24 September 2013

Japanese teens help council clean up Sulphur Point walking track

Rotorua’s Sulphur Point walkway was given a spruce-up by a group of visiting Japanese teenagers yesterday afternoon (23 September).

The clean-up was organised by Rotorua District Council’s Keep Rotorua Beautiful coordinator Rose Hiha-Agnew and Kick-Off NZ educational coordinator Seiko Ueno, coinciding with the end of Keep New Zealand Beautiful Week.

The exchange students from YMCA International High School in Osaka, Japan, were welcomed to the area being cleaned up by local MP Todd McClay.

Mrs Hiha-Agnew said students aged from 15 to 19 years old from the Osaka school, visit Rotorua every year and are always keen to assist with cleaning up around the district.

“This year we walked the track from Sulphur Point to the Lakefront. The students were really happy to help clear rubbish from walkways and lake edges along the way, and we certainly welcomed their enthusiasm.

“Our tourists have an expectation of Rotorua being a clean and tidy city - and equally we always hope they’ll experience a clean and beautiful environment when they’re here.

“Visitors from some Asian countries have very tight regulations in their home towns, such as strict rules around the sale of chewing gum and dropping litter. So they place a lot of value on keeping clean streets and landscapes, just like we do here.”

ENDS

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