Locals can get involved with a series of events taking place tomorrow (Thursday August 8) as part of NZ Conservation Week.

NZ Conservation Week runs each year from September 5-11, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) says it is an opportunity for residents to “take a moment for nature” by taking actions like planting a tree, picking up rubbish or donating to a conservation programme.

Locally there are multiple ways to get involved, with activities at four different sites ranging from biodiversity monitoring to water education, and learning about pests to identifying birds.

Locals can learn about the Albert Town lagoon between 9am and 11.30am in a collaboration between WAI Wānaka and Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust. 

“Our local [Otago Regional Council] catchment advisor will be running a wetland monitoring workshop from 10am to help understand the impacts of our actions on the water,” WAI Wānaka said. 

“And DOC and Wānaka Backyard Trapping will be available to chat all things pests and take you through a five-minute bird count.”

Anyone with free time in the early afternoon (1pm-3.30pm) can either head to Luggate Creek or Glendhu Wetland for more plant maintenance and biodiversity monitoring.

At Luggate Creek there will be a stream monitoring workshop from 2pm and the event will provide a chance to help keep the plants thriving and learn a new skill, while at the Glendhu Wetland participants can learn from WAI Wānaka and Te Kākano’s experts about the wetlands and also do some planting.

The latest event taking place will be at Bullock Creek Hatchery between 2pm and 4pm: Participants can head along and give the Friends of Bullock Creek a hand and learn about the origins of the group, the day-to-day work, and why the group wants to protect the creek.

Everyone is welcome to attend all of the events whether it's as brief as stopping by on a lunch break or staying for the whole event. 

Find more information about tomorrow’s events and other events as part of NZ Conservation Week on the DOC website here.

You can also find other ways to support NZ Conservation Week here.

PHOTO: WAI Wānaka