Dirty dumping ruins the fishing | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Animal carcases among rubbish dumped beside local rivers left one visitor "sickened".

Connull Lang, originally from Hawke's Bay and now living overseas, was looking for places to fly fish when he came across animal carcasses in two separate places along the Tukituki River.

"I found what I think used to be cows," he said. "There was also a deer skull wrapped in a tarp and sheep remains. It's hard to be sure, I didn't get too close. The smell was pretty bad."

Mr Lang said he had fished on rivers in Scotland and throughout North America and found New Zealand rivers the worst for rubbish dumped near them. Whenever he visited family here he made time for tramping and fishing and often noticed rubbish.

"People have no respect for the area. They like to think they live in clean, green New Zealand then just chuck their stuff on the ground."

There were no obvious fixes, except perhaps embracing the UK's enthusiasm for security cameras, he said.

Hawkes Bay Regional Council operations engineering officer Vince Byrne said rubbish dumping was a big issue for the council and cost it "tens of thousands" every year.

Animal carcasses were commonly found, and while it was not a health risk to individuals it was unpleasant and bad for the river.

"People aren't going to go near it but it's offensive and a health risk for the river," he said. "It's bloody despicable but it doesn't surprise me."

A lot of the rubbish dumped could be put out for roadside pick up but some people seemed to be avoiding dump fees. Omaranui Landfill prices were going up again in July and there was always an increase in illegal dumping of rubbish when costs rose.

"I don't think free dumping would change it," Mr Byrne said. "It might reduce it but it wouldn't go away. It's part laziness and part cost, I think."

River access points had rubbish bins, which were regularly emptied and the area nearby cleared of rubbish. A regional council worker cleaned up the areas Mr Lang visited.