Good sort rids town of rubbish
Keith Earl is a man on a mission to make Kerikeri more beautiful.
Every morning, six days a week, the 77-year-old local hits the streets to rid them of rubbish discarded carelessly by others.
With several plastic bags in his back pocket, he sets off from home about 7.30am for his 90 minute walk of the town and its parks. He picks up an average of five bags per morning.
‘‘On busy mornings I get heaps; as much as I can carry,’’ he says.
‘‘You get a lot of people who go drinking and you get heaps of bottles. I get lots of people who are sympathetic, they say ‘well done’.’’
Earl started his litter blitzing mission about three years ago, while out walking with several friends. During their long walks they noticed the rubbish lining the streets and decided to do something about it.
But Earl’s sore hip was giving him trouble, so he scaled back the outings, opting for shorter stints around town. On a good day, when his leg is up to it, he still gets to Cobham Rd, the Domain, along the Waipapa bypass and down to the Stone Store and along Homestead Rd.
People know and appreciate him; they often wave out and say thanks. About a month ago, the Kerikeri Lions Club gave him a meal at the RSA and a certificate for ‘‘making Kerikeri more beautiful’’.
‘‘I had one person come up and give me a $20 voucher for petrol and another guy pulled up and gave me $2,’’ he says.
‘‘I do it mainly for the exercise and meeting people. Everyone says hi and it’s a nice atmosphere. I get so many compliments, it makes it worthwhile.’’
Earl, originally from England and a coach painter by trade, has lived in New Zealand 46 years. His work was initially repainting cars in Auckland, then he moved to Kerikeri with his wife of 52 years 12 years ago.
He picks up cigarette packets, bottles and cans, plastic bags, coffee cups and general rubbish.
‘‘People say there’s not enough bins but there is. There’s heaps of bins but if it’s not convenient they’ll just stick it anywhere. It’s laziness and lack of care.’’
Kerikeri Business Association president Jason Vokes says Earl is a good sort.
‘‘The council can’t do everything and be everywhere so he’s seen the gap and made a difference.’’