Talking trash: one man’s mission to keep streets clean
For over a decade, Arvida Parklane Auckland residents Peter McNee and his wife Elizabeth have dedicated their time to keeping the North Shore suburb of Sunnynook clean.
What started as a small effort of picking up rubbish along Kennedy Ave, Newport Place, and Lyttelton Ave quickly grew into a community-wide initiative.
“There was a lot of building going on and therefore a lot of rubbish,” Peter recalls. “One person who was building a house saw us picking up rubbish. The next time we passed his place, it was very tidy. I made a comment about how neat his property was, and he replied, ‘I saw you two picking up rubbish and decided to clean up my place.’”
Inspired by this, Peter expanded his efforts to Sunnynook Park and nearby slip roads leading to the busway. In 2022, he encouraged businesses in Link Drive, Wairau Valley to take part in ‘Keep New Zealand Beautiful Week,’ convincing many shop owners to clean up their surroundings.
Sadly, a recent stroke limited Peter’s ability to continue his rubbish rounds. Fortunately, fellow Arvida Parklane community resident, Stuart Gaze stepped in to keep Sunnynook Park and surrounding areas free of litter. “If others in the village would like to assist, please let us know – it’s a pleasant experience and you can meet all sorts of interesting people,” Stuart says.
Now Peter has his health back he's returned to his regular walks and this time he has Stuart by his side. Their efforts combined leave a lasting impact on the community and Peter's story is a reminder that small actions can inspire big change.