Ms Hobbs released a sheet of handy tips to help people realise what actions they can take to improve the quality of New Zealand's beaches. She also took part in a training exercise on Wellington's Oriental Bay, highlighting local government monitoring systems. Each individual can have an effect on the environment and on our waterways. It is up to them to decide whether that effect will be positive or negative. Ms Hobbs praised the work of local and regional councils, which monitor the water that people swim in at beaches around New Zealand.
Pollution can come from a number of places.
Rain water washes directly into our waterways, via stormwater drains. But often it takes with it rubbish, animal droppings or other pollutants. In both urban and rural areas stormwater runoff can contain silt, nutrients and bacteria, oil and grease, heavy metals and toxic substances, and litter and household wastes. Anything you tip or spill directly down your local stormwater drain goes directly to our waterways. Even simple acts such as washing the family car on the driveway or the street, where harmful detergents can be washed down stormwater drains, can result in the pollution of our waterways.