Keep New Zealand Beautiful

Paula from Flaxmere

Keep New Zealand Beautiful
Clean Up Event 2017
16/9/2017
Today 21people including James ,Ashlyn, and Lorenzo went to the local awa Ngaruroro. Its full name was, Ngaruroro moko tuararo ki rangatira, which was given by Ruawharo, one of the tohunga or priests aboard the Takitimu waka when it arrived in Hawke's Bay hundreds of years ago.
We all gathered with one purpose. To clean the litter away from our awa.
We hold regular clean up events at the awa to educate the community about the environmental damage that is happening. This week was also Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up Week.
We collected and picked up litter for just over an hour. James worked hard carrying the recycling bag. It was getting heavier and heavier but he was still determined to fulfil his role as kaitiaki. He climbed over banks to gather litter carrying his bag. We (Paula and James) talked about the litter and the concerns we shared.
We meet up with Juliet, Cassie, and Cheri and helped them gather a large pile of litter that was from a household dumping. It included a Dyson Vacuum cleaner, flat screen TV, overalls and other bits and pieces. Tina cleaned up a pile of car parts. We believe we could have put a car together with all the parts collected.
We were pleased to have Paul Bailey the Hawkes Bay Regional Councillor join us. Paul and his partner found a huge pile at the other end of the awa clean up area, consisting of another household dumping. Paul was able to get addresses and names from the mail.
He was going to follow up on this.
We came back together as a group and planted three new native trees. Near the picnic table to remember what we had done and what we would like the future to look like.
We shared some scones and soup and a few stories and then it was time to go home.
Photos have been put on facebook and a whole new world of conversations has been provoked. Let’s hope our actions get some reaction and creates more kaitiaki. We also wait with anticipation to hear from the council the weight of the litter collected.

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