Wairoa River offers a beautiful rural outlook as traffic enters and exits Tauranga City from the north, but being on State Highway 2 makes it a vulnerable area for rubbish dumping.

A sheep’s skin, an outboard motor oil container and a hot chicken wrapper were among items collected from beneath the surface and along the riverbank in a recent clean-up day by kayak.

Other small items such as bottles and cans were recovered, and a large item on the river’s edge – an aluminium window with broken glass – was also removed.

The public event was held as part of Envirohub Bay of Plenty’s Sustainable Backyards Month on March 12, and hosted by Waimarino Water and Adventure Park.

About 35 people took to kayaks to go look for and collect rubbish in Wairoa River. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

After a safety briefing by park staff, about 35 people jumped in kayaks to look for and collect rubbish from about 11am to 1pm.

Waimarino Group office and customer services manager Samantha Botes said she believed that SH2 traffic was one of the sources of rubbish that regularly entered Wairoa River near the park.

“Also, the parking spot across the river with the boat ramp where people spend weekends. That is one of the [rubbish] sources as well.”

The event was a day of community spirit, connection, conservation, and adventure, she said.

“We had about 8-10 bags of rubbish collected on the day, and we disposed of it. We had Waimarino Group’s education centre and the adventure park get involved because we thought that it would be a good activity for the public, to make them realise that people do pollute water. It was also so they could realise what the water could look like if people don’t take care of it.”

People in kayaks scout Wairoa River and it banks for rubbish. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Botes said that Waimarino staff get in the river every morning to scout near the park to make sure there is no debris floating around where activities take place.

“We were hoping to educate people and encourage the public to help care for the river and water with this event.”

She said a group of students from Te Wharekura o Mauao kura at Bethlehem took part in the clean-up and were able to learn more about the river.

“They wanted to speak to our guides and find out what roles and pathways there are in this type of job. We had a short session before the clean-up on what the job involved and then asked them to join us for the clean-up.

“They were able to learn more about the river and our jobs – and also that it’s not always fun and games.”

Afterwards, participants enjoyed two hours’ free time in Waimarino Adventure Park as a reward for their efforts.