19 Sep 2025 Wairarapa waste warriors are on a personal mission to clean up a region littered with rubbish. Mākoura College teacher Chris Day said he drove along Te Whiti Rd every day and, instead of admiring the beautiful ranges and glorious sunrises, he began to notice the litter. “It’s disgusting,” he said. “I have strong bonds with nature and the environment and seeing it being abused doesn’t sit well with me at all.” Determined to act, Day, who was also a former ecologist and bird scientist, bought bags and gloves one morning and began clearing a stretch of the road. “It’s only when you get down among the verges you realise just how much rubbish there is. “So far I’ve managed to clean about 70% of the distance from Wardell’s Bridge to Gladstone School.” His recent efforts tied in with the spirit of Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up Week, running from September 19 to 25, with the start date coinciding with World Clean Up Day. Masterton gardener Teena Pettitt was also keen for her neighbourhood to be litter-free. Since the pandemic lockdown, she and her daughter Melissa Barry have collected tonnes of rubbish from roadsides across Masterton District. “There’s carcasses out there, there’s all sorts, some real juicy stuff. “But it does pay better than lotto – in the years I have been doing it, I have probably found more money than what I have ever won.” Pettitt said she often gave up her weekends for clean-up efforts. She had an arrangement with Higgins contractors, who collected the bags when too many piled up in her driveway, and PGG Wrightson had supplied her with thousands of mislabelled bags that were unsaleable as stock. “I can’t not see it now and I spend hours doing it.” Pettitt said it was hard to believe Masterton was named New Zealand’s most beautiful city in 2017 by Keep New Zealand Beautiful. “It’s almost embarrassing really now that it’s just so disgusting.” For Clean Up Week, Pettitt and Barry had registered two teams of eight, and she hoped more people would get involved. Day said he wanted to see a series of small community teams across the motu set up to regularly combat the problem. “However, what I don’t want to see is councils seeing the issue of roadside waste as being a responsibility for volunteers and community groups. “I would like to see discussions with councils to hear what their plans are regarding rural roadside litter problems and how they are measuring how effective their plans are.” Day said he had been working picking up rubbish on Te Whiti Rd for about four weeks, mainly during weekends and some evenings after school. He estimated he had filled nearly 80 black bin liners with rubbish, mostly drink cans and beer and wine bottles likely tossed from passing vehicles. Day also retrieved bulky items including plastic bins, car parts, and large sheets of plastic. “I’ve been cleaning Wairarapa beaches of rubbish for many years, especially the beaches at Lake Ferry and Whāngaimoana where I fish.” What can you do? Clean Up Week was a chance for friends, families, schools, businesses, community groups, and youth groups to join forces in New Zealand’s largest movement against litter. Registrations were available at knzb.org.nz. Be safe: wear high vis, keep off the roads, and keep your wits about you. Don’t pick up broken glass or hazardous materials without the right gear. Dispose of rubbish responsibly. Carterton residents interested in volunteering could register at the Carterton District Council and collect free clean-up kits, including gloves, a hi-vis vest, and rubbish bags. Once filled, bags could be dropped off free of charge at the Carterton Transfer Station. Kate Judson – Wairarapa Times Share this page
