Sea Cleaners: 23 years of protecting our waters
Our oceans are suffocating under a tide of rubbish, but one man’s determination to make a difference has grown into a nationwide movement that has inspired thousands. Captain Hayden Smith, founder of Sea Cleaners, started his journey over two decades ago with a simple yet powerful idea – cleaning up Auckland’s harbours, one piece of litter at a time.
The beginning: Hayden’s Harbour Clean
In 2002, Hayden launched a grassroots initiative called Hayden’s Harbour Clean. At the time, few people truly understood the impact plastic and marine waste were having on our waterways. But Hayden saw the problem firsthand – floating rubbish clogging the shores, harming marine life, and making its way into the open ocean. Determined to take action, he began cleaning up the waters around Auckland, often with just a small boat and a growing network of volunteers who shared his vision.
The birth of Sea Cleaners
What started as a local initiative quickly gained momentum. The success of Hayden’s Harbour Clean led to the formation of Sea Cleaners, an organisation dedicated to collecting maritime litter and educating communities about environmental responsibility. Over the past 23 years, Sea Cleaners has grown exponentially, helping to shape public awareness and action around ocean conservation.
Since its inception, Sea Cleaners has:
- Collected over 19.5 million litres of rubbish, enough to fill over 651 shipping containers
- Coordinated over 185,577 hours of volunteer support for the operation
- Expanded to a fleet of six boats operating in Northland, Waitematā Harbour, Manukau Harbour, Canterbury, and Bay of Plenty
- Built partnerships with local waste management and recycling organisations to repurpose collected waste.
Westhaven Marina’s support for Sea Cleaners
Westhaven Marina is proud to support Sea Cleaners in their mission to protect and restore New Zealand’s waterways. With help from our sponsorship, Sea Cleaners is able to mobilise volunteers, raise awareness, and collaborate with local charities, schools, iwi, businesses, and community groups. Their work not only removes waste from the ocean but also promotes responsible waste disposal and eco-friendly practices to reduce pollution at the source.
How you can help
Captain Hayden Smith reminds us that every little action counts:
“Think about what you do with your waste. If you see something on the ground, pick it up and put it in a bin, because every stormwater drain leads to the sea.”
With new volunteers joining every day and partnerships strengthening, Sea Cleaners continues to grow. But keeping our oceans clean requires ongoing support. Donations help fund cleanup operations, expand outreach programmes, and provide resources to keep this vital work going.
🌊 Join the movement and make a difference today. Click here to find out more and donate to Sea Cleaners.
Together, we can protect our oceans for future generations.