What started in the classroom quickly turned into action on the ground, as students and community members on Mitiaro collected over 100 kilograms of waste along their coastline.
The National Environment Service (NES) was on the island from 13–20 April 2026 as part of the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), working alongside the Island Government, Mitiaro School (Tematangarengare School) and local community members to raise awareness on plastic pollution and support better waste practices.
At Tematangarengare School, students learned about where plastic comes from and where it ends up. That learning was put into action during a beach clean-up near Vai Nauri, where 101.2 kilograms of waste was collected along a 750-metre stretch. Large amounts of plastic bottles and debris were found, much of it likely washed ashore.
Tematangarengare school leader Joanna shared, “Te tama tatou enua, akamatutu katoa ia tatou kia ma ua to tatou enua, kia kore e tā tita ia.”
(Let’s clean our island and encourage everyone to keep it clean.)
The mission also supported the revival of the Itiki Rangers, a local youth and NGO community group leading environmental action on the island. Through discussions and small grant support, the group is being strengthened to continue clean-ups, awareness, and on-the-ground initiatives in Mitiaro.
NES Mitiaro Environment Officer, Gretta Murare, said the effort showed the strength of the community. “We see the challenges, but we also see our people stepping up. When our young people take part like this, it shows that change is possible.”
The visit also included discussions with the Island Council, community groups, and stakeholders on reducing single-use plastics and improving waste management. Early steps were aslo also taken to support the GEF Islands Project.
NES will continue working with Mitiaro to build on this momentum, supporting local action to reduce waste and protect the island’s environment.
