Is NZ a 'Clean Green' country?

'Sea Week' is a time to think more about our sea life and how we can make our oceans into a more sustainable environment.  During sea week, we watched the 'Sunday' current affairs program informing us about the impact that plastic bags are having along and in New Zealand beaches and rivers.  We were all disgusted and annoyed about what is currently happening along our beaches and waterways, with a understanding that people view New Zealand as a 'clean, green' country.  Is this statement fact of fiction???  Mr Werder also spoke about his recent experience when walking along Hatea River (near the old BMX track).  So...we decided to write some 'expositional' letters to Mr Cutforth (Whangarei Mayor) expressing our views towards this matter of keeping Whangarei harbour clean and safe.  We also read books in class about 'drains to harbour' and ways to keep our drains clean, and as a result, help to create a more sustainable marine life in and around the harbour for future generations to come.  Enjoy reading some of these letters and posters we created. 

Dear Mr Cutforth,

I am writing because I am concerned about people littering in Whangarei Harbour and along the beaches.  I am worried about the sealife being affected by people polluting these waters.  A lot of sealife animals are becoming extinct because of pollution in the water, and we need to care for them.  People can also die due to the pollution because we could catch a fish and it could have poison in it and if we ate it we might be sick or even die.  Please help us all look after our coastline because we love it here and we want to live in a unpolluted environment.

Yours sincerely,

Atawhiua

Dear Mr Cutforth,

I am concerned about the Whangarei Harbour because there is so much rubbish. The rubbish is affecting the animals and plants, and they will soon die!.

I don’t like the beaches being closed because of the pollution.  I feel really sad when that happens. Pollution also comes from the drains because sometimes people put oil down the them and other things, like plastic bags.  We need to take care of the Whangarei Harbour and help the animals.  We should act NOW!

Yours sincerely,

Ruby 

Dear Mr Cutforth,

I am writing because I’m concerned about people littering on our beautiful beaches along the Whangarei Harbour.  It is affecting sealife like fish and plants.  It is an outrage!!!

There is so much pollution happening to sealife because boaties are tipping their waste into the ocean. There is also sewage spills that go to the ocean and little bits of plastic are found in the sand.  Soon people won’t be able to swim because of all the pollution.  I feel so angry about this.  People should stop littering or sea life will become extinct.

To solve the problem we should have a sign and a law that says DO NOT LITTER!!!  All New Zealanders need to act now to stop pollution!  We want the fish to live.  We love it here and we want to keep it that way.

Yours sincerely,

Sunny