Healthy Waters and Community

The Healthy Waters and Community team is here to work with you to restore our suburban streams and their native habitats.

You can get involved by supporting the community nursery, joining planting and stream care projects, or supporting research studies into our waterways.

Interested in other projects focused on weeding and pest control? Check out Pest and Predator Free.

Support your community nursery

Volunteer at our weekly sessions to care for native plant seedlings and learn from the experts at our community nursery. Grown with a focus on stream or wetland restoration projects, our seedlings are raised from eco-sourced seed – these are seeds collected from naturally-occurring vegetation close to where they would ideally be replanted. 

Need native plants for your backyard or restoration project? We have over 30 species available and can recommend plants that will suit your site. Find out how to purchase at Community Nursery

Connect to your local streams

Would you like to see local streams that support abundant bird life and thriving bush corridors? We love working with schools, groups and individuals who want to roll their sleeves up and get involved. 

Some people join us for a morning of planting, stream care or education, while others may choose to adopt an area for long-term restoration. Whether you’re interested in a short session or want to delve into the deeper levels of planning, implementation and monitoring, we can collaborate with you and support you with knowledge and tools. 

We have a range of stream projects on the go. 

Project Twin Streams

For more than a decade, we’ve worked closely with the Glen Eden community on Project Twin Streams, a large-scale project to restore West Auckland’s waterways. We care for 15.6 kilometres of the Waikumete Stream catchment, which includes the Waikumete, Whakarina and Bishop streams. Find out more about our weekly Love Your Stream days.

Supported by Auckland Council and the Waitākere Ranges Local Board.

Glen Eden Stream Tributaries Project

We’re working to restore the Waititi, Whakarina and Wirihana Stream tributaries that run through council parklands. This involves weeding to prepare sites, planting and mulching, and we love connecting with locals who are interested in caring for these awa. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

Supported by the Waitākere Ranges Local Board. 

Sunnyvale Backyard Stream Project

This is a collaboration with Sunnyvale neighbours to transform two neglected backyard streams into thriving green corridors. We host community planting days yearly, and care for these plantings through the year with weeding and mulching. To be kept in the loop, email [email protected].

Supported by the Henderson-Massey Local Board. 

Manutewhau Awa Enrichment Project

The Manutewhau Awa which runs through Moire Park is a treasure – a slice of mature bush right in the heart of Massey. We run yearly stream clean-ups here, as well as school and community education sessions and enrichment planting days. To find out more, contact [email protected].

Supported by the Henderson-Massey Local Board. 

Whau Wildlink

Our team is proud to be part of the Whau Wildlink, a network of groups and individuals who are passionate about creating thriving green havens for native birds to nest in the Whau area. It’s a place where organisers can find mutual support and advice for ecological restoration ideas and projects. The Whau Wildlink supports the greater vision of the North-West Wildlink, a green corridor between the pest-free sanctuaries in the Hauraki Gulf in the North, and the Waitākere Ranges in the West. 

Within the Whau Wildlink, EcoMatters’ initiatives include a focus on education about environmental weeds and supporting the community to take action to control them; stream care and monitoring; and Rongoā Rākau wānanga (traditional Māori plant medicine educational sessions), in the Whau Local Board area. This area comprises the suburbs of New Lynn, Green Bay, Kelston, Rosebank, Avondale, New Windsor and Blockhouse Bay. One of our special sites of focus is the stream at Onewherowhero/Brains Park. If you’re interested in getting involved, email [email protected].

Supported by the Whau Local Board.

Community efforts transform local streams

What happens when community groups come together to transform a neglected waterway in the heart of Kelston?

We’re delighted to share an interactive StoryMap put together by our Nature intern Emma Bullock. She writes about an unassuming stream at Onewherowhero/Brains Park, and the surprises we found there.

Dig deeper into stream health

Stream monitoring happens as part of all our stream care projects, but we also provide opportunities to delve even deeper into research about our waterways. 

Te Hau o Te Whau

Te Hau o Te Whau is a project that seeks to understand the effect of micro and macro pollution on the Whau River, as well as the actions we can take to remedy it. We’re excited to be collaborating with local iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki, Auckland Council and the University of Auckland on this large-scale study. Find out more.

KIA ORA AND THANKS TO

Thank you to Auckland Council, and Henderson-Massey, Waitākere Ranges and Whau local boards for supporting the work of our Healthy Waters and Community team.


grants for local nature projects

Planning a local environmental project in the Henderson-Massey, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, Whau or Waitākere Ranges local board area? Your group could be eligible for a $500 grant. The Love Your Neighbourhood grant is available for environmental and volunteer-driven initiatives. Find out more about all our grants here.

Resources

Check out Native To The West, a guide for planting and restoring the nature of the Waitākere area.

Read Inspiring Care for Our Local Awa, a blog post by team member Pamela Gill about Te Hau o Te Whau and taking simple steps to care for our river.