Kayakers making waves and cleaning harbours

Sunday, 28 September 2025

A Rangitoto sunset tour with Auckland Sea Kayaks. The business has ramped up its environmental work, including hosting community kayak cleanup days.

A business that gets more Aucklanders out on the city’s stunning harbours is also leading the charge to clean up rubbish from the water.

Auckland Sea Kayaks launched its Community Conservation Fund last year after staff noticed a rise in rubbish on beaches because of increased boating activity.

It has ramped up its environmental work, including hosting often sold-out community kayak cleanup days.

The last was this month at Motukorea (Browns Island) in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, with 16 volunteers taking part and more than 30 people on the waiting list.

Auckland Sea Kayaks owner Nic Mead said the success of the Motukorea event highlighted the strong community appetite for conservation action.

Nic Mead, the owner of Auckland Sea Kayaks, says there is a strong community appetite for conservation action.

It has also seen the business named a finalist in two categories of the 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards: the Community Engagement Award and the Tourism Excellence Award for Micro Business (annual turnover under $1.5 million).

“The whole team is really stoked to be named finalists. For us, it’s validation that we can run a successful business while being an active and engaged member of our community,” Mead said.

“Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland is such a unique place, with two stunning harbours, fascinating waterways and predator-free offshore islands to explore and protect.

“We feel lucky to share that with visitors while also giving back to the environment that sustains us.”

Auckland Sea Kayaks at Motukorea, where 16 volunteers took part in a recent cleanup effort.

During the past 12 months alone, the business has removed more than 400kg of waste from the Hauraki Gulf in 10 cleanup events involving 448 participants in kayak-based cleanup days.

It has also collected a further 600 litres of rubbish from island shorelines with support from school and community groups.

Five large bags of waste and multiple tyres were removed from Motukorea in April, and 300L of rubbish were collected from Ponui Island in May with Rosehill College students.

“These achievements have only been possible thanks to strong partnerships with local organisations and schools,” Mead said.

“Auckland Sea Kayaks works closely with the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, alongside student volunteers from programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, to maximise impact.”

The business is funding a Community Conservation Fund to fund its own quarterly cleanup days and support more than 15 additional conservation events each year in partnership with the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust.

Winners of the New Zealand Tourism Awards will be announced on October 29.