Since 2016, the Love Our Lakes campaign has asked locals and visitors to take a moment, appreciate the beauty around them, and make responsible choices when it comes to enjoying lakes such as Pūkaki, Takapō/Tekapo and Ōhau.
The campaign is run by the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee and promotes behaviour that aims to protect the lakes for generations to come.
In a statement, zone committee chair Mat Bayliss said they were proud to once again encourage locals and visitors to respect and protect the region’s special places.
"Simple actions like using public toilets, disposing of rubbish responsibly, and checking your boats for pest species can make a huge difference in preserving our lakes’ health and beauty.
"Through this Love Our Lakes campaign, and a lot of the work we do as a committee, we’re committed to ensuring our lakes can be enjoyed for generations to come."
Mackenzie Tourism manager Lydia Stoddart said visitor numbers were continuing to grow year on year and were close to pre-Covid levels.
"Summer is by far our busiest time of the year. The region is at capacity.
"We love sharing our region with visitors from New Zealand and beyond, we just ask that everyone acts responsibly and treats our lakes and waterways as the taonga they are," she said.
Posters and signs will be put up around the region, asking people to take steps to protect the environment.
— APL
