About 50 children of all ages gathered beside the Māngere Boating Club one morning recently for ‘Charlie’s Foreshore Cleanup‘.
Local schoolboy Charlie was the catalyst. As part of the curriculum at Waterlea School Charlie had studied the health of the oceans and marine life. His concern over pollution led him to write a letter to his friends, family and neighbours , along with a handmade bookmark. Charlie reminded them that any rubbish left on the ground and in the wrong places will end up in our oceans and badly affect them.
Friends of the Farm contacted Charlie to commend him for his dedication and interest and were happy to work with him to organise the event.
After a Health and Safety briefing everyone spread out along the foreshore, armed with buckets, bags, gloves and grabbers. An amazing array of rubbish was collected and brought back for weighing and disposal. Jandals, Crocs, bottle tops, broken glass, polystyrene, sushi sauce bottles, plastic cords and ties, lolly papers, meat trays, plastic bags plus a few cans and drink bottles. Many tiny pieces of plastic were collected. Altogether 13kg of rubbish was kept out of the Manukau Harbour, along with 5kg of recycling.
A whole Christmas tree, a lead sinker, a bouncy ball, part of an animal jaw with teeth, a China plate with a 21st birthday message on it, and a metal spoon were unusual items that stood out.
The morning finished with an Easter Egg hunt , where after the thrill of finding the eggs, they were shared out equally between the children.
Read more…
- Charlie’s Foreshore Clean Up
- Ecofest Māngere Bridge E-Waste Day 2026
- Save the dates! Lots of Wastewise events coming up!
- Sew Good!
- Māngere Bridge – A Busy and Rewarding October
- 2025 Seedling Swap Day and Giant Pumpkin Competition
- Māngere Bridge Recycling – blister packs, batteries, and more!
- 6500+ more plants at Ambury Regional Park, Māngere Bridge
- Māngere Bridge – It’s a Hive of Wastewise Activity!
- Village Lights Festival 2025
