Community involvement

In managing the three wetland sites, the department is working with other stakeholders with an interest in wetlands (including local iwi, regional and district councils, Fish & Game New Zealand, NIWA and Landcare Research) to use the synergies from working collaboratively on research projects, restoration initiatives and raising public awareness of the importance of wetlands.

At all three sites, the community is involved in some way, whether it be at an individual level with local landowners fencing and planting wet areas on their land, or as part of a larger group tackling a weed problem or restoring a particular area. At the Awarua Wetlands, for example, a local advisory group has been established to take a lead role in water quality management.

Newsletters, factsheets, meetings, events, displays and media articles are just some of the communication tools being used to keep people informed of what is happening at each site.