Photo Monitoring at the Boardwalk

A picture is certainly worth a thousand words and that’s why photo points can be immensely valuable as part of a monitoring project. Originally a Fluker Post, the WAI Wānaka Community Timelapse point is located next to the Te Ara Wānaka Boardwalk (past the Dinosaur Park).

So, what exactly is a Community Timelapse?

The Community Timelapse is a physical wooden post that acts as a photo-point, installed at a strategic location in the environment.

There’s no camera left on the post. Instead, people walking past use their phone to take a photo of the given scene, scan the QR code to navigate to this page and upload the image they’ve just captured.

This simple system of repeat photography provides a valuable long term natural resource management tool.

HOW IT WORKS

This citizen science system allows community members, visitors and natural resource managers to contribute towards the ongoing care of the natural environment by taking repeat photographs from a fixed photo-point – the Community Timelapse.

Keen to get involved? Next time you are on the boardwalk be sure to:

1) Take a photo from the Community Timelapse point location

2) Scan the QR code on the Community Timelapse post

3) Upload your photo using this form

WHY IT MATTERS

The WAI Wānaka community timelapse point helps capture consistent, long‑term visual data that shows how the lakefront is changing over seasons and years. This gives the community and environmental managers clear evidence to guide restoration efforts, track the impacts of climate and human activity, and celebrate the progress of local action.

Together, we can make a difference. Join the ‘Community Timelapse’ initiative today and be a part of the monitoring!

A BIT OF HISTORY

So, what was a Fluker Post?

This initiative first began through The Fluker Post Research Project, originating from within Victoria University and named after its inventor, Dr Martin Fluker. WAI Wānaka then facilitated the installation of the first ever Fluker Post in Aotearoa along the Wānaka lakefront.

Funding for the research project sadly came to an end and with it the functionality of the associated app. A solution had to be found to capture the same valuable visuals, which is where the QR code and this webpage come in.

Though not as elaborate as a custom-built app, it keeps the monitoring going which is all that really matters!

Community Timelapse