The Bay of Islands is about to get a boost in its summer clean-up efforts, thanks to the return of the beloved rubbish barge service! But here's where it gets controversial... While the service is a great initiative, some might argue that it's not enough to combat the growing issue of marine pollution. And this is the part most people miss... The barge service is just one piece of the puzzle, and it's important to explore other solutions to ensure the long-term health of our beautiful bay.
The popular mobile summer rubbish barge service will be back on the water in the Bay of Islands this summer, starting from Monday, December 29th. This staffed barge, a familiar sight during the summer holiday season, is a joint venture between the Northland Regional Council, Far North District Council, and the Department of Conservation, with support from Northland Waste contractors.
The service provides an on-water solution for both local and visiting boaties, encouraging them to keep the Bay of Islands rubbish-free. The barge service will operate on Mondays and Fridays, weather permitting, until Friday, January 30th, 2026. On operational days, it will visit Urupukapuka Island campsites from 9 am to 10 am and then moor close to the south-eastern end of Moturua Island from 10:30 am to 1 pm. The hours may be reduced as demand decreases towards the end of January or as the barge's capacity is utilized.
A flat fee of $10 per rubbish bag applies, regardless of whether pre-paid or plain bags are used. Recyclables are accepted, with the cost varying depending on quantity and cleanliness, typically ranging from $3 to $5. Additional charges will be incurred for oversized bags and dirty recycling. Users are advised to follow the guidance of barge staff, with a maximum limit of four people on the barge at any one time and footwear required for health and safety reasons.
In addition to the barge service, shore-based facilities will be available daily from 8 am to 5 pm at Ōpua (by the fuel jetty Far North Holdings car park) from Friday, December 26th to Thursday, January 29th. A Rāwhiti site (Kaingahoa campground, Kaingahoa Bay, Rāwhiti Rd) will be open daily from 8 am to 4 pm from Saturday, December 20th, 2025, to Saturday, February 28th, 2026. From March 1st to December 19th, 2026, the site will be open daily from 9 am to midday.
Both the Opua and Rāwhiti sites will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Furthermore, a pop-up rubbish and recycling center will be set up at Russell Wharf, located at the end of the wharf from December 26th to January 11th, operating from 8 am to 11 am and 2 pm to 5 pm. A flat fee of $8 per rubbish bag will apply, while recyclables are free of charge.
For more information, visit www.nrc.govt.nz/rubbishbarge (https://www.nrc.govt.nz/maritime/marine-pollution-and-boat-cleaning/rubbish-barge/). Do you think the barge service is enough to combat marine pollution? Or are there other solutions we should be exploring? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
