Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge
Onoke Spit grasses and Caspian terns (taken by Jenny Whyte, DOC)

21 February 2008

Help celebrate Sea Week with a community beach clean-up at Onoke Spit

Volunteers are invited to help celebrate Seaweek by participating in a community beach clean-up Onoke Spit on the south coast of the Wairarapa on Sunday 2 March.

Seaweek 2008 (March 2-8), with the theme One Ocean - It starts with me Kotahi Moana, Ka timata mai i ahau, highlights the impact that our lifestyles have on our beaches and marine environment, and encourages hands-on involvement in marine protection.

The spit is a nationally-valuable coastal environment, with diverse plant species, a threatened native moth, rare red katipo spiders and nesting Caspian terns. It is a popular recreational area for off road drivers, motorbikers and recreational fishers, as well as walkers, botanists and bird watchers.

Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger, Jenny Whyte is hoping members of all these groups, as well as the local community will pitch in to ensure that the natural state of the area is improved for the future.

“Helping clean-up Onoke Spit gives the community an opportunity to contribute to preserving this special area and to meet people who may value the spit for different reasons from their own” said Jenny.

“We value any help and support we can get as it’s an isolated area and difficult for department staff to access regularly.”

Other activities planned for Sea Week in the Wairarapa include a colouring-in competition with entries being submitted to the Masterton library and a visit to Pirinoa School to talk about seals.

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Event details:

Date: Sunday 2 March
Time: 10am, barbeque to follow
Meet: Intersection of Beach Road and Wharekauhau Road, South Wairarapa
Please bring: water bottles, suitable footwear, sunhat, sun block, raincoat, warm clothes

Please advise number attending to Jenny Whyte (jwhyte[at]doc.govt.nz) or 027 221 7166

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For more information about Sea Week go to: www.seaweek.org.nz

ENDS

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