WAI Wānaka is asking locals to take collective action this World Water Day (Saturday March 22) to safeguard the Upper Clutha’s waterways.

The water advocacy group has organised events to celebrate World Water Day, including a warm-up event today (Friday March 21) and activities at the Ripe Festival on Saturday, as well as a dawn plunge to celebrate the start of the Wānaka Festival of Colour the following weekend.

The events are designed to help people learn about the pressure local lakes and rivers are facing and discover how they can take action to protect them, the organisation said.

“Our alpine lakes have absorbed more than 150 years of human activities,” WAI Wānaka said in a statement. 

“Looking at them from afar, it’s hard to imagine that Lakes Wānaka, Whakatipu and Hāwea could be in danger of losing their pristine acclaim; but the reality is the lakes are experiencing an unacceptable rate of decline.”

Read more: Decline in lake health needs urgent action - community group

This Friday WAI Wānaka will be out and about in Wānaka and Lake Hāwea from 10am to 4pm to provide information and activities. The ‘warm up celebrations’ will take place at the Hāwea Store & Kitchen (10am-12pm), outside Kai Whakapai (10am-4pm), the Dinosaur Park (10am-4pm), Mitre 10 Mega (11am-1pm) and New World Three Parks (2pm-4pm).

For World Water Day on Saturday WAI is partnering with the Ripe Food & Wine Festival offering family-friendly activities and keeping festival-goers hydrated. Thanks to Envirotix, for each Ripe ticket purchased a donation will be made to help ensure future generations can drink safe water, and swim in clear rivers and lakes.

The following weekend (Saturday March 29) WAI has organised a dawn plunge to celebrate the opening of the Festival of Colour. People can join for a cold dip followed by a hot drink and refreshments. Registration is required for this free public event.

Find out more here. 

PHOTO: Wānaka App