Adopt a Drain – Autumn 2026

Welcome to our ‘Adopt a Drain’ Autumn Newsletter

The summer has flown by, and we can’t believe it’s the time for our Autumn edition already! We’ve got some exciting events coming up, listed at the bottom of the newsletter so we hope to see some familiar faces at these! 

Ahead of the leaves turning golden brown throughout our communities, take some time to consider how you might look after your drains in the upcoming months. Taking a few minutes to sweep and collect leaves and other debris off your neighbourhood storm drains is an easy but meaningful action. Go the extra mile by using these leaves as mulch in your garden!

Here is our Mulch 101 or Native Plant Guide that might come in handy. 

AUTUMN PLEDGE

JOIN FORCES WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS

This autumn season, we’re inviting all adopters to take a simple pledge: Join the Community in your Catchment. 

Your actions can serve as a ‘trigger event’ for others to reconsider their habits or become interested in learning more. But going one step further, some of the best workshops we’ve had is when neighbours have come together to take action. Why not knock on your neighbour’s door and see what you could achieve together? We’d love to see a before and after photo and any details regarding the debris you’ve found or of you doing the pledge.

Click the button below to upload these! 

SPOTLIGHT ON:

The Rain Garden Revolution

Rain gardens can help manage stormwater runoff, reduce pollution, and support pollinators. Check out this awesome video on YouTube as an intro on how to create a rain garden. 

These are not only utilised at home, in fact, Auckland Council have been utilising these in urban infrastructure to absorb and filter contaminants before stormwater flows to surrounding ground, pipes, drains and streams, and eventually to the sea. Here is their Rain Garden Construction Guide.

WATER HEALTH IN THE UPPER CLUTHA

Bridging the Urban Gap

Join us for an interactive afternoon exploring wool and water, shared challenges, and the role collaboration plays in supporting resilient rural communities and healthy urban environments

Bridging the Urban Gap
Saturday 14 March | 2.00pm – 4.00pm
All Welcome

The session begins with Amanda Dorset, co-founder of Wilson & Dorset, sharing her insights on reconnecting people with sheepskin in modern homes. 

Next, experience a practical demonstration from Smithy’s Wool School, the journey of wool from sheep to garment in this practical and engaging demonstration.

Craig Smith from Devold will guide you through the transformation of fleece to fabric – from raw fibre through processing to a finished Devold performance garment. You will see, touch and feel wool in its natural state and gain a clear understanding of how this remarkable fibre is prepared, engineered and turned into high-quality clothing.

Smithy’s Wool School connects paddock to product, offering an insightful overview of how New Zealand wool becomes performance apparel.
Following Smithy’s Wool School, WAI Wānaka will share how urban communities play a vital role in protecting our freshwater ecosystems.

This session explores:
· The work of Urban Catchment Groups, including guest presenters from the Bremner Bay Group
· The Adopt-a-Drain programme reducing stormwater pollution
· Microplastics research revealing what is entering our lakes

You will leave with practical actions you can take as an individual, homeowner, neighbourhood and wider community to help safeguard freshwater for future generations.

Bridging the Urban Gap is a thoughtful and future-focused conclusion to the Agri Exchange programme – designed to inspire connection, responsibility and collective action across rural and urban communities.

GAINING MOMENTUM

One neighbourhood at a time

Do you know a business or household in Wānaka, Hāwea or Luggate that might be interested in Adopt a Drain?

Share this webpage and help us to grow this initiative. We encourage anyone interested to fill out our Adopt a Drain sign-up form.

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