Rubbish and knife left after MAZ party

 

BY JULIA WADE

Local response to leftover trash at one of Mangawhai’s favourite leisure places has highlighted community spirit after a local family were greeted by the recent aftermath of someone elses good time. 

Although frequent visitors to the Mangawhai Activity Zone (MAZ), local mother and Mangawhai Helping Hands facebook administrator, Libby Clews, and two-and-a-half-year-old son Mac had not encountered a mess like the one they discovered on the morning of October 9.

“There was rubbish everywhere and the BBQ needed a good scrub, clothes were scattered all around the place as well as firework remains… ripped bourbon cans, leftover food scraps, bottles, and I picked up a massive knife from under a picnic table,” she says. “I was not impressed.”

Libby collected the clothes and removed the knife but being 36 weeks pregnant and with a tired, protesting toddler in tow (Mac had been up since 4.30am) she found it difficult to clean any further. Before leaving MAZ though she reached out to the local community for help via facebook. 

Naturally Mangawhai responded, with a number of locals quickly answering the call to collect rubbish and wash the BBQ, a task made easier by BeforeSix Childcare Centre, who dropped off a box of cleaning products. 

Similar debris was also found at the Mangawhai Domain on the same morning, suggesting the possibility that the people responsible moved their ‘party’ around the area on October 8.

The thoughtless littering at MAZ was highly condemned on social media, with members expressing their disgust and outrage for the lack of respect shown to the treasured community park. Another local also shared they had scrubbed ‘two filthy BBQS’ in the previous weekend after ‘disrespectful groups’ failed to wash them after use. 

However the conversation also inspired suggestions on how to solve the problem including community watch checks, installing signs and organising a raffle fundraiser to have CCTV installed. Donations of a free house wash by Mangawhai company Wash Me for the raffle and a camera system were also generously offered. Praise was also given to Libby and other residents who gave a helping hand to clear the debris. 

“It really shows what we can do when we band together and support our community facilities,” Libby says. “The MAZ committee also emailed to say they were happy to see how clean the park was afterward and to thank everyone. We’re glad to help MAZ in any way.”

‘No excuse for it’ say the people of Mangawhai. Leftovers of a gathering cause outrage among locals but also ignite community spirit. [PHOTO/Libby Clews]

“There was rubbish everywhere… and I picked up a massive knife from under a picnic table. I was not impressed.”
- Libby Clews