similar waste management challenges.

Pacific islands are like the litmus papers of the world, indicators of the surrounding environment and subject to common threats. We can often feel isolated in our fights against these. The South Pacific Community (SPC) first launched the Festival of Pacific Arts (FestPac) in 1972 to ensure the continuation and sharing of cultural practices. Hosted every four years by a different Pacific nation, this year's theme in Hawaii is HO'OULU LAHUI – Regenerating Oceania. The SPC states, 'The upcoming festival will bring to light many of the urgent issues facing the Pacific region – from rising sea levels, climate change, sustainability and the death of coral reefs, to widening social inequality – to illuminate our path toward the future.'

Norfolk Island has been sharing and showcasing awas unique language and culture, proudly participating in every FestPac since 1980. Dance, song, weaving, storytelling and wetls are among the many different cultural practices we have shared.

This year we’re proudly taking The Norfolk Wave story to FestPac Hawaii as part of the Norfolk Delegation! This wonderful opportunity will take our message and story to 27 other nations of the South Pacific. Through this we aim to empower awas Pasifika faemli to tackle waste management in their communities and in turn, help protect fragile environments in their Island homes.

As we revolutionise the waste management wheel for isolated communities, we always wanted to share our success with the Pacific and beyond. And here we are, iwi Norfolk, paving the way!

Thaenks f aklan

Dan, Lil, Mandi, and the Revolve Your World team