Summer(ish) cleanup at Mākara beach! 🗑️⛱️🌊☀️

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 laughs. You'll get gloves and funky pink fluoro at the beach (to stay safe and stylish)!

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

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

2. Drive to Mākara Beach carpark (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 STEEP bit at the beginning, a flat bit in the middle, and then a meander downhill to the beach. We'll pass old military bunkers, windmills, sheep, cows, and great views. If we get a clear day, the South Island will be visible!

4. We pick up rubbish!! (about 1pm)

We will set up a 100m x 20m area and collect all the rubbish inside. Equipment provided: gloves, funky pink fluoro, sacks, mallet! There'll be a health and safety briefing, then we'll search for 1-2 hours.

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

We'll return to Mākara by walking across the rocky beach. There's a nice cafe and playground by the carpark we could stop at.

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

The thing that sets this collection apart from regular beach cleanups is its scientific purpose.

We'll sort, count, weigh, 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 boring, but it's actually really fun. We should be done by 5-6pm.

What to bring:

• Lunch and snacks for yourself

• A big drink bottle (full please!!!)

• Warm and windproof layers

• IMPORTANT: Sturdy closed toe footwear, as we'll walk over pebbles and driftwood to collect the rubbish (PLEASE NO crocs/sandals/jandals etc.)

• Sun smart gear, like sunscreen/hat/sunglasses

• Hand sanitiser

• $2.50 in coins for your driver

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/