1985

March

Metro Magazine publishes an article naming Otara town centre as Auckland's Graffiti Capital.

1988

Reverend Mark Beale founds St Elizabeth's Anglican Church in Clendon.

1991

"Keep Manukau Beautiful" (KMB) organisation was founded by Sir Barry Curtis, based on KNZB (Keep New Zealand Beautiful).

1997

Reverend Mark Beale secures a government contract for "Task Force Green", training long-term unemployed people to become graffiti removers and assisting them into paid employment and off the benefit.

2001

December

Keep Manukau Beautiful rebrands and becomes incorporated as Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust (MBCT), with Rev. Mark Beale as the founding chair. The Trust's main objects are "to promote, support, and undertake programmes, actions, and initiatives to beautify Manukau City's urban and rural environment for the benefit and enjoyment of the Manukau community and public at large. ​

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The first offices of the Trust are set up at 42 Dr Pickering Avenue, Manurewa, on the edge of Mountfort Park.

2002

December

The Trust Becomes a CCO (Council-Controlled Organisation) of Manukau City Council.

2004

"Adopt A Spot" programme is launched, where volunteers are assigned a public space, such as a park or town square, and maintain the area with clean ups.

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July

Manukau City Council appoints Graeme Bakker as General Manager of the Trust.

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November

Barbara Carney is employed as Graffiti Manager.

2006

November

The Trust beomces involved with murals through the Manukau Schools Graffiti Education Programme. "Empowerment Mural" is the first mural of this programme, over 165 metres long and painted by 150 students from 30 primary and secondary schools.

2008

The Trust relocates to its current office at 38 Holmes Road Manurewa.

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Task Force Green is abolished in favour of a team of full-time permanent graffiti removal staff.

2009

The first Schools Days, an environmental education programme for South Auckland students, is held at the inaugural 3-day long Auckland Botanic Garden Festival.

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Manukau City Council's Events Team engages the Trust to work on a Council-led community engagement initiative, HeART of the Nation, leading up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, allowing the public to submit ideas on how to welcome the rugby-playing nations supporting their teams.

2010

A partnership with Vector begins. The graffiti removal crew is entrusted to clean vandalised Vector service cabinets en route to other clean up jobs.

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Supported by Auckland Council, the Trust's graffiti eradication outreach increases to include Papakura and Franklin districts as the Auckland councils amalgamate into a "Super City".

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The Auckland Botanic Garden holds its final Festival, also ending the Trust Schools Days programme.

2011

The Trust partners with several key organisations to arrange Auckland-wide town centre clean ups leading up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

2013

The inaugural Eye on Nature Children's Environmental Event launches after one year of planning. This 3-day event is a free programme for over 1,500 South Auckland students, restructured from the original Auckland Botanic Gardens Festival Schools Days event.

2015

February

The start of Boomer Business (since renamed Boomer Shed), a community shed welcoming anyone over 50 years old to work on personal or community projects including woodwork, painting, metalwork, and more.

2016

April

The record-setting Puhinui Stream Clean-up, the largest clean-up in New Zealand, sees over 1,900 volunteers clear 6 tonnes of rubbish, 200 shopping trolleys, and 300 car tyres from the Puhinui Stream, in efforts to revive the native eel population and decrease pollution, in partnership with Auckland Council, Wai Care, The Roots Creative Entrepreneurs, and Sustainable Coastlines.

2019

June

Eye on Nature Wearable Arts held at Due Drop Events Centre for the first time, separating from the Eye on Nature Family Days (now known as Whaanau Fun Day) events due to increase in scale and interest.

2020

March

Eye on Nature School Days and Family Day events are cancelled as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads.

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July

Graeme Bakker steps down after 16 years with the Trust, and Daniel Barthow is appointed as the new CEO.

2021

February

The Trust undergoes a brand refresh, including simplifying the trading name to the Beautification Trust, and modernising the logo.

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July

The Trust becomes a member of Zero Waste Aotearoa (previously Zero Waste Network) and Environment Hubs Aotearoa (EHA), to collaborate with others who share the zero waste kaupapa.

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September

The Community Tool Library, Creator Space, and Community Compost launch, making resources and a community space available to the public. The Tiaki Fund also begins, granting funds to community projects like clean-ups and murals.

2022

March

Eye on Nature School Days is held online for the first time ever, due to COVID-19.

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August

Barbara Carney, who is now the Key Project Manager, retires after 18 years with the Trust, but remains connected as a Boomer Shed member and volunteer.

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November

The Manurewa Community Recycling Centre opens its doors; a drop-off point for non-kerbside recyclables and donations, and a second-hand store to purchase pre-loved goods.

2023

The Beautification Trust joins with EcoMatters Environmental Trust, Kaipatiki Project, and Waiheke Resources Trust for the first annual Auckland-wide EcoFest.

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August

Foodtogether Pop-Up Manurewa is set up to battle the rising cost of produce after crop losses from February's Cyclone Gabrielle.

2024

June

The Beautification Trust no longer operates as a CCO (Council-Controlled Organisation) of Auckland Council, and becomes fully independent.

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November

Bike Hub Manurewa opens its doors, the last of 14 Auckland Transport supported Auckland-wide Bike Hubs providing free access to tools, bike maintenance advice, and affordable refurbished bikes and parts.

2025

April

The Beautification Trust wins the Best of the Best for Community Contribution at the 2Degrees Auckland Business Awards.

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May

The Trust welcomes the Tread Lightly Caravan, a mobile classroom that delivers award-winning environmental education to primary and intermediate schools across Auckland.

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October

Supporting the long-term goal to diversify income, the Trust acquires Packaging Recyclers, a family-owned West Auckland business known for its reused packaging and document destruction services.