Tararua Helping To Keep NZ Beautiful

Starting from next week school kids around Tararua will be playing their part in helping to keep our country beautiful.

Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB) is a non-profit organisation with its roots in the NZ Litter Act 1979. It operates as a charitable trust promoting litter abatement, waste reduction and town and city beautification.

Any district large or small can get involved and this year will be the fourth for Tararua.

The trust delivers KNZB litter and beautification programs to over 40 sites. Activities include school and national litter and clean-up programs involving - for example - streets and parks, and lakes, coastal and marine locations.

Whether it’s picking up rubbish in parks, cleaning out a local stream, removing graffiti, painting a mural or planning a ‘trash to fashion’ show the opportunities to do your bit locally are endless.

Participant numbers are growing nationally, from 900,000 in 2006, to 1.3 million last year. And they’re across the spectrum - individuals, schools, communities, businesses and local bodies.

The trust is seeking sponsors – large or small. Last year for example Tararua District Council sponsored the postage for the national mail out.

There are KNZB awards to compete for. The best Loo, the Cities and Towns award and an Award for Excellence.

Most sought after is the Barnita Trust/Keep NZ Beautiful trophy for the local body that does the most to promote the abatement of litter, won last year by Westland District Council.

Of the numerous businesses involved New Zealand wide many are national corporates but there are local ones too.

Examples are Bank of New Zealand, roading contractors Fulton and Logan, Federated Farmers of New Zealand and the Hospitality Association of New Zealand. Local examples elsewhere are Foxton Fizz, Take Note Waikanae and Waikanae Butchery.

A ‘next year’s‘ thought for local businesses in Tararua maybe?

This year’s campaign week is from September -5 – 12.

Check www.knzb.co.nz  for further details or contact Tararua District Council waste manager Jeremy Hirst 906)3744080.