Congratulations to Maxine Olsen our March 2026 Volunteer of the month

Maxine never runs out of rubbish and only stops when she runs out of time or energy. She’s put in 5-20 hrs a week over the last 4-5 years, mostly within 1-2km of my house in Paremata, and she can’t keep up, even with some help now from a couple of local blokes who saw her doing cleanups and kindly pitch in as well. 

The mess included soiled babies’ nappies, plastics (many single use drink bottles and smelly used fishing bait packets), fishing nylon, old clothing, single shoes, small chunks of treated timber, household rubbish, pizza boxes, cans, beer bottles, McDonalds, a car front seat pad and polystyrene galore. Of noting is that she has never ever picked up one of the locally made Whittaker’s chocolate wrappers – hats off to all the Whittaker’s lovers who do the right thing and use the bin!!

She has a good relationship with the Porirua City Council litter team who are great and provide her with all the gear and bags.  People also support me by tooting, waving and calling out which I appreciate, as significant stamina and a tough stomach is required at times (the stench can be putrid, especially from rotten food and fish bait packets).

More people are coming onboard all the time as Porirua Council litter volunteers, but more are needed. She feels that there needs to be more paid people, especially to help with the coastlines which is a huge area for such a small city.

On her travels she has been inspired by what Taupo, Raglan, Whangamata, Mt Maunganui and a few other places are doing in their proactive war against litter. She loves seeing their anti-litter signs around the place, reading about their initiatives and really hope that one day we see that same determined approach here in Wellington.

Our harbour and inlet, birds and marine life are a beautiful taunga that we all know are well worth fighting for. She has no plan to give up and dream that every New Zealander joins the Keep NZ Beautiful movement.

Imagine if 5, 000, 000 people all did their little bit to help, picked up or at least made sure all of their own waste is carefully disposed of, we’d be in a heck of a better situation.

Thank you, Maxine, for Keeping New Zealand Beautiful