In January, Daniel Schaffer visited New Zealand to meet our new FEE member : Keep New Zealand Beautiful. This organisation will very soon take over the Blue Flag programme, and is currently implementing processes in order to do so. During Daniel’s visit, he and Keep New Zealand Beautiful staff conducted control visits of two Blue Flag awarded marinas, Westhaven Marina and The Landing.
Currently New Zealand have two Auckland Marinas that hold Blue Flag status. Westhaven Marina is the largest marina in the southern hemisphere with more than 2000 boats of all kinds. The marina takes pride in upholding a clean environment and has successfully achieved international Blue Flag status for the tenth consecutive year!
The Landing at Okahu Bay is a dedicated marine based site at the entrance to the Hauraki Gulf with facilities that include a public boat ramp and pontoon and boat hardstand, maintenance and storage. The Landing has held Blue Flag status for 5 years.
Daniel was able to offer to Keep New Zealand Beautiful staff his vast experience and expertise in conducting a Blue Flag control visit and it was also a fantastic opportunity for the staff at both Marinas to meet with an international FEE representative.
With the support of Blue Flag International, Keep New Zealand Beautiful is aiming to grow the Blue Flag programme further to include Sustainable Boating Tourism Operators in New Zealand as well as increasing the number of marinas with Blue Flag status.