Hundreds join beach clean-up

Volunteers celebrate their clean-up of 90 Mile Beach from the Bluff to Ahipara on Sunday. PICTURE / SUPPLIED

A clean-up on 90 Mile Beach on Sunday brought hundreds of people together and succeeded well beyond organisers' expectations.

The idea was the brainchild of Kaitaia woman Materoa Blair, who invited the community to get involved after spending hours picking up various bits of flotsam and jetsam she was finding on her daily walks with her dogs.

BEACHCOMBING: Hundreds of volunteers emerge from the sea-spray mist while combing 90 Mile Beach for rubbish. PICTURE/SUPPLIED

She estimated 150-200 people turned up on Sunday morning thanks to a well-publicised campaign last week via the Northland Age, social media, local schools and businesses.

Miss Blair admitted to feeling despair when she was woken about 5am on the day of the clean-up by thunder and lightning.

"I just about cried," she said. However, the weather soon cleared and the day turned out warm and clear.

The clean-up, which started at 8am and finished just before 1pm, was a huge success, she said.

The group worked the coast from the Bluff to the Kaka Street ramp in Ahipara, with Miss Blair estimating a tonne of rubbish was removed from the beach. Items found included plastic, rope, water coolers, tyres, even an entire bed.

About a tonne of rubbish was removed from the beach. PICTURE/SUPPLIED

Among the masses were students from Kaitaia, Awanui, Pukepoto, Te Kao, Paparore and Ngataki primary schools, while businesses and organisations lending support to the cause included Petricevich Buses, Northland Waste, Department of Corrections, Far North REAP, Houhora Coastguard, Te Runanga o Te Rarawa, as well as Ngai Takoto iwi and the Murray whanau.

"It opened everyone's eyes as to how bad it is. When you drive you don't see it, but you do when you walk beside the dunes." She planned to make the day an annual event.