Summer’s here, and the pristine Hauraki Gulf is calling! Before you head out, take a moment to think about how you can keep this incredible marine playground clean and healthy. A few easy changes make a big difference — for the seabirds, the whales, and for all of us who love the water.
Tips for waste-wise boating
Before you set sail:
- Pack smart: Remove unnecessary packaging and repack snacks into reusable containers.
- Wrap it right: Swap plastic wrap for beeswax wraps or reusable containers.
On board:
- Bin it right: Keep covered rubbish and recycling bins on board — and use them for everything, including cigarette butts and fishing line.
- Refill, don’t landfill: Bring reusable water bottles instead of single-use plastic ones.
While out on the water:
- Be a Tidy Kiwi: If you spot rubbish floating by, scoop it up so marine life doesn’t — even if it’s not yours.
- Share the catch: Fish heads and frames might seem like waste, but they actually have plenty of uses for food. Don’t waste them — check out Kai Ika - Free Fish Heads NZ.
- Fish sustainably: Use reusable lures and hooks; avoid soft plastic single-use ones.
- DIY berley: Save shellfish or fish scraps to make your own berley instead of buying it in plastic bags.
Why it matters
Every bottle cap and food packet adds up. Since 2002, Sea Cleaners have removed over 200 million pieces of litter from New Zealand’s marine and freshwater environments — that’s 20.2 million litres of rubbish, or 674 shipping containers worth.
Audits by Sustainable Coastlines show plastic is the biggest culprit on Auckland beaches, making up 65% of waste found.
Summer waste barge service
Auckland Council’s summer waste barge supports leisure boat users spending extended time on the water, making it easy to dispose of rubbish and recycling responsibly during longer trips.
The summer waste barge will be at Man O’ War Bay, Waiheke Island from 23 December 2025 to 8 February 2026, available 24/7 for recycling and rubbish.
Please pre-sort your rubbish and recyclable materials before you arrive at the barge and place items in the appropriate wheelie bins – general waste or recycling.
Visit the Waste Nothing website for details on the summer waste barge and to find out about waste and recycling services on Waiheke and Aotea / Great Barrier Island.
Clean hulls, healthy gulf
Before you visit the islands, make sure your hull is clean and free of pests. Avoid cleaning your boat while moored — this can release heavy metals and spread marine pests, including exotic caulerpa, an invasive species threatening our marine ecosystems.
Find out more on how to protect the Hauraki Gulf from pests: From rubbish to rodents: five things you can do to help protect the Hauraki Gulf this summer - OurAuckland.
