Pitching in for Te Puhinui Big Clean

The Puhinui Stream is an important link to Manukau’s heritage, and is currently the subject of a regeneration project led by Panuku.

The 12km waterway, which runs from Totara Park to the Manukau Harbour, was a hive of high-vis activity as around 500 volunteers, including staff from Kāinga Ora and maintenance partner Spotless, collected rubbish from the stream, banks and nearby streets.

Counties Manukau Regional Director, Angela Pearce said the turnout from Kāinga Ora and Spotless was a true reflection of Mahi Tahi, being better together.

"I was proud to see so many staff volunteer their Saturday to help clear a huge amount of illegal dumping in and around the stream," she said.

"As Mayor Goff commented in his opening speech, Kāinga Ora is genuinely committed to making a positive difference to our communities. In building more warm, dry homes to support Auckland’s growth, we know it’s more important than ever to play a role in protecting New Zealand’s ecological and cultural heritage for future generations."

During the morning, volunteers removed tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish, including shopping trolleys, road cones, car parts, building materials, old furniture and even a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

The clean-up was organised by the Beautification Trust—an organisation dedicated to protecting and improving the environment in South Auckland—and supported by Panuku, local businesses and mana whenua.

In 2016, the Beautification Trust set the record for New Zealand's largest single environmental clean-up. The massive event saw almost 2000 volunteers remove more than 12.5 tonnes of rubbish from the Puhinui Stream and Manukau Harbour foreshore, including 300 tyres and over 200 shopping trolleys.

A quick, pre-clean up selfie with Mayor Goff and some of our Kāinga Ora volunteers