EMBRACING TE TAIAO – IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD As Wānaka continues to grow, it is more important than ever that we all work together to keep our waterways healthy and safe. Learning about how our drain systems work, and understanding why polluted stormwater causes problems for our lakes and rivers,… Read More
Communities of Practice (COP) are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. This definition holds that there could be multiple COP’s occurring within a region. Typical COP functions include: problem solving; requests… Read More
The aim of the urban catchment project is to improve the health of urban streams in Wānaka through education and community-led action, ultimately culminating in the development of an urban catchment plan. The initial phase of this project will ensure communities are informed about local water issues, engaged to preserve,… Read More
Working with Mount Aspiring College (MAC) and community partners, this initiative assesses whether the Wānaka lakefront development project meets its goals to ‘restore and develop ecology through ecological enhancements’ and to ‘improve land use within the lakefront’ by measuring the impact of the development on biodiversity, water quality and community… Read More
Education Pilot Programme This programme connects the classroom with environmental issues and solutions on farms in the Upper Clutha catchment. WAI Wānaka has developed in-class and in-field activities for students to explore the connections between our environment and rural land use, focused on: WHENUA – LANDTĀNGATA – PEOPLE WAI MĀORI… Read More
Understanding your farm’s biodiversity and freshwater ecology is important to understanding ecosystems within your farm system. Knowledge gained through a monitoring programme can help to: Track changes to flora and fauna over time.Inform management decisions.Comply with regulatory and industry accreditation obligations. Why are both aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity important?… Read More
Sustainable Business Network is working in partnership with the Director-General of Conservation to contribute to Kaimahi for Nature by establishing the Partnering to Plant Aotearoa project with partners around the country. WAI Wānaka received funding for 14 full and part time workers… Read More
WAI Wānaka is connecting landowners, local businesses and the community, working together to protect and enhance our ecosystem for years to come. With funding assistance from … Read More
Wetlands are permanently or intermittently wet areas that support natural ecosystems of plants and animals. They can include bogs, swamps, fens, shallow water and salt marshes, and are found from the coast to the high country. 90% of New Zealand’s wetlands have been cleared and drained in the last 150… Read More
Freshwater pests in the Otago Region include waterweeds like lagarosiphon, pest fish, and invasive alga like didymo, lindavia (lake snow) and cyanobacteria. These introduced species cause enormous damage to our unique freshwater habitats and diminish… Read More