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.

Latest clean up update

July 2009

Since inception we have collected a total of 1,806,614 litres of litter during 11,959.4 hours of operation. This is the equivalent of 7,527.56 240 litre rubbish wheelie bins full or 60.22 20 foot shipping containers full of loose trash that has now successfully been removed from the tide and foreshore of the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf.

The total number of volunteers used since inception is 3,233
The total number of volunteer hours since inception is 20,376.5
The total volume collected by volunteers since inception is 331,800 litres.

About Waitemata Harbour

The Waitemata Harbour, meaning “sparkling waters” is located in the North Island of New Zealand and is the focal point of the Auckland region, which has a population of 1.3 million. The Waitemata Harbour with its many beaches and tidal rivers, opens into the Hauraki Gulf, which is dotted with islands formed by volcanic activity.

Every year millions of New Zealanders and overseas visitors enjoy the sparkling waters and fantastic shorelines of the Waitemata Harbour. The harbour is used for recreation, shipping, fishing and tourism and hosted the America™s Cup yacht races in 1999 and 2003.

Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust board members

• Chairman: Mr Peter Drummond
• Deputy Chairman: Mayor Bob Harvey, Waitakere City Council
• Mayor Andrew Williams, North Shore City Council
• Mayor Len Brown, Manukau City Council
• Ms Penny Whiting (MBE), Professional Yachtswoman
• Mr Mike Lee, Chairman, Auckland Regional Council
• Mr Gary Swift, Watercare Services

How the Trust got started

The idea to form a trust to deal with rubbish entering the Waitemata Harbour, was the brainchild of boating enthusiasts Waitakere City Mayor, Bob Harvey and Mr Hayden Smith. They observed increasing amounts of rubbish making its way to sea via roadways and stormwater channels often clogging up streams and estuaries along the way.

With the support of local councils and corporate sponsorship, funding was obtained to commission a company to raise awareness about litter issues and to carry out litter removal in the inner gulf. The Ports of Auckland provided a 6.5 metre boat, the Phil Warren, for litter retrieval and removal. The boat was named in recognition of the environmental initiatives led by the late Phil Warren while he was chairperson of the Auckland Regional Council.

What do we do?

The crew on the Phil Warren scoops up a wide variety of rubbish from the Waitemata Harbour including plastic wrap and tyres. Kayaks or a flat-bottomed punt are used to clean along the shoreline and beaches as well as in estuaries and mangrove areas.

Rubbish that can be recycled is sorted and taken to the Waitakere City Council refuse transfer station, but most 'harbour' rubbish like tyres, cannot be recycled and adds to increasing landfill volumes. The possibility of using a barge mounted recycling centre for sorting rubbish is currently being assessed.

Removing rubbish this way is very labour intensive, the best way to achieve a cleaner harbour is preventing rubbish from entering the environment in the first place. Click below for ideas on how you can help reduce rubbish.

How you can help

We need your help!

Since November 2002, volunteers have contributed over 20,376.5 person hours to help clean up the inner gulf either individually or by organising clean up events. Please give us a hand!

To volunteer

If you would like to help clean up the harbour, the Phil Warren can take up to three volunteers at a time, or you can use your own kayak or other craft. Please contact Hayden Smith on mobile 021 180 8243 or email hamyden@ihug.co.nz for more information.

Become a sponsor or make a donation

To become a sponsor or make a donation please contact: The Secretary, David Tait on (09) 836 8000 extn. 8812 or email David.Tait@waitakere.govt.nz

All charitable donations or financial contributions are tax deductible.

Reusing your rubbish

Re-using products is another great way of minimising your rubbish. It saves the energy and resources needed to make new products – and it saves you money too. find out how at www.sustainability.govt.nz. If you are in business, find out how you can save money and reduce waste through cleaner production practices.

Other actions you can take

Because plastic materials are often windblown from streets and vehicles, you can help by making sure you dispose of or recycle your plastics properly. If you are transporting rubbish or managing a construction site, do your bit by making sure your waste loads are properly secured and by ensuring good on-site waste management.

Related websites

Reusing your rubbish
Clean Up New Zealand Week
The Big Clean Up (ARC)
Wai Care

Litter volumes

Quarter 01/04/2009 -30/06/2009 Litter Collection Data Summary

What type of rubbish do we usually find?
What is the source?

If you leave your empty soda drink bottle or plastic cutlery at the park after your picnic, there's a good chance you'll be swimming in it soon!

Plastic bottles, caps and plastic bags that get washed down stormwater drains or blown to sea, are the most common litter items found in the harbour. These materials are often tossed out of vehicles, are blown onto the road or simply dumped.

Polystyrene from building construction sites is another harbour nasty. This type of rubbish usually comes from commercial and industrial sites near waterways or from insecure rubbish loads on trucks and other vehicles.

Be a tidy kiwi - what you drop on the ground ends up in our waterways