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Harlem Hits the Right Note with WM New Zealand Anthem

Hero - Harlem

We’re thrilled to introduce you to Harlem Waretini, a driver and talented singer-songwriter who has put WM into music with his heartfelt song. Harlem, who has been part of the Wellington team for the past 18 months, recently composed a moving anthem about WM, showcasing his deep appreciation for his work and community.

Harlem’s song, created in just a few days, reflects his passion for driving and his commitment to his role. He currently operates a range of vehicles, including rear loaders, side loaders, LEVs, and gantry trucks, adapting to whatever the Wellington team needs. His dedication shines through in his music, where he sings about the value of WM’s work and gives a special shout-out to his colleagues Johan Bezuidenhout, Des Fell, Sarah Whiteman, and Penani Tavita.

The positive feedback was overwhelming, prompting Managing Director Evan Maehl and Chief People Officer Craig Plested to arrange a professional recording session to capture Harlem’s talent.

You can listen to Harlem’s song and read the lyrics below. Harlem, your creativity and dedication are truly appreciated by all 1,700 of us at WM New Zealand. We’re all your biggest fans!

A big thank you to Des Fell and Sarah Whiteman for highlighting Harlem’s talent and to Sheera Gordon for organising the recording session.

Harlem's WM New Zealand Anthem

Have a read of the lyrics!

If your front yard is a worry, you’ve got a backyard full of woe

The trash is weighing heavy, the waste it’s got to go

Recycle, green or refuse, we’ll come pick it up

There’s no job we can’t handle, yeah we got every truck

All drivers at the ready with the necessary bin

On kerbside or commercial, you know we’ll get it in

At WM

You put it out every day, we take it away – it’s what we do and we do it well

Both hands on the wheel, keep it safe, keep it real – pay no mind to that funky smell

Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Welly-wide – coast to coast from east to west

Pick it up, put it down every street in the town, till it’s time to go home and rest

Then up early morning to do it again, clock in, start ‘em up and roll out

On the main road, every grove, the alleys and lanes the clean up is what we’re all about

At WM

At WM

At WM

We’ve got a rear loader, side loader, LEV that’s a bit about a trucker like me

Got a hook truck, hauling muck and all that yuck and make way for the mighty gantry

007 is the code to lighten your load, it’s an intercontinental thing

We got Pae, not a guy, keeping it fly, she all about the delivery

Hi Ab FlexiBin get it all in, WM will get it all out

0808 10 10 10 no need to scream just give us a shout

 

At WM

At WM

At WM

Shout out to Johann and Des, the dispatch crew, boss lady Sarah too

In the garage and yard you see Peter working hard, yeah we all got a job to do

It’s a WM thing, quality work we bring, service with a smile

If you want it gone and it’s been around too long, WM get it on speed dial

If you are cleaning out, you’re throwing away, got rubbish, got plastic, got glass

Don’t want it no more, it’s piling up in the door, call up we’ll take care of that trash

 

At WM

At WM

At WM

 

We clean up!

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