Media Council

The Dominion Post is subject to the NZ Media Council. Complaints must be directed to editor@dompost .co.nz. If the complainant is unsatisfied with the response, the complaint may be referred to the Media Council, PO Box 10-879, Wellington, 6143 or info@media council.org.nz. Further details at presscouncil.org.nz We are blessed to have been visited by the tohuraha in Te Whanganui-a-Tara this past week.

Yet I cannot help but think of the plight of the Norwegian whale last year, malnourished, put down and found to have 30 plastic bags in its stomach.

Take a walk along some of our worst beaches (Korokoro Stream area in Pito-one, all of AkauTangi/Evans Bay, the little beach by the markets outside Te Papa), and it is clear more needs to be done. To see photos go to ‘‘fishy’’ on Facebook.

Our stormwater system must filter plastic out. Our recycling bins must have latches for when they fall in the wind (like in Porirua). China is no longer taking our plastic so we must replace singleuse plastics with other materials. Plastic kills through ingestion and bioaccumulation and it will take up to 500 years to go.

We can take the first step in recycling and reduce. Businesses, councils and the Government should lead this. It is plastics-free July. Let’s be plastic free, Wellington, or how about a plastic-free New Zealand. I want my future grandchildren to be able to see a whale here too.

Sarah Marie Dyson, Plimmerton