The Wairarapa Pūkaha to Kawakawa Alliance is a collaborative network of communities and organisations working together to support, sustain and grow environmental restoration in the Wairarapa.
There are over 50 groups in the Wairarapa working on planting, predator control and monitoring projects to help restore the biodiversity of our region. Find out more about these groups:
A catchment community group is led by landowners and farmers taking action to achieve a long-term vision for the catchment, based on a healthy environment and a thriving community. Find out what support is available and contact your Regional Coordinator:
LATEST STORIES
Catching On: Predator Free comes to the Backyard of Masterton
It’s a new initiative for Masterton and a brand new role, yet the territory is familiar ground for Niki Jones, the newly-appointed Community Engagement Coordinator for Predator...
Nurturing Nature in your Neighbourhood
What’s over your back fence? Is there a little spot nearby that could do with a little bit of love? A hop, skip and a jump from the Philps family home is a small, special place...
The South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group: The Importance of Small
Jane Lenting from the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group (SWBG) understands the importance of small things. The tiny stems of the native pīngao sand sedge plant which are...
Along the Valley: The Long Habitat Project
“New Zealand falcons fly through this valley,” says Alison Dye, her eyes lifting to the grassy hillside which forms one edge of the lower part of the valley. “Bats fly through...
Pest plant field trip as easy as ABC
We had the perfect weather window to kick off our first pest plant field trip hosted by WaiP2K and facilitated by the incredibly knowledgeable Peter Russell from Aotearoa...
A tribute to the Friends of Ōnoke Spit
Beyond the fence which local landowners donated to protect the nesting grounds, and behind the “please stay on the track” signs, the wheel marks of a vehicle form overlapping...
Eco moves in the neighbourhood
Karyn Burgess and Nadia McRae sharing the story of Project Awatotara Photo: Lucy Cooper Story by Lucy Cooper A community garden and stream restoration tour has marked the...
Connecting Community Through Conservation
The Awatotara Project is about a stream – a little urban stream that’s been modified and overlooked over the years, but has quietly carried on doing what it does – carrying water...
Proactive Approach for Parkvale
Lisa Stevenson and her husband John believe it’s important for farmers to have a say on environmental regulations which have significant impacts on farming families and...
The Collective Power of being a Community Catchment Group
“You don’t know what you don’t know,” says Lynsey Parkes, Coordinator for the Wakamoekau Catchment group. And before the farmers and lifestylers of Matahiwi Rd near Masterton...
Local Restoration. Continuing the Conservation Work
You might have heard about the “circle of influence” or the “circle of control” – ideas made popular by author Stephen R. Covey. They refer to the things we worry about that we...
Starting Right Here: The Middle Taueru Catchment Group gets underway
“We have to start somewhere,” says Michael Birch, staring down at the muddy water gushing under the bridge. “So we may as well start right here.” “Right here” is the Taueru River...
Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa | Conservation Week
Take a moment to take action for nature this Conservation Week, 5 – 11 September 2022. Conservation Week is an opportunity for you to take action and show your support for...
Backyard Conservation Trapping Workshops
Become a Backyard Conservation Hero! Learn how you can create a backyard wildlife haven and trap those pesky predators to help our native wildlife thrive. Wairarapa Pūkaha to...
Breeding Success: Trapping predators to support falcon families
Kārearea are stunning endemic birds of prey. While there were only around 4000 pairs across Aotearoa New Zealand at last count, some of them definitely live near...
Parkvale front-footing change in their catchment
The Parkvale Catchment Charitable Trust has been in full swing over recent months, kicking off with a field day held at Wiltons Road Dairy, followed by stream testing and a...
Kia whakanuia te taiao – Celebrating our environment’s significance
Restoration Day 2022 left attendees feeling inspired about how we can connect people with nature, celebrate our environment’s significance and restore the mana of Wairarapa...
Connecting People, Creating Partnerships
Ko Wairarapa te moana. Wairarapa is my ocean. Ko Maungarake te maunga. Maungarake is my mountain. Ko Ruamahanga te awa. Ruamahanga is my river. Ko Kurahaupō rāua ko Tākitimu ngā...
What’s the Buzz with Water Testing?
We can’t make any more water. Whether it’s pumping through our bloodstream, trickling down a creek, flushing down a toilet or crashing as a wave onto a beach, there’s always the...
Wairarapa Animal Pest Control Strategy
The Wairarapa Pūkaha to Kawakawa Alliance (WaiP2K) is a community-led network. It brings many different groups together to increase the health of Wairarapa ecosystems,...
Restoration Day to thank Wairarapa environmental groups
Greater Wellington is asking those interested in restoring the environment to register for Restoration Day. Held on Saturday 28 May, the annual event is thanking local...
Tiny Treasures: Finding and recording our long-tailed bat population
by Ali Mackisack She’s been spending her days looking at tiny pictures of sounds. The sounds reveal themselves as lines of varying lengths and shades, yet many many times, the...
Rural communities come together for healthy thriving catchments
by Ali Mackisack Outside the hall, there’s a 3 litre diesel ute parked next to a tiny electric car. The variety in the vehicles parked in the paddock-cum-carpark reflects the...
Support grows for rural communities to take action for the environment
by Ali Mackisack Kate Wyeth had a whole list of things she wanted to do in Masterton – a long list of “town jobs” to tick off before being interviewed about the plan she’s helped...
Exploring eDNA
by Ali Mackisack Remember the joys of fossicking around in a river or creek – dipping your net into the water and turning over rocks to discover what was underneath? New...
Restoration Day back in the Wairarapa
Restoration Day 2022 will be held here in the Wairarapa putting the spotlight on the amazing mahi happening in our special part of the region. Restoration Day is an annual event...
Bats in our backyard?
The Wairarapa has never been systematically surveyed for long-tailed bats so Sustainable Wairarapa teamed up with Friends of Rewa Bush to undertake a survey of our region for...
$1.1 million funding boost for farmer-led catchment groups in the Wairarapa
A $1.1 million funding boost will help farmer-led Wairarapa catchment community groups to take action for better biodiversity and stream health outcomes and the resilience of...
Pae Tū Mōkai o Tauira: Growing a Future, One Plant at a Time
“It’s easy to underestimate what it takes to set up and run a native tree nursery,” says Narida Hooper of Pae Tū Mōkai o Tauira Inc – a community and environment-focused group...
Wairarapa’s Enviro Educators
by Ali Mackisack Photos of smiling children with a tree in one hand and a spade in the other, abound on our print and social media platforms. But – as in many other places,...
Biodiversity groups abound
There are over 50 groups in the Wairarapa, both rural and urban, who are working to protect and restore biodiversity in different ways across our region.