As a member of Ocean Youth Aoterea , I have always been passionate about protecting our oceans and the incredible marine life we are able to see. Living in New Zealand, we are extremely fortunate to witness firsthand the majestic beauty of half of the world's whale population as they traverse our waters. It is our responsibility to ensure that these magnificent creatures, and our oceans, remain healthy for future generations.

In Auckland, we often have storm and high wind warnings. These weather events often lead to rubbish in our communities being swept away into storm drains and subsequently, into the ocean. This results further ocean pollution, which not only harms marine life, but also affects the natural beauty and ecological health of our seas. Rubbish like plastics can take hundreds of years to decompose, during which time they can cause significant harm to whales and other marine life, which may ingest or become entangled in this debris.

Given the serious threat that rubbish poses to our ocean's ecosystems, I urge local councils in Auckland and around the world to take preventive action by implementing a protocol to empty bins and clear storm drains ahead of expected storms or high wind warnings. By doing so, we can significantly reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in the ocean and support the well-being of our local whale population.