Blue Flags to be Raised This Weekend

This Saturday (8 December) the internationally recognised Blue Flag will be raised over three of New Plymouth District’s beaches.


Oakura, East End and Fitzroy beaches will have their Blue Flags raised simultaneously at 12.30pm by a student from a local school.

“The main action will be at Oakura Beach, where the flag-raising is being done at the same time as the North Island Surf Lifesaving IRB Championships,” says Manager Corporate Strategy and Policy Rory Palmer.

“Everyone is welcome to come along and be part of this event.”

Blue Flag is an internationally recognised environmental award for beaches that achieve high standards in four criteria: Water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and services.

These are the first Blue Flag accredited beaches in Oceania. Under the Blue Flag programme, accreditation needs to be gained anew every year.

This year there are 2,672 beaches and 640 marinas worldwide that have Blue Flag status. These are in 38 countries including Spain, Italy and France.