“Army of volunteers to clean up Muriwai Beach”

May 10, 2001

Several hundred volunteers in army Unimogs (troop carriers) will take to Muriwai Beach on Sunday 20 May in the annual Muriwai Beach Clean Up.

Organised by the Auckland Regional Council in partnership with the NZ Army, the Royal NZ Air Force and Land Rover New Zealand, the event will see the volunteers targeting a common enemy - litter which has accumulated on the beach over summer

Last year a crowd of about 300 people, assisted by army and air force personnel, collected approximately 30 cubic metres of rubbish, much of it marine debris, such as plastic, tangled fishing nets and lines, from a variety of sources which poses a major threat to wildlife on the coast.

This year the New Zealand Defence Force will once again play a key role, supplying personnel and the Unimogs which will carry volunteers to the far reaches of Muriwai Beach.

Anyone who wishes to help with the clean up should meet at 10am at the Muriwai Beach Motor Camp for a briefing. The event will conclude with a free barbeque and spot prizes at about 3-4pm.

Prizes inlcude free use of a Land Rover New Zealand vehicle for a weekend, a free weekend at a Department of Conservation cottage and a mountain bike donated by Carter Holt Harvey.

ARC Parks and Recreation Committee chairman Bill Burrill says the council is extremely grateful for the support of all these organisations as well as the armed forces and the hundreds of volunteers who make the clean up such a successful event each year.

“Muriwai is one of one of Auckland’s most spectacular and most popular west coast beaches and the clean up benefits its coastal environment and all those who visit the beach.

“I invite anyone with an interest in Muriwai to join me along with the local school pupils and local residents who will be out in force to clean up the beach on May 20.”

For further information please call:

Cr Bill Burrill
Chairman, ARC Parks and Recreation Committee
Phone 366-2000 ext 8179
Mobile 021 978 139
Home 263-8071

Or

Simon Roche
ARC Communications
Phone 366-2000 ext 8100
Mobile 021 656 380.

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