People are being called upon to help look after the region's beaches in a bid to get rid of any oil on them.

Adopt-a-beach is a community initiative set up with the backing of Maritime New Zealand to dispose of any oil people may find on the beaches.

Adopt-a-beach volunteer and co-ordinator Leigh Pettigrew.

Co-ordinator and volunteer Leigh Pettigrew says he would like three more volunteers to cover a full week roster in Pilot Bay.

'We've got enough for four days and we need another three.

'It involves probably two hours on a normal day and they just walk up and down the beach, preferably at low tide or two hours either side of low tide when most of the water's receded, mainly because the oil it deposited at different levels at different days.”
Leigh says it's generally more productive a couple of hours after high or low tide.

'All the equipment's in the basement here (at Leigh's home), so all the volunteers have to do is come to the basement and everything they need is here.”

Volunteers are also need in other parts of the community including Papamoa East.

They can choose what day and time they would like to volunteer for.

'It's up to them; they can choose their own time during the day.

We just need them to pick up any oil they find, report on what they've found; if it's excessive and they can't deal with it themselves, I can get a team from the council to come a do it properly,” says Leigh.

People wanting to register to become a volunteer can ring the Rena response line on 0800 884 881 extn 7362 or email renavolunteers@gmail.com.