Restoration, biodiversity and catchment community groups
There are over 50 groups in the Wairarapa working on planting, predator control and monitoring projects to help restore the biodiversity of our region.
To learn more about these groups and how to get involved, click on the tiles below.
If you would like your group or project published here, contact us at kiaora@waip2k.org.nz.
Click map to open in Google Maps
Friends of Solway Reserve Labour of Love
Solway Reserve, at the end of William Donald Drive, is another hidden gem of the Masterton landscape. However, like many of our urban native forest remnants, it was sorely neglected. Pest plant species became established and Masterton District Council closed the...
Waingawa Parkvale Catchment Group
About us Location The Parkvale Stream catchment runs from its source at the top of Norfolk Road to the Ruamahanga River at Parkvale. Vision Healthy water, land and people, growing together. More people enjoying more outdoor spaces and nature Scenic stream diverse in...
Wakamoekau Catchment Group
About us The Wakamoekau Catchment Group was set up to develop a shared vision for the catchment area that we all have an active investment in; benefit from collaboration and opportunities to learn from others' experiences; utilise the funding, support, research and...
Wainuioru Community River Care Group
About us The Wainuioru Community River Care Group was set up after a community meeting, attended by more than 60 people, at the Wainuoru Hall in September 2017. Residents of the area expressed interest in having water quality assessed and improved, and also expressed...
Wairarapa Dark Sky
About us Since the establishment of the original Martinborough Dark Sky Society (since expanded to the Wairarapa Dark Sky Association, covering the entire valley), strong support has been received from numerous organizations, businesses and community groups for our...
Catchment Communities Steering Group
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre
About us Since its conception as the Mount Bruce reserve, the area today known as Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre has long been involved in captive breeding programmes for native species. Today our main focus is on re-establishing populations of native birds across...
Friends of O’Connor’s Bush
About us O’Connor’s Bush at Greytown Soldiers' Memorial Park is a few hectares in size and is a fairly unique surviving area of Wairarapa lowland forest. The Bush has some majestic tōtara, miro, kōwhai, kānuka, tarata, tītoki and even a kahikatea or two. The story of...
Enviroschools – Wairarapa
About us Enviroschools is an environmental action-based programme where young people are empowered to design and lead sustainability projects in their schools, neighbourhoods and country. Enviroschools Wairarapa: Work with schools and early childhood centres Run...
Rewa Bush Biodiversity Monitoring Group
About us The Rewa Bush Biodiversity Monitoring Group is a collaboration between Sustainable Wairarapa Inc. (SWI) and Friends of Rewa Bush. Rewa Bush Conservation Area is a rarely-visited 1200ha area of indigenous forest in the Eastern Wairarapa hill country that...
South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group
About us The South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group was formed in 2011. It is a community-led initiative, originally launched by two Pirinoa Farmers with the aim of empowering our community to enhance the biodiversity of the South Wairarapa. Projects Ōkorewa Lagoon...
Pae Tū Mōkai o Tauira
About us Toitu te marae a Tangaroa, Toitu te marae a Tane, Toitu te iwi. Heal the lake, heal the people - when the domain of Tangaroa & Tane are healthy, so are we. Pae tū Mōkai o Tauira is an Incorporated Society, established to give Featherston a māori voice on...
Ruamahanga Restoration Trust
About us Supporting schools and rural communities within the Ruamahanga catchment by providing resources and activity programs that inspire students to protect and restore their biodiverse ecosystems for future generations. Our goal is to develop educational hands-on...
Upper Waipoua Kaitiaki Group
About us Our group was established in 2018 with the vision "our community will work together to enhance our environment, our community and our economic stability." We are a small but enthusiastic group of farmers, small block owners and other interested parties. We...
Friends of Onoke Spit
About us Friends of Onoke Spit was set up 10 years ago to protect and enhance the existing flora and fauna that exists on this pristine and remote coastal environment. There are significantly endangered plant species such as pingao, poa and pimelia and nesting...
Aorangi Restoration Trust
About us By 2045, the Aorangi Restoration Trust aims to have restored the Aorangi Forest and its surrounds to the state where: the indigenous forest, coastal, and marine ecosystems are healthy, its streams, rivers, and wetlands are clean and abundantly inhabited,...
Lansdowne Residents Association
About us Formed January 2018 to source funding to undertake restoration along the Lansdowne Trails. We planted over 10,000 natives with support from Masterton District Council and residents from Eketahuna to South Wairarapa. Our fruit corridor is 3 years old and is...
Holdsworth Restoration Trust
Project Project Kaka at Donnelly Flat was established in 2010 with a group of volunteers working with DOC to set up a trapping network around Donnelly Flat to catch rats, mice, possums and mustelids, with the aim to increase native birdlife in the area. The project...
Wairarapa Moana Wetland Project
Project The Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Project is a collaboration between Greater Wellington Regional Council, the Department of Conservation, South Wairarapa District Council, Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, and Rangitāne o Wairarapa. Since 2008, the Wairarapa Moana Wetlands...
Ahiaruhe Eco Area Catchment Group
Project The Ahiaruhe Eco Area Catchment Group has been formed to help engage all landowners in developing and maintaining a long-term vision of land, water and environment care for current and future generations. This will include a living action plan for...
Mangatarere Restoration Society
Project description The Mangatarere Restoration Society (MRS) was established in 2012 as a stream care group working to enhance the water quality of the Mangatarere Stream. The group is made up of community members, farmers, industry and iwi.ContactEsther...