Sustaining Our Streams - Project Whau
Waitahurangi/Avondale Stream
The Waitahurangi/Avondale stream catchment covers the areas of Avondale, Blockhouse Bay, Green Bay and New Lynn and is part of the greater Whau River Estuary catchment flowing into the Upper Waitemata harbour of Auckland. The Waitahurangi/Avondale Stream once played an important role in the movement of the local iwi of the region, serving as a canoe portage for the Te Kawerau a Maki tribe who would travel by canoe from the Hauraki Gulf and Waitemata Harbours, up the Whau and Waitahurangi and over to the Manukau Harbour.
Over time this once naturally beautiful stream and portage has become influenced by urban land use activities which have led to the introduction of weeds, stream pollution and the degradation of the natural stream environment. Although we can’t turn back the clock, we can work together to improve the health and quality of the stream in our backyards for all our community; animals, plants and people alike.
What is SOS Project Whau?
‘Sustaining Our Streams’ (SOS) is an exciting project funded by The Trusts Community Foundation and delivered by EcoMatters Environment Trust. The project aims to restore backyard streams in the Avondale, Blockhouse Bay, Green Bay and New Lynn area on private properties, local schools and public reserves.
Through this project, SOS aspires to improve the wellbeing of the region by assisting residents, community volunteers, school students and community groups to remove environmental weeds and replant their local stream-banks with eco-sourced native plants to develop a healthy and thriving stream environment. It’s our neighbourhood, so let’s get together and make our local streams healthy, clean and green!
What we can offer
Our environmental tool-box is open and ready to work with you in creating a beautiful backyard stream environment.
SOS can provide:
- Ecological advice
- Planting plan design and support for implementation.
- Eco-sourced NZ Native plants.
- Weed management plans and support for implementation.
- Any resource consent preparations that may be necessary.
Want to get involved?
-
Attend a workshop: Where you can learn easy methods of weed management, planting and how to care for the stream in your backyard.
-
Come to a community weeding bee or planting day: Plants, spades and advice provided. Just bring along your energy, enthusiasm and some decent boots!
With a little effort you can then observe as your backyard stream becomes a haven for native birds, plants and an abundance of stream life. Encourage your neighbours to join in too – community efforts make things easier and much more fun!
Support your local school
Schools in our area are getting involved with SOS, providing great learning opportunities for our kids to discover how to care for our natural stream environment. Come and support your kids and their school by joining us for a planting day or weeding bee event. Let’s make it a clean, green place for our kids to grow and learn!
Volunteer
Help out your local community and join the SOS Whau Team for community weeding bee’s and planting events along our local streams. These will be happening throughout the year at various locations within the Avondale, Blockhouse Bay, Green Bay, New Lynn and Titirangi area. All you need is gumboots and enthusiasm!
Contact: Vanessa Wood – SOS Whau Project Community Co-ordinator on 09 826 0554 or email vanessaw@ecomatters.org.nzfor further information.
Contact SOS Project Whau
For further details about events or more information about the project, please contact:
Community Coordinator
Vanessa Wood
Phone: (09) 826 0554
