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One Man’s Trash-Busting Mission – But He Needs Your Help!
Te Puke’s got a new hero – and he’s armed with nothing but a passion for keeping our town clean! Meet Craig Wallace, the one-man clean-up crew who’s on a mission to make Te Puke shine. But let’s be real – he can’t do it alone.
Te Puke has officially joined the Keep New Zealand Beautiful family, thanks to Craig’s dedication. Right now, though, it’s just him, a shopping bag, and a whole lot of litter to tackle.
How It All Started
Craig’s journey began with a single piece of rubbish.
“One day, I spotted some trash on my front lawn. I picked it up, didn’t think much of it. The next day, more rubbish. And then I started seeing it everywhere.”
With a fast-food joint, a high school, and a cricket field nearby, Craig quickly realized he was in the middle of a litter hotspot. He grabbed a bag, hit the streets, and before long, he’d collected enough cans to fill an entire 240-litre recycling bin!
“Once you see it, you can’t unsee it,” he says.
From One to Many
Craig’s evening and weekend clean-ups soon became a regular thing, but he knew this wasn’t a one-man job. He reached out to Keep New Zealand Beautiful, got in touch with their team, and before he knew it, he had support, gear, and even some fresh Keep Te Puke Beautiful merch!
Now, Craig’s got a new goal – to build a team.
He wants to form a group that regularly hits the streets, parks, and public spaces to keep them rubbish-free. One idea? Having locals “adopt” a street, park, or area and take responsibility for keeping it tidy.
Rallying the Troops
Craig’s been chatting with EPIC Te Puke (who already run an annual town clean-up) and the Te Puke Community Board to make his dream a reality.
Wayne Gazley, Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s national support manager, is all for it.
“Craig’s passion is exactly what we’re about – one person taking action and inspiring real change,” says Wayne.
And the support doesn’t stop there. If Craig needs extra hands, resources, or even a big community clean-up event, Wayne and his team are ready to jump in.
How You Can Help
Craig’s determined to turn Keep Te Puke Beautiful into a real movement – but he needs YOU!
Want to get involved? Whether it’s joining a clean-up crew, adopting a street, or simply lending a hand, every bit helps.
Email Craig at: [email protected]
Let’s clean up Te Puke – one piece of rubbish at a time!