Events

Tools, Traps & Technology workshop

Join Andrew Saunders from TrapNZ for a practical, hands-on workshop covering best practices in introduced predator control and the latest trapping technologies.

Invasive animal control (browsers and predators) is one of the key issues in current biodiversity management. Thisis an excellent opportunity to learn more about the latest developments and share successes or discuss issues with others.

Free, refreshments provided.

Feel free to forward on the flyer and if you want to book now: Register Here

Become a Wetland Detective: join the Matuku Muster

A fun family event for the evening at the start of the school holidays. There will be childrens’ activities, information on how to listen and look out for these rare birds and guidance on how to manage wetland areas to make them better for bittern. This is the full moon weekend and we will then sit out at the QEII wetland in the Blueberry Country farm to listen for any bittern using the area that evening. (Light refreshments at the start.)

Free. Please register here: www.es.govt.nz/Events or call 0800 76 88 45

SERN Spring Field trip - Waikawa Valley Restoration

Join us for this year’s Spring Field Trip to hear about the work being undertaken in the Waikawa catchment by local community groups and individuals. The bus will leave Feldwick Gates (Queen’s Park) at 8:30 am, returning by 5:15 pm (approximately). Spaces on the bus are limited so please register with Jesse Bythell, [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]. BYO Lunch and refreshments. Our thanks go to Environment Southland for their sponsorship of bus costs.

We will first visit an erosion mitigation project undertaken by the Waikawa Catchment Group on an oxbow lake at the head of the Waikawa Valley, then travel down to learn about one of the highly erosion prone sites in the catchment which is being restored to a more natural state and have a quick stop the Mānga Piri (Niagara Falls) nohoaka site. We’ll then have our lunch and share updates at the Waikawa Hall. Next we will visit Vincent Leith who kindly hosted SERN in 2014 and learn how his restoration work on the estuary margins is coming along. Our final visit for the day will be at the property of Jesse Bythell and Robin Sallis, who have been revegetating a stream and retiring wetland areas on their land at Niagara since 2020.

Some photos of previous events and the programme for this event shown below.

Wilding Pines Conference

This year’s conference theme is Collective Action, Future Impact: Partnering for Resilient, Wilding-free Landscapes.

Registrations are NOW OPEN for the 2026 Wilding Pines Conference – a partnership between the Wilding Pine Network and Biosecurity New Zealand.

Ticket sales close 31st July 2026. For further details check out Wilding Pines Conference 2026 - Wilding Pine Network NZ

Vanishing Nature revisited: are we facing the biodiversity crisis?

Webinar presented by Dr Marie Doole. To learn more about this webinar and to register, check it out at https://eds.org.nz/our-work/events/

Castledowns Wetland Planting Volunteer Day

Hi Wetlanders

We have been waiting for the digger to return to remove the rest of the willows, but it will not be back till the end of July. Heather and I had a meeting with AB Lime representatives Brad Gibson and Gabby Wahrlich and Nate Chandrakumarand a drone operator. We need the information from the photos to establish the boundary and the area that will be cleared and will need to be planted in trees

Our next volunteer day is on 7 June and we are hoping to have a good turn out with lots of trees to plant. We will meet at 100 George street at 9 to share transport and will be at the wetland at 10. Please bring a spade, your lunch, afternoon tea to share and warm waterproof clothing.

All friends, neighbours, and grandchildren are welcome.

Please let me know you are coming

Ann Irving 0276569319

Mini Forest Movement Native Plant Nursery drop-in session at AB Lime

When: First Tuesday of every month, from 4pm to 6pm

All welcome to come to our monthly native plant growing working-bee evenings at the AB Lime Nursery. Your help will go toward growing plants for the Mid Ōreti Mini Forest Movement Project, which provides native plants to the local community and landowners for their planting projects. Training is provided and all ages welcome! Stay for as little or as long as you like.

Friends of Thomsons Bush Working Bees

Every Wednesday Friends of Thomsons Bush are attacking a number of weed species, from pulling ivy to cutting and pasting barberry, drilling and filling holly and elderberry. As well as this they are planting back in to the areas they clear. If you would like to get involved in this great restoration project, contact Judy at [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]. Check the project out here.