Taking action for World Water Day
In te reo Māori, wai means water – the lifeblood of all things and the world’s most precious resource. Here in the Upper Clutha, we all rely on our lakes and rivers – whether it’s for drinking, swimming or enjoying a day by the water – our community thrives because of these precious natural resources.
But what would happen if our waterways became too polluted to be safe? It’s hard to imagine when we see seemingly pristine waters. Sadly, the health of our lakes and rivers is declining. This World Water Day (Saturday 22 March), let’s take collective action to safeguard our fresh water for future generations.
In honour of World Water Day, we’ve created a guide for taking action. Learn about the pressure lakes and rivers of the Upper Clutha are facing and discover how you can take action to protect them. Together, small steps today can equal big impacts tomorrow.
Friday 21 March – World Water Day Warm Up
As a warm-up to World Water Day, the WAI team will be out and about this Friday 21 March between 10am – 4pm. You’ll find us at:
- Hāwea Store and Kitchen, between 10am-12noon
- Outside Kai Whakapai, 10am-4pm
- Dinosaur Playground, 10am-4pm
- Mitre 10 Mega (BBQ), 11am-1pm
- New World Three Parks, 2pm-4pm
Come along to say hi, have a chat about the rivers and lakes and how you use it and learn more about what we can all do together to protect these precious natural resources for generations to come.
Click here for a full list of our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
Saturday 22 March – World Water Day at Ripe
We’re thrilled to be partnering with Ripe Food & Wine Festival this year and be the local environmental organisation chosen to receive ticket fees from Envirotix. Which means that with each Ripe ticket purchased, a donation is being made to ensure future generations can drink safe water, swim in clear rivers and lakes and enjoy the natural beauty of this places for years to come.
Ripe have taken a pledge to understand and protect the water flowing through their festival. Sustainability has always been important to them and they strive to lead the way in modelling zero-waste, single use free events. You can find out more about what Ripe are doing in this area, as well as what attendees can do to be a sustainable festival-goer here.
WAI will be at Ripe for World Water Day, walking around keeping everyone hydrated and have a stand with family-friendly activities. Look out for the WAI flags.
- Ripe Food & Wine Festival
- Saturday 22 March
- Glendhu Bay
Saturday 29 March – Dawn Plunge
And because we love a reason to celebrate all things water, we’re keeping the party going by joining the Festival of Colour for the opening of the 2025 festival – the Dawn Plunge.
Embrace the cold, connect with nature and awaken your senses. Then warm the cockles of your heart with a warm bevvy and some kai. Bring your togs, friends, a towel and your adventurous spirit.
This is a FREE public event, but registration is required for catering purposes.
