Community waterways partnership facilitator Georgina St John-Ives said the event is "our way of giving back to Mother Nature".
"By collecting carelessly discarded rubbish along our waterways, we’re helping prevent pollution entering our rivers, streams, harbour and ocean, where it poses a serious threat to fish, birdlife and other marine life.”
On Saturday, 45 community groups, schools, sports clubs and businesses have already been allocated stretches of local waterways to clean.
City Care staff will collect the filled rubbish bags and ensure they are disposed of appropriately.
While the event is organised with community groups, members of the public are invited to join in on the day by meeting at one of the following locations:
- 2pm – in front of New Brighton Library
- 10am – Naval Point, Lyttelton
- 10am – Sumner beach, meet in front of Cave Rock
- 10am – Ferrymead Park Drive carpark (signposted from Bridle Path Road)
Gloves and rubbish bags are provided, and volunteers of all ages are welcome.
Said event coordinator Tanya Jenkins: “If you can’t volunteer on the day of the event, you can still make a difference by joining the Pickup 5 campaign. Simply collect five pieces of litter near your home or even from your gutters, which is often a litter hotspot. It’s a simple act that helps keep our stormwater systems and waterways clean”.
Christchurch city councillor Celeste Donovan, who is a long-time supporter of the event, will be keenly involved.
"The Mother of All Clean-Ups has become a must-do on the environmental calendar for Ōtautahi, and with new data showing litter rising across the country it’s needed now more than ever. Once again, volunteers from across our city will collect rubbish from our rivers, beaches, harbour basin and the estuary to raise awareness of this important issue."
-Allied Media
