Pāuatahanui Inlet Clean-up day at Browns Bay, Sunday 23 March, turned out to be a very successful and productive day for all concerned and as usual Janet and Ray Ryan are to be thanked for making the job easy for everyone. We had a great attendance with around 52 volunteers, with individuals, families and groups all making an appearance. Geocashers always come to this annual event to make it one of their recorded targets and this time at least 16, we think, were there. We had the pleasure of seeing Anita Baker, Mayor of Porirua, take part, dressed like most in a hi-vis vest for the sake of visibility on the roadside. One young couple had just moved from Dunedin to Wellington and were thrilled to take part in such a worthwhile exercise, coming all the way from their home in Kelburn to do so. Green Olive Café, from Mana Esplanade, also came along after we had posted the event on their social media website.

Another group of visitors were from the team, led by Cam Feast, that plan to produce an updated series of the Living Waters documentaries, successor to that created about 10 years ago. They videoed the activities of the various volunteers and interviewed a number of GOPI committee members about the activity and its importance to the Inlet.

While this clean-up exercise is conducted every year, and local volunteers also regularly scout the shoreline in between times to help keep it clean, the amount of litter collected this time was considerable. A lot of plastic bottles were brought in, and a large collection of carboard, paper, wood, glass and heavier plastics, all made an appearance. We even saw a road sign, discarded at Spinnaker Drive intersection, brought back to the collection point and pieces of vehicle parts, left over after one or more collisions with the barriers along SH58, were also retrieved. Two tires, a wooden pallet and other wooden objects, and larger plastic items brought up the rear. It was a disappointing reflection on the local population’s attitude to waste disposal. 

Like last year, we weighed most of the material in its bags as the volunteers returned from each shoreline section. The total collected in the bags amounted to 100kg, but then there were the larger items which I have estimated to be at least another 100kg in total.

We always provide a sausage sizzle to feed the hungry and offer thanks for the undertaking, and this was put on with the admiral assistance of Janet and Ray Ryan with a trailer customised to suit the purpose. This is the opportunity for everyone to talk about their morning and chew the cud over the disappointing behaviour of others who discard their unwanted items in such a thoughtless way.  Some planning for future activities also takes place at these times, with the social atmosphere an ideal environment for discussion.

The sausages, bread and condiments were supplied by Plimmerton Auto Services for which we offer many thanks, and tea, coffee, as well as juice and water, were also there for the taking, courtesy of Janet and ray. Thanks also goes to Denise Gow who stepped in to help at the end of the morning, dishing out the onions and sausages to a que of hungry mouths. 

Well done everyone.