Waitemata Harbour benefits from Fun Run

Today the Waitemata Harbour benefited from the efforts of participants in an iconic Auckland event when the Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust received $40,000 as a charity recipient of this year’s Ports of Auckland Round the Bays fun run.

Chairman of the Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust Peter Drummond and Co-Founder Hayden Smith, Auckland City Mayor John Banks, Fairfax Media CEO Allen Williams, and Ports of Auckland Chief Financial Officer Wayne Thompson, met at Pier 3 at the Downtown Ferry Terminal to officially mark the donation.

“The decision to have Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust as one of the beneficiaries for the 2010 Ports of Auckland Round the Bays made sense to us,” says Mr Thompson, “Every year millions of Aucklanders and overseas visitors enjoy the fantastic shorelines of the Waitemata Harbour. As a company that uses the Waitemata Harbour, Ports of Auckland is committed to responsible environmental management and that includes support for initiatives such as the work of the Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust.”

Formed in 2002, the Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust is a charitable organisation that oversees the removal of litter from Auckland's Waitemata Harbour and inner gulf islands, and promotes the concept of clean, clear rubbish-free waterways.

Since its inception Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust has removed over 2.2 million litres of rubbish from the Waitemata Harbour.

Hayden Smith from the Waitemata Harbour Clean-up Trust estimates that around 85-90% of the rubbish found in the Harbour comes directly from the stormwater drains and rivers of Auckland City.

“Sometimes people don’t realise that a piece of rubbish can make its way from a suburb through the waterways and into the Harbour,” says Mr Smith. “It’s important to remember that any piece of rubbish disposed of incorrectly has the potential to clutter our harbour.

“In 2002 Ports of Auckland provided a 6.5 metre boat, the Phil Warren, for litter retrieval and removal which has been extremely helpful and with the funds received today we will be able to continue to clean up the Waitemata Harbour.”

Mr Williams says Fairfax Media with the Sunday Star Times is delighted that the efforts of the 70,000 plus participants who took part in the fun run around the beautiful Waitemata Harbour waterfront in March is benefiting this great cause. Fairfax Media has a long and proud association with the event through its Auckland Suburban Newspaper network, which managed the fun run from 1988.

“People will be pleased to know that their entry fee will go towards the running costs of the Phil Warren vessel as a volunteer platform and school educational experience for 416 hours of operation, cleaning up the coast.”

Ronald McDonald House and Fairfax First Books are charities also benefiting from proceeds raised at this year’s Ports of Auckland Round the Bays.