Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up and Graffiti Free Week

The Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up and Graffiti Free Week is running from 5 to 12 September 2008.

New Zealand is recognised worldwide for its clean, green image and Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up and Graffiti Free Week aims to remind New Zealanders that we all have to take responsibility for keeping our town centres, green spaces, beaches and countryside clean and graffiti free.

Councils throughout New Zealand are supporting this campaign, which aims to get towns, cities and rural areas cleaned up. This means putting policies and resources in place to ensure our environment is protected from litter, graffiti and refuse. It also means finding new and innovative ways to reduce, re-use and recycle rubbish.

To mark Clean Up and Graffiti Free Week, Waitaki District Council, in partnership with Classic Hits Radio, have organised events to clean up parts of our community. They are calling on members of the public to participate in these events, as well as encouraging people to be more responsible with their rubbish and recycling, and to take ownership for keeping their community clean, green and graffiti free.

For children and youth, there will be an ‘Adopt a Spot’ competition. They are asked to find a spot at their school, back yard, street, or anywhere in the community that they want to clean up, and send a photo of the spot and the clean up team to Classic Hits before Friday the 19th of September. Bags, gloves and, if needed, paint to remove graffiti, will be supplied. Another photo of the spot after it is cleaned up needs to be sent to Classic Hits before Friday the 26th of September. Those who enter will be in to win a package that includes passes to the Aquatic Centre, movies, bowling and other prizes.

For Schools, there will be a ‘Litter Art’ competition. To enter, they will need to collect their litter for the duration of Keep New Zealand Beautiful Week. They will then have the following week to build a sculpture out of the litter, which will be judged on Friday the 19th of September. Participating schools will be in with a chance to win $500 worth of art supplies.

Oamaru businesses are asked to beautify and dress up their shop fronts, windows and entrances on Friday the 12th of September. They can also promote any innovative recycling practices their business has. Shops will be judged at 1.30pm on the Friday, and will be in to win a $200 hamper and $250 worth of advertising on Classic Hits.

Waitaki Community Safety Officer, Alison Banks, wants to encourage as many people as possible to get involved over the week.

“Successful communities are places where people live, work and enjoy life in the knowledge that they can do so safely. Places that are vibrant, litter and graffiti free feel safe and will attract people, activity and investment. The activities are planned to encourage everyone to enjoy and respect the community they live and play in by getting involved” she said.

For more information on how to enter during Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up and Graffiti Free Week, listen to Classic Hits radio.