Treasure hunt, Lyall Bay beach, Wellington.1975.

What:Envirotainment

Where:Oriental Parade (Freyberg Pool/Mural end)

When: 2.30 till 4.00pm Facebook event page

Spring has well and truly sprung but the universe is sending mixed messages as usual. Lambton Quay is decorated with slightly over-ripe kowhai trees in full bloom; the petals trampled into the street by the suits, and what’s left on the trees disheveled by the spring rains. Confusion reigns, walking down the street one day sans woolly hat, thinking to oneself, "there is nothing like Wellington on a good day" while looking up at the unimpeded blue sky. The next day remembering you still haven’t kicked that damn cold, the election date means tis the season for political hoardings to be littering the streets has begun and you really shouldn’t be wearing open toed shoes yet because it is raining again. Sigh.

However, there is nothing like a good Spring clean to mark the change of seasons as Aotearoa doesn’t provide us with a clear demarcation. Plenty of Wellingtonians have been cleaning out their closets and attending clothes swapping parties. It wouldn’t be stretching it to say that clothes swaps are the new composting. The growing tribe of urban survivalists, environmentalists, cheapskates, digging for victory types, crafters with attitude etc (I don’t think that the term "hippie" really covers it) are part of a wave of changing attitudes about the environment. Either that or we are turning into our nanas, in a good way.

The next thing big thing from the hivemind/noosphere seems to be beach clean ups. It is as if all of those with an environmental cast of mind have put down their knitting in unison and exclaimed, "how about we harness the power of the internet to organise a beach clean up, yes lets!" I have noticed beach cleaning meet-ups sprouting up all over the place.

Via facebook I have managed to double book myself for beach cleaning tomorrow and on Intersect, "the social network for young professionals who care about sustainability" they were also pimping an Oriental Bay clean up that is part of a student’s final year at Victoria University’s school of Art and Design. Gloves and rubbish bags are provided and she promises the first 50 people swag bags (reusable earth-day bag) containing:

  • Free coffee from 2 of Wellingtons best cafes Peoples Coffee and Milk Crate. Oh yes! 
  • Latest issue magazine from Forest and Bird.
  • Best practice ‘fishing/eating guide’ of New Zealand.
  • A biodegradable water bottle from Life Incorporated
  • A one off art piece created for the event (small in nature)

The crew from the facebook group Keep Wellington Beautiful will be meeting at the Zephrometer (corner of Evans Bay and Cobham Drive) at 1.30pm if you want to go all out and make a day of it.

Photo info: Treasure hunt, Lyall Bay beach, Wellington.1975. Evening Post staff photographer Reference number: 1/4-022406-F Film Negative Evening Post Collection, Photographic Archive, Alexander Turnbull Library