We’ve noticed a significant increase in litter across Taranaki’s historic places in recent times.

Our chairperson, Hamish Crimp, has been picking up rubbish across Ngāmotu New Plymouth’s historic reserves, parks, beaches, and streets for the last 20 or so years and says the recent increase is ‘noticeable and concerning’.

The litter is, unfortunately, largely the result of intentional dumping, although overflowing public and private rubbish and recycling bins, unsecured fake flowers at cemeteries, amongst other sources, are also contributing to the problem. More extreme and frequent wind and rain events are also not helping the situation.

Sites such Pukekura Park and Brooklands, the Huatoki Walkway, Pūkākā Marsland Hill, Wharepapa Fort Niger, Tē Henui Cemetery, and Tē Henui Walkway including Pukewarangi Pā and Puketarata Pā, are particularly problematic within central Ngāmotu. Littering on pā and other significant cultural sites is incredibly disrespectful to mana whenua.

If not collected, litter makes its way into stormwater drains, gullies, streams and rivers, eventually ending up in the sea and on our beaches, where it can cause a myriad of environmental problems. Unfortunately, a large proportion of litter is now plastic, items such as vapes, which are becoming more common, also have their own disposal problems.

We must do better, we must all respect our unique and significant historic sites and natural environment, for they anchor us to our past and contribute positively to our sense of place and wellbeing, now, and into the future.

Some top tips to keep Taranaki and our historic sites litter free:

• Don’t litter and call out (and educate) those who do
• Pick up any litter you see whilst out and about – why not adopt a local street, park or reserve
• Organise a community clean up
• Keep the inside of your car clean – you’d be surprised how often litter blows out of vehicle interiors when doors are opened!
• Avoid placing fake flowers or other plastic items on graves as these are blown around and easily entangled in lawn mowers – natural flowers tied with biodegradable twine are a good alternative
• If you’re in New Plymouth District, make sure your red and yellow bins are fitted with bin latches that can be obtained from NPDC free of charge

Do you have any other advice to keep our historic sites and natural environment litter free? We’d love to hear it!