See how easy it is to pick up rubbish in Te Hiku Forest?

Far North Trail Riders Club members collect bottles and 3 truck loads of rubbish at Nga Taki. Photo / Regan Waipouri

Regan Waipouri and her fellow Far North Trail Riders did more than deplore the fact that some people had been using Te Hiku Forest at Ngataki as a rubbish dump. They did something about it.

Club members gave up their Saturday afternoon to pick up not only a huge pile of bottles (More 'reckless' dumping, June 12) but three truckloads of rubbish and recycables.

"I've sent Bob Shirley pictures so perhaps I can get Summit Forests on board with some ideas as to how to prevent the dumping," Ms Waipouri said.

Far North Trail Riders Club members collect bottles and 3 truck loads of rubbish at Nga Taki. Photo / Regan Waipouri

"Northland Waste was more than happy to let us dump it in town, knowing it came from the bush.

"As a small group of enthusiastic trail riders we did a great job in the couple of hours we were up there," she added.

"We love having such a great place to go and enjoy our motorcycle hobby, and are proud to take part in keeping our backyard clean.

"I only moved home a year ago, and find it so upsetting to see that our beach and bush have been so mistreated over the years with littering, and there is a lot more waste up there.

"We may not be able to stop it entirely, but can we can at least try to prevent it by showing others how easy it is to clean up and teach them, especially our children, how to look after our whenua.

"Hopefully, we can change it for their future."