EcoMatters Environment Trust

Creative Kids: Trash to Treasure Frames with artist Ronja Schipper
2026-07-07 11:00 - 12:30 (Pacific/Auckland) | EcoMatters, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn, Auckland, 0600, New Zealand
Get creative these school holidays and turn trash into treasure for Plastic Free July!
Join artist Ronja Schipper for a fun, hands-on workshop where kids will transform discarded bits and bobs into an ornate Baroque-style picture or mirror frame. Using broken toys, old gadgets, game pieces and other rescued materials, participants will create a one-of-a-kind artwork while exploring creative ways to reuse waste that might otherwise end up in landfill.
Perfect for bedrooms or gifting, the finished piece can frame a favourite photo, artwork or small mirror.
What to bring

Small junk items from home such as broken toys or gadgets, game parts or interesting plastic bits and pieces
A glue gun if you have one (a limited number will be available to share)
Practical clothes you don’t mind getting messy

What’s provided

Picture frame base
Shared glue guns and materials
Spray painting by the tutor in a supervised outdoor spray booth (participants can choose their colour)

Suitable for ages 10+ who can work fairly independently. Book your ticket, click here.

Mornings by the Stream in Glen Eden
2026-07-08 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-07-09 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-07-15 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-07-16 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-07-22 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-07-23 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-07-29 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-07-30 09:15 - 12:15 | Glen Eden Streams – TBC – varies each day, Glen Eden
Join EcoMatters stream rangers Pam and Alanah as we care for one of the beautiful waterways in the heart of Glen Eden. As well as learning about the environmental restoration of our streams, you’ll get to work alongside others who want to see nature thrive.
This is a great way to make community connections, while enjoying our hidden natural gems. You can come for as long as you like.
Wear sturdy shoes and bring gardening gloves if you have any.
RSVP to find out where you’ll be meeting each day –
For Wednesdays, RSVP to pamela@ecomatters.org.nz
For Thursdays, RSVP to alanah@ecomatters.org.nz
This is part of Project Twin Streams, and supported by the Waitākere Ranges Local Board.

Matariki Planting by the Bike Path
2026-07-18 10:00 - 12:30 | Access through Daily Bread, 35D Portage Road, 35 Portage Rd, New Lynn, Auckland, 0600, New Zealand
Join us this Matariki and come along to plant native plants along the Whau Awa! Put on your gumboots and let’s turn this area into thriving stream habitat.
The place we’re planting is located just past where the Waitahurangi Stream meets the Whau Stream, and they come together to form the Whau Awa.
The plants you put in the ground will be enjoyed by native birds and critters, as well as bike-riders and walkers passing through the New Lynn to Avondale shared path each day.
Kids welcome but must be supervised. Wear gumboots or sturdy closed-toe shoes, and bring your rain jacket and gardening gloves if you have any.
Access through the back gate of the Daily Bread site – a 2-minute bike ride or 12-minute walk from New Lynn Transport Centre. Bike parking will available.
Funded and supported by the Whau Local Board & Whau Wildlink.

Matariki Planting with Laingholm Restoration Ruatuna
2026-07-19 10:00 - 12:30 | Western Park, 12 Western Road, Laingholm
Nau mai, haere mai! Come and help us at Laing Stream with planting, and learn about the plants best suited to streamside areas. Be part of transforming this stream into a thriving awa that flows well in changeable weather, is more resilient in heavy rain and drought, and helps move water safely to the sea.
The native plants we put into the ground will help stabilise stream banks, slow water flow during heavy rain, reduce flood impacts, and provide habitat for native wildlife.
Kids welcome but must be supervised. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are required, and gardening gloves, a rain jacket and a sun hat are advised. We’ll finish with some kai together at the end. Questions? contact pamela@ecomatters.org.nz
Hosted by EcoMatters Environment Trust, Restoration Ruatuna and Laing Stream neighbours. Ngā mihi to Auckland Council Healthy Waters for their support.
