MEDIA RELEASE

19 November 2003

Auckland City gives nod of approval to Waitemata Harbour Cleanup Trust for another year

Auckland City Council’s Works Committee today agreed to continue its joint funding of the Waitemata Harbour Cleanup Trust for another year, by approving $30,000 as its share of the Trust’s funding.

The Trust was set up in September 2002 with the aim of cleaning up the Waitemata harbour and raising public awareness that harbour litter is a problem. The Trust’s boat, the 7m Phil Warren, cruises the harbour and its estuaries picking up litter. The costs are shared among Auckland City, Auckland Regional Council, North Shore City, Onyx New Zealand, Ports of Auckland, Watercare and Waitakere City.

“The Waitemata harbour is an important part of our cultural and social identity, and is used extensively for pleasure and commerce. Every year, a lot of rubbish finds its way into the harbour. Not only is this unsightly, but it also interferes with the marine environment and fragile ecosystems along our coastline,” says Councillor Bill Christian, chairperson of the Works Committee.

The main areas in Auckland city where rubbish appears to accumulate are around the Westhaven wave break, in the mangroves of the Whau River, and in the upper Tamaki River.

"It's up to all of us to play our part in disposing of rubbish in a responsible way, and so help keep the Waitemata beautiful," says Mr Christian.

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