A purpose-built dishwashing trailer used to help cut the amount of waste at events has been stolen, and has left police and its owners wanting for those who took it to come clean.
The EcoMatters Environment Trust is urging Aucklanders to keep an eye out for their $50,000 Wash Against Waste trailer, after it went missing from outside their New Lynn offices just after New Year.
Chief executive Damon Birchfield says the unit had just come back from Northern Bass on New Year's Day, where it was cleaning dishes for festivalgoers when it was taken.
"It came back to the office here on the first and we reckon that it must have gone missing somewhere between the second and the fourth."
The trailer is an initiative started with Auckland Council, and travels around small to medium-sized events to act as an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable plates, cups and cutlery.
Manned by dishwashers volunteering their time, Mr Birchfield says the unit has become a talking point for environmentally friendly options amongst the Auckland community.
"It is a great conversation starter, when you tell them what you're doing they get really invested in it."
The trailer was booked for five events over the summer season including Splore, the music festival known for promoting sustainability. So to lose the trailer in "the busy season" is a major setback according to Mr Birchfield.
"It is damaging because we have put a lot of investment into building up what the whole trailer means. So this year, we were really well placed. Bookings have really been building up, and we are quite a critical piece of infrastructure for Splore."
Mr Birchfield says the trailer is well sign-written, and was seen near Victoria Park by a volunteer on the fourth, but since then there has been no word.
Police are looking for anyone to dish the dirt on the whereabouts of the trailer, while community groups have been raising awareness of the theft on social media.
Mr Birchfield says all he and the volunteers want is to get the trailer back in one piece.
"This is a community asset. If somebody maybe took it for a bit of a joy ride, then if they could leave it somewhere very public and we can come and get it. No questions asked we just want the trailer back."
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