Events

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.

Root of the Problem - Pest plants and weeds workshop

5pm - 6.30pm at Ivy Russell Reserve, Winton (or Winton Memorial Hall if wet weather)

An introduction to planning and actioning control of invasive plants. Whether in new restoration areas or mature original forest, dry scrub and wetland, this is an opportunity to learn what to look for, which is a priority to tackle and how to undertake the plant control. Bring photos or samples (in a platstic bag please!) for help if unsure what the plants are on your site.

There will also be some information on the difference between a pest and a weed plant an why knowing which it is matters!

Free - plese use the link to book (including dietry requirements): www.es.govt.nz/Events Contact: Catriona 021 400 843 for more details.

OLG's Bushy Point Planting Day

Meet Bryson Road 9.45 am for Parking and Briefing

Start Planting at 10am

Following the planting a BBQ will be held at Rances Education Centre from noon (walk through from Bushy Point, transport back to cars)

Bring your own spade, gloves, wet weather gear, snacks and drinks

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

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

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/