Kayaks made from plastic bottles will be paddled along the Abel Tasman coastline this weekend by a team of youth to counter plastic pollution and encourage sustainability.
Two years ago a 100km plastic bottle adventure took place through the rapids of of the Whanganui River. This year the team are embarking on a three-day adventure around the Abel Tasman.
The four kayaks are being manufactured at MOTAT in Auckland entirely from recycled materials.
The Plastic Bottle Kayak team see their expeditions as a vehicle to raise awareness about the plastic consumption and waste produced in New Zealand, and to kickstart people into action.
The initiative includes a newly established education programme, designed to work with Enviroschools around the country. It fits in with the curriculum, and covers topics such as sustainability, design, science and nature.
Chris Golding, Manager at Conservation Services Motueka, says what the team is doing will hopefully encourage people to be more responsible with their plastic waste.
“The amount of pollution that ends up in our special places was clearly shown during last year’s Big Beach Clean-Up, when 770kg of rubbish was retrieved from the waters around Anchorage and Adele Island.”
“The Plastic Bottle Kayak team are taking on an amazing action adventure in Abel Tasman National Park to inspire others by showcasing how sustainability and conservation can be exciting.”
The team’s effort will be documented by a videographer and documentary maker to capture the voyage. The 2013 footage can be viewed here.
