Even kids know better

They didn’t see it in person, but photos taken by their teachers of rubbish dumped at Mangonui were enough to outrage the Year 2 children at Oruaiti School.

“We took the picture last Friday (April 6) on the road going into Mangonui Village, opposite the toilets and close to the Maori Point reserve,” Mary Ralph said.

“You can see that some people have left their unwanted rubbish for everyone to see, and I suppose for someone to pick up.

“On Monday we showed the photo to a Year 2 class of sixyear-olds and recorded their responses:

Amiria: “I saw in Mangonui at Maori Point a leather couch, tent, a toy and some rubbish! Other people don’t want to pick it up. I bet they would not want to clean it up.”

Sam: “This is Maori Point but it could be called Rubbish Dump because people have been putting rubbish there!”

Andrea: “I am angry because there is rubbish at Maori Point!”

“Their teacher (Mrs Walden) was encouraging them to use ‘shouting marks’ — exclamation marks — but I am sure these children will not be the ones dumping rubbish when they grown up,” Ms Ralph said.