Te Kamo Scouts – clean-up heroes

Published on 14 May 2025

Whangārei’s Te Kamo Scout Group has been named Volunteer of the Month for May 2025 by Keep New Zealand Beautiful. 

Council’s Waste Minimisation Officer, Wendy Bertholet, nominated the group because of all the good work they do, taking part in community rubbish clean-ups. 

"Taking part in their own and others’ clean-ups helps them earn scouting’s 'Better World' badges, which demonstrate that they are learning how to make the world a better place. They learn about issues and take action to make things better for both the people and the environment.

"I recommended the Te Kamo Scout Group for their consistent work in this mahi. They organise their own rubbish clean-ups and help the local F.O.R.C.E. (For Our Real Clean Environment) when they hold clean-up events. 

"The scouts also step outside their own neighbourhood, with members aged 5 to 18 years old taking part in clean-ups around the Town Basin (even venturing into mangroves) and A H Reed Memorial Park, as well as in Te Kamo."