Mike Sahayam

Treasurer, Board Member

Mike Sahayam has been a Trade Waste Officer for the past 16 years. For 14 years he worked for Palmerston North City Council as both a Tradewaste Officer and a Compliance Officer. Last 2 and half years he has worked for the Tauranga City Council as a Tradewaste Specialist.

Mike has a science background, studied Chemistry at Massey University and later working at Massey for 15 years as a Technician and Tutor in the Department of Technology and Engineering. He was involved in the wastewater chemistry and microbiology programs as well as teaching meat microbiology and meat chemistry to meat industry leaders.

At Palmerston North City Council, Mike was involved not only monitoring and managing incoming Trade waste, but also working with industries to improve the quality of effluent they discharge, Stormwater investigations, Backflow prevention program management, harvesting and managing the landfill gas to convert it to biogas, as well as helping develop PNCC’ new wastewater discharge consent.

His own research interest was looking at how drinking moderate amounts of red wine had some health benefits and which NZ wines were best for this reason. Mike says that ‘NZ Pinot Noir is one of the best for health reasons if consumed moderately.’