Arbor Day originated in Nebraska City, in the United States in 1872, it is simply a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. The First Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska, it is estimated that 1 million trees were planted that day... more

The Keep Dunedin Beautiful committee, has been busy coming up with a way to "Keep Dunedin Beautiful" They have reinstated the "Adopt-A-Spot" concept, this programme worked effectively for many years, and has now been brought back into the spotlight, to be better than ever. The Keep Dunedin Beautiful committee invites and encourages your group to take part. The method is simple, and involves choosing an area and keeping it clean and tidy on a regular basis, whether it be monthly, quarterly or every six months, whatever suits your group. .. more

Keep New Zealand Beautiful is stoked that Dunedin City Council is extremely committed to managing graffiti vandalism, with a plan in action that aims to remove graffiti vandalism within a twenty four hour time period where possible. Keep Dunedin Beautiful has already commissioned a number of murals in locations that were repetitively attacked by graffiti vandalism, such as the mural located in the Cannongate-Elm Row area.  Keep Dunedin Beautiful hired three artists, DAT Crew, Sean Duffell, Aaron Manual and Nigel Roberts to paint a mural depicting Dunedin in someway. The mural was painted in 2007 with the theme “being a scarfie.”.. more

At 3pm this afternoon at Council Chambers, Horowhenua District Mayor Brendan Duffy and Keep New Zealand Beautiful launch a new campaign designed to rid our footpaths, roads and waterways of cigarette butts.  In aiming to eliminate this significant litter item, members of Keep Levin Beautiful are asking their community to use the cigarette butt litter receptacles now installed in the townships central business district.     In a joint project, twenty new design cigarette butt litter receptacles will be installed to encourage the appropriate disposal of cigarette butts, something that is usually easier said than done for most smokers. A number of older design receptacles will be replaced also.   It is not just about receptacles but also about public education.  Members of Keep Levin Beautiful will take to the streets for the next week making smokers aware of the new vandal-proof receptacles, and encouraging them to ‘do the right thing.’   “Smokers often contribute to a litter problem which severely degrades the look and feel of our beautiful community and environment when they drop or ‘flick’ their butts without thinking twice” says Cr Tony Rush, Chairman of Keep New Zealand Beautiful and District Councillor.  “We have bins for litter, and it’s dangerous if cigarette butts are disposed with normal litter, so are implementing a simple and effective solution to avert unsightly cigarette butts that are needlessly discarded.  That way, smokers can do their bit to help Keep New Zealand Beautiful as well.   “We believe that smokers will respond positively and dispose of their cigarette butts more responsibly, resulting in a reduction of cigarette butts on our streets and ending up in storm-water drains and the environment” said Cr Rush.  “We should be particularly concerned for the impacts cigarette butt litter is having on Lake Horowhenua.”    “The only way to overcome this problem is to help people understand that it is a matter of personal responsibility not to litter the streets and allow cigarette butts into our beautiful waterways.  With this initiative there is no longer an excuse that there’s nowhere to put them”.   Since the changes to the Smokefree laws in 2004, which banned smoking in all indoor areas, cigarette butt litter has become more of a problem for Councils. Cigarette butts are one of the most common rubbish items in New Zealand and often end up in the waterways, entering the food chains of fish, birds and other marine life who mistake them for food.   Brendan Duffy, Horowhenua’s Mayor says “the Council, is proud to be working with Keep New Zealand Beautiful on this project and believes that efforts and initiatives like the ‘No If’s, Butt’s, and Maybe’s Campaign provides sensible solutions to address these issues.”.. more

Horowhenua District Council and Keep New Zealand Beautiful are pleased to announce the launch of a new campaign designed to rid our footpaths of cigarette butts.  In aiming to eliminate this significantlitter item members of Keep Levin Beautiful are asking their community to help Keep Levin Beautiful by using the cigarette butt litter receptacles being installed in the townships central business district.    .. more

The team at Keep Porirua Beautiful have been busy during Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week – check out the brilliant work – “Navigational Light” which was created on the backing fence at Paremata Railway Station, Paremata, Porirua.. more

Over 2200 handprints helped make up Tokoroa’s newest masterpiece yesterday launching latest edition to Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s 2010 calendar, Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week.   A positive, vibrant and NZ First project, Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 runs from 24th April to 1st of May 2010 and is a nationwide celebration of what communities across New Zealand are doing to ensure their communities become and remain free of graffiti vandalism.   The theme for Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 is “Your Community is a Reflection of you” and to celebrate their graffiti free status, Tokoroa’s community spirit, culture, and bright future has been reflected in a community mural with a difference.  The mural was commissioned by Keep New Zealand Beautiful as part of the new initiatives official launch yesterday.   The mural was been outlined by award winning urban artist Janine Williams (aka Lady Diva) and from 9am yesterday, the community came in droves to be part of the mural, colouring it in with their handprints in the party atmosphere at Tokoroa’s corner of Leith and Swanston Streets.   “We chose Tokoroa for this year’s launch to celebrate the South Waikato District’s Graffiti Free status.  We feel it’s a huge achievement and something to be truly proud of, and deserves to be showcased to the rest of the country!” says Keep New Zealand Beautiful National Programmes Manager, Mary Brown.   South Waikato District Council has been running a successful graffiti free initiative in conjunction with the local community for two years now.   Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week will also see the collaboration and promotion of educational resources, strategies and toolkits which have been developed by communities, industry, government and councils made available on KNZB’s website; on an ongoing basis as reference material for anyone wanting to find ideas on tackling a problem and positively encouraging pride in their own patch.   “Rather than re-inventing the wheel, Keep New Zealand Beautiful knows that it's 'different strokes for different folks' when it comes to tackling graffiti vandalism, so to that end are putting on show everyone’s efforts in the hope that it gives communities who are lacking ideas some positive and effective solutions for their community says Brown.”   In addition to the focus on education, Keep New Zealand Beautiful will be contributing to a series of vibrant and exciting Paint New Zealand Beautiful activities in each KNZB Zone (Upper North Island, Central North Island, Lower North Island).   Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 is proudly supported by Ministry of Justice, Resene Paints and Kiwi Rail... more

Tokoroa residents will get their chance to have a ‘hand’ in the launch of Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010, literally.   A positive, vibrant and NZ First project, Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 runs from 24th April to 1st of May 2010 and is a nationwide celebration of what communities across New Zealand are doing to ensure their communities become and remain free of graffiti vandalism.   The theme for Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 is “Your Community is a Reflection of you” and to celebrate their graffiti free status, Tokoroa’s community spirit, culture, and bright future will be reflected in a community mural with a difference.  The mural has been commissioned by Keep New Zealand Beautiful as part of the new initiatives official launch today.   The mural has been outlined by award winning urban artist Janine Williams (aka Lady Diva) and from 9am the community will have their chance to be part of the mural by colouring it in with their handprints in the party atmosphere at Tokoroa’s corner of Leith and Swanston Streets.   “We chose Tokoroa for this year’s launch to celebrate the South Waikato District’s Graffiti Free status.  We feel it’s a huge achievement and something to be truly proud of, and deserves to be showcased to the rest of the country!” says Keep New Zealand Beautiful National Programmes Manager, Mary Brown.   South Waikato District Council has been running a successful graffiti free initiative in conjunction with the local community for two years now.   Paint New Zealand Beautiful will also see the collaboration and promotion of educational resources, strategies and toolkits which have been developed by communities, industry, government and councils made available on KNZB’s website on an ongoing basis as reference material for anyone wanting to find ideas on tackling a problem and positively encouraging pride in their own patch.   “Rather than re-inventing the wheel, Keep New Zealand Beautiful knows that it's 'different strokes for different folks' when it comes to tackling graffiti vandalism so to that end will be putting on show everyone’s efforts in the hope that it gives communities who are lacking ideas some positive and effective solutions for their community says Brown.”   In addition to the focus on education, Keep New Zealand Beautiful will be contributing to a series of vibrant and exciting Paint New Zealand Beautiful activities in each KNZB Zone (Upper North Island, Central North Island, Lower North Island).   Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 is proudly supported by Ministry of Justice, Resene Paints and Kiwi Rail.   ENDS   For more information contact Mary Brown National Programmes Manager Keep New Zealand Beautiful 021 552 443.. more

The newest edition to Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s annual calendar begins with spectacular launch tomorrow in Tokoroa.   A positive, vibrant and NZ First project, Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 runs from 24th April to 1st of May 2010 and is a nationwide celebration of what communities across New Zealand are doing to ensure their communities become and remain free of graffiti vandalism.   The theme for Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week is “Your Community is a Reflection of you” and to celebrate their graffiti free status, Tokoroa’s community spirit, culture, and bright future will be reflected in a community mural with a difference.   The mural will be outlined today by award winning urban artist Janine Williams (aka Lady Diva) and tomorrow morning the community will have their chance to be part of the mural by colouring it in with their handprints in the party atmosphere at Tokoroa’s corner of Leith and Swanston Streets.   “We chose Tokoroa for this year’s launch to celebrate the South Waikato District’s Graffiti Free status.  We feel it’s a huge achievement and something to be truly proud of, and deserves to be showcased to the rest of the country!” says Keep New Zealand Beautiful National Programmes Manager, Mary Brown.   South Waikato District Council have been running a successful graffiti free initiative in conjunction with the local community for two years now.   Paint New Zealand Beautiful will also see the collaboration and promotion of educational resources, strategies and toolkits which have been developed by communities, industry, government and councils made available on KNZB’s website (www.knzb.org.nz) on an ongoing basis as reference material for anyone wanting to find ideas on tackling a problem and positively encouraging pride in their own patch.   “Rather than re-inventing the wheel, Keep New Zealand Beautiful knows that it's 'different strokes for different folks' when it comes to tackling graffiti vandalism so to that end will be putting on show everyone’s efforts in the hope that it gives communities who are lacking ideas some positive and effective solutions for their community says Brown.”   In addition to the focus on education, Keep New Zealand Beautiful will be contributing to a series of vibrant and exciting Paint New Zealand Beautiful activities in each KNZB Zone (Upper North Island, Central North Island, Lower North Island).   Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 is proudly supported by Ministry of Justice, Resene Paints and Kiwi Rail... more

This awesome and inspiring vid was made by Gisborne local Ben Cowper.  Check it out!.. more

Creekfest is an annual event held at Cannons Creek Park in Porirua City. The event is to celebrate culture, healthier lifestyles through music, dance, sport and fun activities for the whole family such as streetball, jump rope, MC battle, hip-hop, food crafts, health stalls and art murals created in front of your eyes... more

Keep New Zealand Beautiful is stoked to bring you 'Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week' April 24 - 1 May 2010... more

Our awesome Gissy crew of Keep New Zealand Beautiful volunteers kicked off 2010 in style at Rhythm N Vines 2009!  In charge of the action packed Waterslide, and relaxing serenity of the Hammocks we were proud to carry the Keep New Zealand Beautiful message to some 15,000 party goers from 29 Dec - 1 Jan... more

Keep New Zealand Beautiful is proud and excited to announce the arrival of Mary Brown, our new National Programmes Manager... more

Unfortunately there has been some recent bad press about the campervans that venture through the lovely countryside in the Lake Whakamaru area, leaving all kinds of rubbish behind.  Some Councils are closing park over certain hours, and even banning mobile homes from stopping overnight in many places. It's great to see some responsible 'self-contained motor homers' are taking a stand against the culprits and ensuring their Tidy Kiwi Status stays around for years to come!.. more