Clean beaches & waterways an urgent priority

My first foray into community activism was when I was young and my horrified parents learned that Takapuna's sewers and infrastructure were failing, and Council planned to sanction sewage overflows into pristine Lake Pupuke.

The whole family swung into action - hand-cranking thousands of leaflets on an old Gestetner machine (if you're under 50, Google that for a giggle), and spending every night for weeks delivering them to every house around Takapuna, Milford, Westlake, and nearby.

We held well-attended public meetings. Official hearings followed. The result: A raft of fail-safes including storage tanks, backup storage tanks, automatic alarms, regular maintenance checks and more to ensure sewage never polluted the lake.

THIS is why community involvement in council is crucial. You CAN make a difference. Your views and your voice DO matter.

It is ironic and disheartening that so many years later the Wairau Creek is still so contaminated, and our beaches often so polluted they are unsafe for swimming. Work has begun – but much more must be done, and done urgently.

#vote4heartoftheshore #cleanbeachesnow #democracymatters