News & Updates
Here you will find all of WAI Wānaka’s newsletters and blog posts. Click on the image or title to read the full story.
Visit our links page for other documents, resources and links to related websites.
- Adopt a Drain
Welcome to the ‘Adopt a Drain’ community! We are thrilled to share the first edition of our seasonal ‘Adopt a Drain’ newsletter with you. This… Read more - Take action this Autumn
We have had a busy summer preparing lots of opportunities for you to make a difference in your backyard. Check out the list of important mahi… Read more - Rural update April 2023
This month the Jobs for Nature team are busy working with landowners planting natives throughout the catchment. We’ve also been out filming some of the action – come… Read more - Growing together
Let’s celebrate our community planting over 45,000 native trees across the Upper Clutha Catchment over the last five years. The Wānaka Water Project and WAI’s… Read more - Rural update March 2023
What a month we have had here in Wānaka! We have welcomed some much needed rain which lifted the river flows and has hopefully woken up your pastures… Read more - WAI in the community
It’s been a difficult time for many recently – with droughts affecting our region whilst floods have devastated communities in the north. A question that has… Read more - Rural update February 2023
The field team continues to be busy with plant maintenance and watering, with some rabbit netting for variety. A reminder to those landowners looking to… Read more - What role can you play in protecting our special place?
With summer in full swing, we hope you and your whānau have been out enjoying our lakes and rivers here in the Upper Clutha. After… Read more - Rural update January 2023
We hope you had a chance to take a break over the Christmas and New Year period to spend some time with friends and family and to… Read more - Wrapping up 2022
2022 has been a bustling year here at WAI Wānaka. Protecting our beautiful lakes and rivers would not be possible without your support. From generous donations, to… Read more - ALL THINGS URBAN AT WAI
As the urban communities of Wānaka, Hāwea, Luggate, Cardrona and Makarora continue to grow, so too does the need to look after our urban environments…. Read more - Do you love our alpine lakes?
This gifting season we invite you to look after your treasured alpine lakes – Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea – and their surrounding waterways by supporting education and… Read more - Rural update November 2022
No doubt you’ll be flat out as spring gets into full swing. The teams out in the field have their work cut out over the… Read more - WAI’s spring update
Spring is a fresh start in nature and a time to clear out some clutter, remove weeds and plant the right trees in the right… Read more - Protecting our living treasures
Nuwan De Silva thinks all fish deserve protection. He shares his experiences with WAI Wānaka. Nuwan De Silva is an Estuaries and Freshwater Scientist at… Read more - Work with nature: Tania’s story
This week is WAI Wānaka’s galaxiids week. We hope to raise awareness of the lesser known native fish by giving them a voice. Looking after… Read more - A passion for galaxiids
Ash Rabel is WAI Wānaka’s resident scientist, with a passion for galaxiids and protecting Aotearoa’s habitats on land and especially water. Ash explains how WAI… Read more - Rural update September 2022
We are very excited this month to introduce our new Farm Lead, Magali Domingo! Some of you will recognise Magali (or Maggie) from her work with… Read more - Rural update August 2022
Welcome back to your rural update! We have two great events coming up in the next couple of weeks. It’s all about young farmers and biodiversity farm… Read more - The more we know, the better we do!
E mao ana ki ua, e ua ana ki mao.It is fine until it rains, it rains until it’s fine. Welcome to WAI Wānaka’s winter update! It’s… Read more - Science Blog – future research
Kia ora kotou, Time for a further update on research in the Upper Clutha. Previous science blogs have covered historic and current research in our… Read more - Rural Update 28 July 2022
We’ve achieved a lot over the last couple of years working together through the Jobs for Nature programme. With the addition of funding through the ‘Knowledge… Read more - Knowledge into Action for Te Taiao
WAI Wānaka has been working with the Upper Clutha community since 2016 to protect and enhance ecosystem health and community wellbeing across rural, urban and… Read more - Rural update July 2022
‘For Māori, Te Taiao is the natural world that contains and surrounds humanity in an interconnected relationship of respect.’ Taiao Ora, Tangata Ora Knowledge into… Read more - Better together
By working together, we empower communities to understand their water, their environment, and their impact. The first official Matariki public holiday has brought forward many beautiful… Read more - Rural update June 2022
The team are up-skilling on the chainsaws to tackle the ever increasing wilding pine issue. It’s a great time of year to be getting on… Read more - WAI Wānaka news
Welcome to the latest WAI Wānaka newsletter! Find out what’s been happening, learn about upcoming events and how you can get involved. We are also looking… Read more - Rural update May 2022
Last week, Ash was at the top of the Cardrona Valley installing a temporary fish passage barrier with DOC to help protect our endangered native… Read more - Fostering behaviours of belonging
WAI Wānaka’s relationship with schools is flourishing. More tamariki and rangatahi are getting involved in environmental mahi, and more local schools want to work with WAI. We need your help to make it happen. - Science Blog – current research
This is WAI Wānaka’s second science blog post. Find out about some recent research that has been happening within our Alpine Lakes. This list is by no extent exhaustive, but highlights some key bits of work occurring. - New research commissioned
We are excited to announce a project with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) to start a short-term study of currents in Lake Wānaka. This is the first research of its type on the deep-water lakes in our area. - Rural update April 2022
We have our Autumn team trained up and ready to go! It’s a bit dry for planting so a perfect chance to get them started… Read more - Rural update March 2022
In this update we talk about upcoming winter planting, biodiversity monitoring and pest control and welcome Tom to the management team! - Community spirit at it’s best!
In this newsletter we celebrate the spirit of working together and give you an update on what’s been happening so far this year in WAI Wānaka’s thriving education programme. - Rural update 22nd February 2022
In this update we talk about taking our primary education programme ‘Farmers as Kaitiaki’ online, introducing new roles at WAI Wānaka, native plant education opportunities and more… - Rural update 9th February 2022
How about that rain?! In this newsletter, we farewell Sarah Jamieson, invite you to participate in biodiversity & freshwater monitoring on your property and share upcoming Catchment Group events. - Science Blog – historic research
This blog is the first of three, highlighting key research about environmental issues that WAI has contracted and related research conducted by other agencies from across Aotearoa. - An education in tuna with WAI Wānaka
Aaliyah Pakau-Timoti is studying for a Bachelor of Animal Science at Massey University in Palmerston North, majoring in breeding and genetics. This summer she has… Read more - Rural update January 2022
Last chance for funded riparian planting Do you have a site on your property where you think native planting may help improve the water quality?… Read more - Pack a punch with your summer lunch
We wish you a very happy New Year 2022. In this blog you’ll find out what we’ve been up to and learn all about weeds vs pest plants, even discover some you can eat with your lunch! - WAI Wānaka 2021
2021 has been another year of many challenges for communities around the globe. We would like to take a moment and say THANK YOU to… Read more - Give a little, receive a lot
During these warmer summer months, there are so many ways to enjoy our lakes and rivers. But can you imagine if they were too polluted to be safe? - This is WAI
This month, we are excited to share our first booklet that explains what WAI does, some local stories and upcoming events with you. - Rural update 23 Nov 2021
With broom in full flower it’s a great time of year to get those outliers across the farm. The WAI team are trained to chop… Read more - Rural update 10 Nov 2021
“We absolutely loved the Farm Tour so much. You created a wonderful welcoming environment and we learnt heaps…” - WAI at the WAO Summit
We would like to invite you to join us for this year’s Wao Summit Food & Fibre events, 26th – 31st October. The Wao Summit is designed… Read more - Rural update September 2021
Last week we welcomed our cohort of seasonal field staff to WAI Wānaka. We’re excited to have another amazing bunch of people on the team… Read more - WAI Wānaka turns 5
From three passionate part time volunteers in 2016 to a dedicated workforce of 44, a lot has changed in WAI Wānaka’s five year evolution. WAI… Read more - Riparian Planting in the Upper Clutha
With winter drawing to a close, the WAI team is gearing up to start spring planting. The Upper Clutha catchment has an extensive network of… Read more - Lockdown learning & biodiversity
Another four days and we’ll drop an alert level everywhere south of Auckland. We hope you are all coping ok and are gentle on yourselves… Read more - WAI Rural Enviro Series
We’re excited to bring you this workshop series aimed at providing opportunities for women who want to support their farm business. These are small group workshops to… Read more - Rural update 28 July 2021
Wilding Pine Control The teams have been putting their chainsaw training to good use tackling wilding pines. Wilding pines are a threat to our landscape… Read more - Winter is here! Inspiration, fun and conservation for the school holidays.
With almost a week of school holidays left, we invite you to spot one of our special local birds, try some fun activities around our… Read more - Rural update 1 July 2021
It was an exciting week for the team last week as they undertook chainsaw training – a 2 day course to upskill and get certified… Read more - Why Do We Volunteer?
During this year’s National Volunteer week, we would like to celebrate one of WAI Wānaka’s most dedicated volunteers. Every organisation needs that one person who… Read more - Rural update 15 June 2021
Only one more week until we’re past the shortest day – here’s hoping we have limited time left with this weather too! This week we’re… Read more - Rural update 3 June 2021
Welcome back to your fortnightly update! Chainsaw Training – 24-25th June There are spaces available at an upcoming chainsaw training course organised by WAI Wānaka…. Read more - Rural update 19 May 2021
If you’ve been planning your winter and spring pest control and planting, see below for relevant links, or get in touch directly to chat through… Read more - Jobs for Nature update 6 May 2021
Our seasonal team finishes up on Friday after seven weeks of work across the Upper Clutha catchment. During this time, together with our long term… Read more - Wānaka Water Project update by Matt Shepherd
Kia ora koutou katoa! I haven’t had the chance to introduce myself to all of you yet. My name is Matt Shepherd and I have… Read more - Jobs for Nature update 21 April 2021
Work update Planting is in full swing and it’s great to see plants going in right throughout the catchment – Matukituki, Cardrona, Luggate, Hāwea Flat… Read more - Jobs for Nature Update 8 April 2021
Planting season has begun (albeit somewhat drier than desired) and, as well as getting new plants in the ground, the Jobs for Nature crew is… Read more - WAI Wānaka at the A&P Show
For the first time, WAI Wānaka and nine other community organisations worked together with the Wānaka A&P Show last weekend to run a space called… Read more - Jobs for Nature Update 1 March 2021
Welcome back to your fortnightly WAI Wānaka Jobs for Nature update! This week we start by introducing our field team, talk about the opportunity to… Read more - Jobs for Nature Update 1 Feb 2021
Welcome to the first of our fortnightly WAI Wānaka – Jobs for Nature updates! In these updates, we’ll send through brief snippets about the Jobs… Read more - It’s been a big year!
As we start to wind down and get excited about the upcoming break, we wanted to say a huge thank you to all of our… Read more - Citizen Science Project
Teens keen to engage with nature WAI Wānaka team members spent 3 days early December 2020 working alongside Year 10 students from MAC on the… Read more - Being a freshwater scientist
Melanie Vermeulen did a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Ecology. Her focus at the time was on palaeoecology and the ecological interactions that are… Read more - Food & Fibre Farm Tour at the Reset Summit a great success
Catchment groups across the Upper Clutha have been taking action to improve water and land ecosystems. WAI Wānaka arranged for five high country stations to… Read more - Wanaka Project receives $3 million to boost local environmental efforts
A Wanaka project will get $3 million to deliver improvements in freshwater quality and biodiversity, and provide jobs, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “The WAI… Read more