Our second collaborative plastic clean-up with Palmy’s Plastic Challenge team involved young leaders from Colyton area investigating plastics around the Makino streams and areas of James Palmer Reserve. In their latest report to Manawatu District council they describe on why this identification and categorisation is so critical.

The group of 45 students and adults set out with enthusiasm for the field tasks of identifying stream critters, measuring water clarity and temperature of the stream. Jeff Rakatau from TEAM KAUWHATA opened proceedings with a karakia; followed by providing insight and wisdom of the significance of our awa in Fielding. Youth were so captured by the stories of fish nets made of green flax, crayfish living in our streams, that it drove their motivation to clean up our streams from plastic.

The group was very surprised at the level of macro-plastics found in this otherwise pristine looking environment. Clarity levels were mid range and invertebrates found were more of the worms and water boatman.

The take home message - we all need to reduce plastic consumption in our schools, community and homes as they only end up polluting our streams, rivers and seas and land. The youth’s message isn’t lost across Plastic NZ. Plastics NZ reports that they ‘run an Environmental Committee which provides a platform to deliver policy, projects and programmes which highlight the sustainability of plastics as a raw material by:

1. Outlining the best practices on the production, use and waste management of plastics

2. Highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of plastics as a recyclable and recoverable material

3. Researching opportunities to improve the environmental footprint of plastics across the whole of its life cycle as part of its commitment to product stewardship’.