Localised

What Localised does

Localised is a New Zealand-registered charitable company and accredited social enterprise that operates as the commercial arm of Zero Waste Aotearoa, a nonprofit network with over 120 member organisations in the resource recovery sector. The company's core function is forming joint ventures with local community organisations to develop and operate community recycling centres and zero waste hubs, of which it currently runs eight across Auckland, Warkworth and the Kapiti Coast. These facilities deliver drop-off recycling, second-hand retail, repair workshops, upcycling enterprises, e-waste handling, construction and demolition waste recovery, education programmes, and warehousing for Auckland's Inorganic Collection Service. Notable facilities include the Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub (also the company headquarters), Aotearoa's first Māori/Pasifika-led resource recovery centre at Onehunga (opened August 2022 in 50/50 partnership with Synergy Projects Trust), and Otaihanga Zero Waste, which focuses on construction and demolition materials in partnership with the Sustainability Trust.

The underlying technology is operational rather than digital: the company runs physical resource recovery facilities, builds governance and management capability inside JV partners, and provides access to impact investment capital. There is no proprietary software product, AI component, or app disclosed. The product portfolio is essentially a platform of physical hub sites, each adapted to its community — ranging from a full café, education centre and reuse shop at Onehunga to a construction waste handling site at Otaihanga and an op-shop format at the Zero Waste Charity Store.

Revenue is generated from multiple streams: sale of second-hand goods, recycling and drop-off fees, collection services, joint venture participations, and impact investment funding. Primary customer segments are local councils (notably Auckland Council and Kapiti Coast District Council) seeking experienced operators to deliver waste minimisation outcomes, community organisations that lack the governance, management and financial capacity to run facilities independently, and the general public accessing drop-off, retail and repair services. The company secured impact investment funding from Foundation North in December 2021 and was awarded Best of the Best for Excellence in Community Contribution at the 2Degrees Auckland Business Awards in 2025.

Name

Localised

Legal name

Localised Limited

Website

https://localised.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Localised is a New Zealand charitable company and the commercial arm of Zero Waste Aotearoa, operating eight community recycling centres and zero waste hubs across Auckland, Warkworth and the Kapiti Coast via joint ventures with local organisations, councils and communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Resource Recovery Services

NAICS

All Other Waste Management Services (56299), Waste Treatment and Disposal (5622)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAIAGAD

Industrial Packaging Waste Services (Pallets, Cardboard, Film, IBCs/Drums—Non-hazardous)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Services (Waste Management, Recycling & Remediation)/Industrial & Commercial Waste Services (Non-hazardous, Specialized Streams)

SECONDARYBPAIACAH

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

SECONDARYHSAIAOAJ

Eco-Friendly Disposal, Recycling & Donation Hauling

Home & Personal Services/Landscaping, Lawn Care & Outdoor Maintenance/Junk Removal & Yard Waste Hauling

Keywords

• Community recycling centres
• Resource recovery operations
• Waste minimisation services
• Reuse and repair hubs
• Social enterprise operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Impact Investment Funding: Localised secured impact investment funding from Foundation North through its impact investment program, supporting operations and expansion with a combined impact fund and co-lending arrangement for developing community enterprise infrastructure.
2. Joint Venture Revenue: Revenue generated through joint venture partnerships with community organisations operating resource recovery facilities. Localised provides governance structure, management capability, and financial support in exchange for partnership stakes.
3. Community Recycling Centre Operations: Operating community recycling centres that accept waste materials for reuse, recycling, and recovery. Revenue streams include sale of second-hand goods, recycling fees, and collection services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Localised forms joint ventures with local community organisations to develop and operate community recycling centres and zero waste hubs across New Zealand. The company provides governance structure, management capability, financial support, capital and impact investment access, and capacity building to partner community organisations. It operates eight zero waste enterprises offering recycling drop-off, reuse retail, repair services, upcycling, and community education on waste minimisation.

Product overview

Localised operates as a platform of multiple zero waste hub enterprises across New Zealand. As the commercial arm of Zero Waste Aotearoa, it forms joint ventures with local community organisations to build and operate resource recovery facilities. The portfolio includes seven distinct zero waste hub products: Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub (also serving as company HQ), Wairau Zero Waste Hub, Whangaparāoa Zero Waste Hub, Less. Waste Warkworth, Onehunga Zero Waste (Māori/Pasifika-led partnership), Otaihanga Zero Waste (construction/demolition waste focus), and the Zero Waste Charity Store. These hubs collectively provide recycling drop-off, reuse shops, repair services, upcycling enterprises, and community education on waste minimisation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub
• Wairau Zero Waste Hub
• Whangaparāoa Zero Waste Hub

Quantifiable outcome

• 215 not-for-profits supported in Auckland through Localised and joint ventures
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Zero Waste AotearoacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocalised is 100% owned by Zero Waste Aotearoa, a network with over 120 members working in the resource recovery sector throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Zero Waste Aotearoa is the parent charitable network.
• Synergy Projects TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner50/50 joint venture partner for Onehunga Community Recycling Centre, Aotearoa's first Māori/Pasifika-led resource recovery centre. Opened to public on 1st August 2022.
• Mahurangi Wastebusters TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner for Less. Waste Warkworth community recycling centre operating on behalf of Auckland Council from Lawrie Road, Snells Beach.
• Sustainability TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocalised partners with the Sustainability Trust to operate Otaihanga Zero Waste, a site focused on reusing and recycling construction and demolition waste.
• Auckland CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocalised operates community recycling centres on behalf of Auckland Council and works with them to achieve broader outcomes in waste management and minimisation.
• Kapiti Coast District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocalised partners with Kapiti Coast District Council for resource recovery operations in the Kapiti region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fulton Hogan: Large Australasian infrastructure and environmental services company with waste, recycling, and resource recovery operations. Comparable as a diversified infrastructure peer bidding into council and community waste contracts.
• Waste Management New Zealand: Largest commercial waste services provider in New Zealand operating collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal nationally. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in NZ waste management that Localised's council partners often contract alongside.
• EnviroWaste New Zealand: Major NZ liquid and solid waste services provider with national collection and processing infrastructure. Comparable as a large-scale competitor for council waste contracts and resource recovery mandates.

Regional players

• Earthcare Environmental: Northland/Auckland environmental services provider offering waste minimisation and resource recovery. Comparable as a regional player serving overlapping council and community customers in upper North Island.

Direct peers

• Sustainability Trust: Wellington-based sustainability charity operating resource recovery and reuse enterprises including the Otaihanga Zero Waste site in partnership with Localised. Comparable as a direct JV partner operating community zero waste infrastructure.
• Smart Environmental: New Zealand waste minimization and recycling services provider operating transfer stations and community-facing drop-off sites. Comparable as a direct community recycling centre operator in the same geography and customer base.
• Green Gorilla: New Zealand waste minimisation service focused on commercial and event waste reduction, recycling, and education. Comparable as a peer operating in NZ circular economy services targeting similar council and corporate customers.
• The Reuse People NZ: New Zealand branch of The Reuse People diverting building materials from landfill via reuse retail outlets. Comparable as a direct reuse-and-recovery operator running similar donation drop-off, retail, and deconstruction services.

Emerging players

• Kaicycle: Wellington-based community composting and urban resilience social enterprise. Comparable as a community-led, NZ non-profit resource recovery operator with similar impact-investment funding model and council partnerships.
• Para Kore: Māori zero waste organisation supporting marae and iwi to reduce waste through training and systems. Comparable as a culturally-aligned NZ zero waste peer sharing mission, network structure, and council/iwi engagement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/localised-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Localised