Nine-year-old Henry has been picking up rubbish since he was four or five. At rugby, he would be picking up rubbish and encouraging other kids to as well.
 
His picking up rubbish started in earnest during lock downs, with rubbish bags in the pram of his younger sister. He would always want to stop the car and pick up rubbish when driving anywhere. His grandfather would ration him to one lot of rubbish per trip.
 
Over Christmas 24/25, his parents had to ration the rubbish bags he was using, so he used his own pocket money to buy bags the tongs he uses to pick up dirty rubbish.
 
The picture is from 2 March, when the family went on a trip to Thames Beach, near Morrinsville, where Henry now lives. He scoured the beach and was pleased to report there was no rubbish. Henry can’t understand why people litter.

Image: Keep NZ Beautiful