Date:  02 September 2022

“Conservation Week is a great reminder that acting for nature not only benefits nature, but it also makes a huge difference to our mental, spiritual and physical health,” says regional Conservation Week coordinator Sierra Jones.

Buller activities include a session with DOC marine reserve ranger Don Neale at the North Beach tiphead from 4 to 5:30 pm on 9 September. This will be an opportunity for the whole family to learn about the creatures which live in the sea; so bring the whanau, no RSVP required.

On the following day there will be a Conservation Week Fair and Planting Event from 10 am to 3 pm at Carters Beach. As well as conservation related stalls, games, and activities, there’ll be a chance to plant some trees.

In Hokitika DOC, Conservation Volunteers NZ and MBC Environmental have invited key stakeholder representatives to swap screens for shovels and take part in planting at Wadeson Island.

The invitation-only event is an opportunity for those taking part to learn about the restoration work at the island, contribute to that work, and celebrate the success of the Sustainable Wild Whitebait Fishery and Weed Free te Tai Poutini projects.

The Jobs for Nature funded projects are a collaboration between the Kotahitanga ki te Uru Regional Partnership, Development West Coast, West Coast Regional Council, and DOC.

Further south, activities include a DOC community ranger visit to Fox Glacier school to chat with students about whitebait and freshwater fish, which will be followed by a session about bees (September is also Bee aware month).

As we go into Conservation Week New Zealand’s wildlife remains in crisis with over 4,000 of our native animals and plants threatened or at risk. The week is an opportunity to bring everyone together to do something, big or small to create change.

“But even the smallest of individual actions, such as picking up rubbish, can make a big difference for nature,” Sierra Jones says.

“Conservation Week is also an opportunity for us to thank all those on the Coast who volunteer for nature, not just during Conservation Week but every week of the year.”

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