leavenotracenz

A couple of weekends ago we fled the capital for the wilds of South Wairarapa. Our destination was an old farmhouse – Waikuku Lodge – now rented out by DoC on the edge of Aorangi Forest Park.

While just over two hours drive from Wellington the Lodge is isolated, with only a handful of farms along the final 30km of gravel road.
You’d think a destination this isolated would appeal only to those with a real appreciation of the great outdoors – and that with such appreciation would come a determination to leave the Lodge grounds in pristine condition.

Sadly that wasn’t the case. While the grounds – a grassed area that slopes to a stream , surrounded by regenerating native bush, wasn’t exactly a tip I did find myself picking up pieces of paper, bits of plastic, cigarette butts and bottle tops – and even .22 cartridges . . . obviously someone had done a bit of possum hunting from the front porch! Previous visitors had, clearly, not been followers of a couple of Leave No Trace’s seven principles – Dispose of Waste Properly and Be Considerate of Others.

To me, this highlights the sad fact that even those kiwis who profess a love of our wild places get lazy, or are simply ignorant of the effects their behaviours can have on our natural environment. Only education can change these behaviours, and that’s what the Leave No Trace movement offers.

With three children among our party of eight I did a sweep of the grounds before our departure to ensure the next Lodge visitors would not have to pick up rubbish before they could put their feet up and enjoy this fabulous little Wairarapa hideaway.

Mark Russell