Let’s say it’s just before 3 pm on a Saturday, maybe 26 October 2019. And let’s say you drive a red car onto the beach. The back is loaded with 2 full woolsacks or the like. Let’s say you drive onto the beach and speed off to the south.
And then only 10 minutes later you return and the back of the vehicle no longer has any woolsacks visible.
You drive off towards the village, only to return to the beach a few minutes later with another fully loaded woolsack in the back. Once again, you speed off to the south.
And then perhaps the witnesses, who noted the numberplate, leave the beach to go about their other Saturday activities.
But then on Monday morning one of those witnesses finds themself at the mouth of the Waiorongomai stream, some 5 minutes drive south from the Manga Pirau Street entrance, and sees a good 3 woolsacks worth of garden rubbish dumped on the driftwood.
Let’s imagine for a minute that those two sets of observations have a connection. Let’s say that perhaps the red car dumped the garden rubbish on the beach.
The driver may be interested to know that they have now committed an offence with a possible $400 or $5,000 fine.
The illegal dumping of rubbish or littering of any kind in public places, on roadside and parks and reserves is an offence under the Litter Act 1979.
Any person or individual committing such offence is liable to an instant fine of $400, or on prosecution a fine not exceeding $5,000.
Wouldn’t it just be better to stump up the $20 and take garden rubbish to the tip in future? It’s a whole lot cheaper than a $400 fine, or even a $5,000 fine!
Perhaps if you, the reader, know of anyone, perhaps who might be tempted to dump anything on the beach, you might help them understand the risks. At least one member of the community has had to pay up already. Is it really worth it?
Unbelievable and unacceptable behaviour, reminiscent of the 1960’s. A public apology would be a good thing.
Usual residence: NZ