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The power of the people was evident on Saturday as nearly 10 tonnes of rubbish was cleared from beaches in this district during a major beach clean-up operation.

Environmental charity Sustainable Coastlines co-ordinated the clean-up, which involved hundreds of volunteers spread across 270 kilometres of East Coast beaches.

Groups mobilised on coastlines between Te Araroa and Mahia managed to clear between eight and 10 tonnes of rubbish over the four-hour clean up.

An all-ages after-party celebration was held at the Outdoor Theatre following the clean-up, with live music from Blackbird and performers from Matapuna Training Centre.

Sustainable Coastlines co-founder and event organiser Sam Judd described it as a massive effort from everyone involved.

“Everyone who took part in the clean-up and driving the trucks volunteered their time — no one was paid. We were rapt to see so many people involved,” he said.

While the event was held during the holiday period, with a large number of visitors still in town for Rhythm & Vines, Mr Judd said the majority of those who took part were locals.

“They are the people we want to be involved because they are the ones who are going to make it sustainable. It’s not just about picking up rubbish in one go, it’s about raising awareness.”

The whole clean-up was filmed and organisers plan to turn the footage into a DVD that can be screened at schools to further spread the message of keeping our beaches clean.

Mr Judd said given the success of the first clean-up in Gisborne, they hoped to make it an annual event.

“It was just really good to see so many people out there with a smile on their face and who associate cleaning up the beach with something that’s fun. It will be sustainable if people can enjoy themselves.”

The clean-up would not have been possible without a generous grant from the JN Williams Memorial Trust, AllBrite and Greg Judd, who provided trucks and all the other sponsors of the event, he said.