First and final warning for Aupouri Forest dumpers

Karen Lucich (left) and Beau Mallett (Summit Forests), Senior Constable Brian Camplin, Kaio Hooper and Rangitane Marsden (Ngai Takoto) surveying a pile of household rubbish in Aupouri Forest.

Summit Forests, Te Runanga o Ngai Takoto and Senior Constable Brian Camplin had a very simple message last week for those who dump rubbish in Aupouri Forest - what they are about to read is the only warning they're going to get.

Beau Mallett (Summit) said dumping of household rubbish in the forest had grown from an irritant to a big, expensive problem.

"It's out of control," he said.

Removing the rubbish was costly, irksome to Summit staff who had to do the job, and potentially hazardous, he said. Those responsible sometimes made a half-hearted effort to conceal the rubbish, but others simply dropped it on the side of internal forest roads.

"We clean it up as we find it," he said, "but it's getting out of hand. Illegal dumping is a real issue all around the Far North, but it's beyond a joke here."

Colleague Karen Lucich said the extraordinary thing was that perhaps 40 per cent of the rubbish dumped within the forest was in pre-paid bags. All the owners had to do was deliver it to a transfer station, at no further cost.

Senior Constable Camplin said the police were actively supporting Summit and Ngai Takoto's bid to deter dumping.

"We will assess every incident on a case-by-case basis, but the message is that in every case where we can identify the source of the rubbish we will charge the owner under the Litter Act."

Locals are getting angry about rubbish dumped in the Aupouri Forest.

The Act provided for a fine of up to $5000, or $7500, and one month's imprisonment, if hazardous material was involved. 'Hazardous' could range from broken glass to soiled nappies.

Illegal dumping was a strict liability offence, he added, meaning that whoever prosecuted only had to prove the identity of the owner, not their intent.

"Is this your rubbish? End of story," he said.

"It's a prick of a thing to get caught for. And the owner will be prosecuted, unless they can prove someone else was responsible. They can expect to be fined, to get a bill for the cost of cleaning up, and they will be publicly named and shamed."

One such case was already being dealt with, a local man having admitted dumping rubbish that someone else had asked him to dispose of. He had received a $590 invoice from Summit, and had written a letter for publication by the Northland Age.