Nature needs us: join us in Hauraki for Conservation Week’s 50th anniversary

Date:  04 September 2019

This year, numerous groups in Hauraki are offering activities and ways to get involved in this year’s Conservation Week from 14 - 22 September.

The Festival of Living Solutions is on Saturday 7 September at 11 am at St James Hall, Thames. The festival will have inspiring stalls promoting ways to care for our environment. DOC will be there with information and free native seedlings to help encourage wildlife into their gardens.

Kauaeranga Visitor Centre will have fun learning activities in the outdoors for children on Saturday 14 September at 10 am. On Sunday 15 September at 11 am, there is a chance to get up close and personal with our very special native geckos. This is a popular activity and booking is essential. Contact the centre to book your place.

Check out DOC's Kauaeranga Visitor Centre on Facebook for more information on these and other activities. People are welcome at the centre all day to enjoy the informative treasure hunt, giant outdoor board game and great displays.

DOC is also offering free Kiwi Avoidance Training for dogs on Saturday 21 September. This is open to all dog owners but spaces are limited. Phone +64 7 867 9080 to secure your place.

The Pukorokoro Miranda Shore Bird Centre has a range of activities taking place on Saturday 14 September. This includes a guided walk at 8 am and helping prepare for the return of the Arctic migrants at 12 pm. Call +64 9 232 2781 for more details.

Moanataiari School is holding an open day on Wednesday 18 September at 11.30 am. This is an exciting opportunity to see a school committed to protecting our environment through sustainable practices and educating students about a sustainable future. Many of these initiatives have been student-led. The day will include refreshments prepared by students using produce from their gardens. Everyone is welcome to attend.

DOC Biodiversity Senior Ranger Mailee Stanbury says, “Even if you can’t make it to one of these great events there is much we can do to protect our biodiversity. It can include cleaning up waterways, protecting marine habitats, getting rid of predators and weeds and planting native species.

“We need to act now, or we could lose wonderful, unique native species and when we lose them we lose a part of what makes New Zealand special”.

Conservation Week was started by the New Zealand Scouts in 1969 with the goal to promote greater interest in the environment and encourage people to take action to look after it. This continues to be the goal 50 years later. New Zealand’s wildlife is in crisis with more than 4,000 of our native animals and plants threatened or at risk.

This Conservation Week thousands of people will be getting involved in local, family-friendly conservation events across the region. It’s a chance to learn more about New Zealand’s unique biodiversity and what people can do to help it thrive. Join us and do something, whether big or small to create change.

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