A new community-led laundromat is coming to Uawa, bringing long-awaited relief to locals who have been without access to a local laundry service for years.
Led by Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti Centre of Excellence, the not-for-profit initiative is backed by up to $350,000 in funding from Trust Tairāwhiti, with further support from Manaaki Tairāwhiti, the Department of Internal Affairs, the Eastern and Central Community Trust and the Ministry of Social Development.
The project directly addresses community needs. A survey of 150 locals from Uawa revealed that 86 percent have difficulty washing clothes at home due to limited water access, unreliable infrastructure, or the absence of in-house laundry facilities. Many Uawa residents are having to make the two-hour round trip to Gisborne to do their washing.
Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti Centre of Excellence has been working on the solution for over a year, completing a detailed feasibility assessment, identifying the most suitable site in the heart of Uawa, and securing resource consent. The facility will accommodate seven washing machines and seven dryers, operating as a self-service laundromat with a card-based payment system.
The site will also feature five 30,000L tanks and a borehole that has been tested for water quality and approved for laundromat use, addressing the issue of inadequate infrastructure in the community. Plans also include the potential reuse and treatment of wastewater through nearby wetlands and an on-site nursery, underscoring a strong commitment to taiao outcomes and sustainable project design.
Operational costs have been considered in the early stages of the project, with a long-term plan for the facility to become financially self-sustaining through regular community use. The laundromat will also benefit nearby communities like Tokomaru Bay, located 50 minutes further up the coast.
Construction is scheduled to begin in winter 2025.