Take care of our environment plea delivered in Houhora

Another burnt-out car on 90 Mile Beach.

Yani Ferens launched an appeal for greater care to be taken of the Far North environment on the Houhora Open Community Group Forum Facebook page last week.

The sight of illegally-dumped rubbish was far too familiar, she said, and had to be stopped.

"Dumping of garden waste can spread noxious weeds, which cost time and chemicals to control, if they can be caught in time. Sometimes they become too widespread and end up changing the environment forever," she said.

"Dumping rubbish is disrespectful, an eyesore, and potentially hazardous to wildlife, land and sea. Cars pushed into water bodies can leak fuel and oil. By now I'm sure we have all heard about the problem plastic is causing the ocean and all that depend on it.

"There is a year-round restriction on open fires on the Aupouri and Karikari peninsulas.

A campfire at the beach sounds fun, but the risk fire poses to property, the environment, life and livelihoods is huge, and far outweighs a couple of hours of fun.

"This is not someone else's problem; this is everyone's problem. So please compost or burn (with a permit) your own garden waste at home, or take it to a transfer station.

It's free to recycle lots of rubbish at local transfer stations, greatly reducing the amount you need to pay for disposal. Remember, fires on our vulnerable coastline are never okay.

Summit Forests is installing trial cameras in trouble spots. If you see something dodgy, report it to your iwi, Summit Forests (09 406-024) or the police. Kaitiakitanga is our responsibility."