On Keep NZ Beautiful Day, Saturday 16 September 2023, a rubbish collection at Waikawa was organised by the Environmental Subcommittee of the WBRA, in conjunction with the Horowhenua District Council. The Council collected any rubbish gathered and left in the bags provided at Hank Edwards Reserve.
Unfortunately there were some communication glitches, where initially a cleanup along Waikawa Beach Road was to start at 10 am, but then HDC said that for safety reasons their contractors would do that and volunteers should instead pickup along the beach between Kuku and our river in the afternoon.
Becky Webb reported: My husband and I walked 3kms either side [of Waikawa Beach Road] and picked up what we could and have left bags at Hank Edward’s reserve. They got quite a haul!
The afternoon was grey and cool but volunteers turned out to what was apparently a very clean beach north of the river. Sophie Campbell reported: The beach cleanup didn’t give us much rubbish the beach north of the stream was so clean
. Which is actually good news. Sophie supplied the two photos below.
I was unable to participate on the day but a few days later walked to the Waiorongomai Stream. I picked up what amounted to a handful of bits and bobs then spotted a white blob just in the dunes. I suspected a shopping bag full of rubbish but instead found a large polystyrene ball. That filled up my bag and left no room for anything else. I think the gales over the previous days must have blown it into the dunes.
Many thanks to all volunteers who donated their time and energy.
Note: many thanks too to all the volunteers who in fact keep our beach clean every day. So many people who walk on our beach regularly pick up rubbish that the beach is always pretty clean. When I visit other beaches I’m often shocked by all the rubbish lying around.
See also: Please help clean up Waikawa on 16 September 2023 and Waikawa rubbish cleanup changes for Saturday 16 September 2023.
