Cleaning up Mākara beach (supporting Plastic Free July! 🗑️)

VUWTC partners with Sustainable Coastlines to clear rubbish from Opau Bay near Mākara. We then count it all up to help scientists and governments. Along the way there'll be plenty of yarns and fun.

Plan:

1. We'll meet at the Hunter carpark at Kelburn campus at 9:30am.

We'll sort out car groups and split up survey gear.

2. Drive to Mākara Beach carpark (leave soon after, arrive there about 10am)

DRIVERS!!! We need people to get us there, with no Mākara bus. Drivers will be reimbursed for fuel costs.

3. Walking time!

Trek over Mākara hill down to Opau Bay (1-1.5hrs). This is an easy-medium walk, with a short steep bit at the beginning, and then a meander downhill to the beach. We'll pass old military bunkers, windmills, and great views. If we get a clear day, the South Island will be visible which is always cool.

4. We pick up rubbish!! (about 12pm)

We will set up a 100mx20m area and collect all the rubbish inside. Equipment provided: gloves and sacks. There'll be a health and safety briefing, and we'll then comb the survey area for 1-2 hours.

5. We walk back to the cars via the coast!

We'll walk around the beach to get back to Mākara if we don't want to climb back up the hill // vice versa. We'll then head back to Kelburn campus.

6. Return to uni for sorting! (about 3pm)

The thing that sets this collection apart from regular beach cleanups is that it has a scientific purpose.

We'll sort, count, and log all the rubbish. This goes into an online database to help build a picture of plastic pollution and its impacts on NZ's environment. This might sound a bit boring, but it's actually really fun and goes quickly. We should be done by 5pm.

What to bring:

• Lunch and snacks for yourself

• A big drink bottle (full please!!!)

• Warm and windproof layers

• Closed toed and sturdy footwear, as we'll WALK OVER LOTS OF DRIFTWOOD TO COLLECT THE RUBBISH (PLEASE NO sandals/jandals etc)

• Sun smart gear, like sunscreen/hat/sunglasses, though we'll have some sunscreen

• Hand sanitiser

We'll provide you with gloves and funky pink fluro at the beach. But please bring your own if you have them.

More info on Sustainable Coastlines

Mākara walk info: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/wellington-kapiti/places/makara-beach-area/things-to-do/makara-walkway/