Sigh. Things don't change. My emphasis:

A local woman’s phone call to Switzerland 20 years ago led to the Manawatū River Estuary becoming an internationally recognised wetland/bird sanctuary. …

“We printed leaflets and delivered them to households in Foxton Beach explaining what we were intending to do.”

This was followed by a public meeting where some young men heckled her, saying they wanted to continue running their 4-wheel drives through the dunes and the estuary.

Via: Passion for estuary led to Ramsar status.