EcoMatters Environment Trust

Native Seedling Sessions
2026-06-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-01 10:00 - 12:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | EcoMatters, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn, Auckland, 0600, New Zealand
Come and get hands on at the EcoMatters native plant nursery! Seedling Sessions are a regular volunteer session where you’ll help care for and grow native plants that support local restoration projects.
Each Wednesday we spend time pricking out and potting up seedlings, sowing seeds, washing pots, weeding and pitching in with other tasks around the nursery.
Closed-toe, sturdy footwear is essential. Please bring a hat, rain jacket and gardening gloves if you have any (some gloves will be provided).
Questions? Email eve@ecomatters.org.nz

Mornings by the Stream in Glen Eden
2026-06-04 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-06-10 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-06-11 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-06-17 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-06-18 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-06-24 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-06-25 09:15 - 12:15, 2026-07-01 09:15 - 12:15 and 1 more date | 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.

Arbor Day at Waitahurangi Awa
2026-06-05 09:30 - 12:00 | Bridge on Portage Road, opposite Suburbs Rugby Club, 130 Portage Road, New Lynn, Auckland
Nau mai, haere mai! To celebrate Arbor Day, we’ll be planting four kāhikatea alongside the Waitahurangi Awa. We’ll also be removing pest plants and rubbish to help this stream, which flows through Titirangi Golf Club, thrive.
We’ll be meeting at the bridge opposite Suburbs Rugby Club, 130 Portage Road, New Lynn.

Gumboots or closed-toe, sturdy footwear is essential. Please bring a hat, rain jacket and gardening gloves if you have any (some gloves will be provided). Kids welcome but must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

Supported by EcoMatters and the Whau Local Board.

Questions? Email pamela@ecomatters.org.nz.

Organic Gardening Sessions
2026-06-05 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-06-12 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-06-19 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-06-26 11:00 - 14:00 | EcoMatters, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn, Auckland, 0600, New Zealand
Get involved with myriad seasonal organic gardening activities. You’ll learn about seed sowing and collection, propagation, growing veggies and herbs, managing a pollinator garden, pruning an established food forest, and building healthy soil. You can even share in the harvest. Bring a pair of sharp secateurs if you have them and dress for any weather including a sturdy pair of enclosed shoes or boots, gloves, hat plus your drink bottle and lunch.
Confirm with Meg: meg@ecomatters.org.nz

Arbor Day Planting in New Lynn
2026-06-06 10:00 - 12:30 | Clark St Common, Wolverton St, New Lynn, Wolverton Street, Auckland
Nau mai, haere mai! We’re celebrating Arbor Day by getting trees into the ground and we’d love to for you to join us there. Come along to plant native plants on the banks of the Waitahurangi Awa in New Lynn, and bring it one step closer to becoming a thriving habitat for native birds and fish.
It’s a challenging site, so a reasonable level of fitness is required, and participants must be aged 12+. You’ll need to wear gumboots or sturdy closed shoes. Please bring a rain jacket and gardening gloves if you have any. After our mahi we will finish with a BBQ.
Meet at 10am at EcoMatters EcoHub, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn and we will head over to the planting site at Clark St Common together.
This event is a collaboration between EcoMatters, the Tree Council, the New Zealand Arboricultural Association (NZ ARB) and supported by the Whau Local Board & Whau Wildlink.

Food Forest Our Public Parks! A Community Design Workshop
2026-06-07 13:00 - 16:00 | EcoMatters, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn, Auckland, 0600, New Zealand
This event has been postponed.
New date: Sunday 7 June 2026 (previously Sunday 12 April)
Food forests are a growing trend worldwide, celebrated for weaving together ecological restoration, community engagement, and local food production.
This workshop asks a simple question: Can we grow more food in public parks?
We say yes!
Join us for a two-part session exploring how communities can design productive, regenerative public spaces.

Workshop Outline
Part 1: Presentation by Dan on the core principles behind syntropic agroforestry – one promising approach for establishing food forests.
Afternoon tea – 20 mins
Part 2:
Break into small groups to apply these principles to Olympic Park.
This hands-on design exercise will explore plant layering, complementary edible species, access and pathways, water considerations, public engagement, and more.
If your local park had a food forest, what would it include?

This event is part of EcoFest 2026 — a month-long, community-powered festival celebrating nature, sustainable living and everyday climate action across Tāmaki Makaurau. Discover practical ideas, inspiring events and ways to deepen your learning at ecofest.org.nz.

Pest Plant Roadshow at Oratia Bowling Club
2026-06-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Oratia Bowling Club, 515 West Coast Road, Oratia, New Zealand
Want to find out which weeds you should bin, bag or put in a barrel? The EcoMatters Nature Team will be at the Oratia Bowling Club Winter Market Day to give advice and answer any questions you have about pest plants.

Come along to chat about how to identify invasive weeds, best practises for keeping kauri safe while caring for the bush, and free services available to support you.

Brought to you by EcoMatters and supported by the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and Auckland Council.

Te Henga Weed Bin Weekend
2026-06-13 08:00 - 2026-06-14 17:00 | Pae o Te Rangi Regional Park, 114 Te Henga Road, Waitākere, Auckland, 0781, New Zealand
Got invasive weeds? Live close to the Waitākere Ranges? Get rid of them at your local community weed bin.
Bins will be onsite from Saturday 8am, and an EcoMatters team member will be there to provide weed advice Saturday 9am-3pm.
To find out is and isn’t accepted, and when and where to find the bins, visit ecomatters.org.nz/weedbins
Funded by the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and supported by Auckland Council.

Swanson Weed Bin Weekend
2026-06-13 09:00 - 2026-06-14 16:00 | Central Landscape Supplies Swanson, 598 Swanson Road, Swanson, Auckland, Auckland, 0612, New Zealand
Got invasive weeds? Live close to the Waitākere Ranges? Get rid of them at your local community weed bin.
The Swanson weed bin is accessible during Central Landscape & Garden Supplies open hours, 9am-4pm.
Bins will be onsite from Saturday 9am, and an EcoMatters team member will be there to provide weed advice Saturday 9am-3pm.
To find out is and isn’t accepted, and when and where to find the bins, visit ecomatters.org.nz/weedbins
Funded by the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and supported by Auckland Council.

Waimoko Glen Stream Care Session
2026-06-13 10:00 - 12:30 | 24A Waimoko Glen, Swanson, Auckland 0612, 24A Waimoko Glen, Swanson, Auckland, 0612
Nau mai, haere mai! Come and help save the Waimoko and Waiwhauwhaupaku (Swanson) Streams from rubbish and invasive weeds. Together, we’ll transform these streams into thriving awa that flow well to the sea, and provide a safe habitat for native birds and fish.
Bring a hat, rain jacket and gardening gloves if you have any, and wear sturdy closed-toe shoes. Kids welcome but must be supervised. We will finish our mahi with some shared kai.
Hosted by Waimoko Glen neighbours and EcoMatters, and supported by the Henderson-Massey Local Board.
Want to keep in the loop with updates about these streams? Email alanah@ecomatters.org.nz.

Fruitvale Stream Community Planting
2026-06-14 10:30 - 13:00 | Matangirua/Chettle Reserve, New Lynn, Auckland, 0600
Nau mai, haere mai! Join us at Scroggy Stream to put native plants in the ground, which can add stability to the stream banks, absorb water in heavy rain, and provide a healthy habitat for our native birds and critters.

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.

Supported by the Whau Local Board and Auckland Council Healthy Waters.

Try an ebike for free - Glen Eden Community Market Pop Up
2026-06-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Glen Eden Community House, 13 Pisces Road, Glen Eden, New Zealand
Considering an ebike but not sure if it’s right for you? Join us at Glen Eden Community Market for a free chance to take one for a ride and find out.
Plus, ride your own bike to the Glen Eden Community Market and get a free bike safety check with us!
Glen Eden Community Market is also calling for people to bring unused bikes to the market on Sunday 20 June. All bikes collected on the day will be passed on to our Bike Hubs, where they’ll be refurbished and safety checked. These secondhand bikes are then sold at affordable prices so more people can enjoy the benefits of cycling. Proceeds help keep our other Bike Hub services free for everyone.
At our pop up stall you can learn more about the Go Ebike loan scheme we run through our Bike Hubs. Take a quick test ride on the day and chat with us about whether an ebike could work for your commute, errands or the school run. Then, if you want to, you can sign up to try other ebikes for an extended free loan of two weeks.
Why ebikes?

Save money on petrol and parking
Reduce your carbon footprint
Improve your physical and mental health
Get where you want to go quickly (without getting sweaty)
Easier to tackle hills or longer distances
Cargo ebikes or ebikes with child seats for the school run or errands

Come say hi to us at the Glen Eden Community Market or find out more about ebike loans at ecomatters.org.nz/ebikes
Thanks to the Waitākere Ranges Local Board for making this pop up possible!

Rongoā and Native Plant Giveaway
2026-06-20 10:00 - 14:00 | EcoMatters, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn, Auckland, 0600, New Zealand
Join us to celebrate native plants, biodiversity and te taiao.
From 10am-2pm, you can collect a free native seedling for your home garden.
Chat with our Nursery Manager Eve (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe, Waitaha) to learn more about planting and caring for native plants and how these taonga species support healthier waterways, reduce erosion, and create habitat for native biodiversity.
Juanita de Senna (Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Waikato), an experienced Rongoā Māori Practitioner will also be onsite throughout the day to share knowledge and answer questions around the traditions of Māori plant-based healing.
Planting even one native tree or shrub can help strengthen wildlife habitats, improve environmental health and bring more birdsong back into our neighbourhoods.
Free event. One native seedling per person while stocks last. Plants will include a mix of Harakeke, Karamū, Kawakawa, Kōwhai, Mānuka and Wharangi.
If we have plants leftover after the event, they will also be available for pick up from Wednesday 24 June to Sunday 28 June between 10am-2pm each day from the EcoMatters Store. These dates are for plant collection only, as our nursery staff will not be available for advice. The limit of one plant per person will still apply.
Thanks to Auckland Council’s Go Native initiative.

Mindful Threads 2 - Community Textile Workshop
2026-06-20 14:00 - 15:30 | EcoMatters, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn, Auckland, 0600, New Zealand
Join creatives Tineswari Maruthamuthu and Catherine Heald for a relaxed, creative workshop where we come together to complete a collaborative textile artwork.
Inspired by the biodiversity of Waitahurangi Stream and Te Kōtuitanga (Olympic Park), this community wall hanging is made from recycled and repurposed fabrics. Add your own creative touch while learning simple stitching techniques from talented crafters, and enjoy a mindful, hands-on making experience.
Although this is our second session of the project, everyone is welcome – no prior attendance needed.
This is a welcoming space to connect, create, and be part of a shared story that will be proudly displayed at our EcoHub.
What to bring/wear:

Fabric scraps or textile remnants (if you have some)
Comfortable clothing (we’ll be seated on mats or cushions – chairs also available)
A plate to share for morning tea (optional)

This beginner workshop is suitable for ages 14+.
Thanks to funding from the Creative Communities Scheme.

Native Planting Workshop at Ranui Library
2026-07-02 16:00 - 18:00 | Rānui Library, 431 Swanson Road, Ranui, Auckland
Join the Ranui Library for a whānau friendly native planting workshop and kōrero with Alanah from EcoMatters. Learn about local native plants, why they matter, and how planting supports our whenua and waterways. A great way for whānau to learn, connect, and grow together.
Spaces are limited so make sure you register via the link while you can. This event is suitable for all ages (10+).
Supported by the Henderson-Massey Local Board.
