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Our vision is to see vibrant, healthy, indigenous ecosystems valued across the Waimakariri District.
In 2021, the Waimakariri District Council assisted a group of knowledgeable and enthusiastic community members to set up the Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust.
Since our set-up we have organised public lectures from esteemed ecological researchers across the district, engaged with landowners wanting to improve habitat for wildlife and have a vision to assist the districts biodiversity in various practical and educational ways.
Our projects
Here are a few of the projects we have been working on most recently. Check back from time to time to read about new projects
Annual Winter Series Talks
Together with the Waimakariri District Council, the Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust has been hosting a series of community talks over the winter months. These are always well attended and cover topics ranging from the wildlife in our backyards to protecting against wildfires on our properties. For presentations and notes from previous talks, refer to our resources page.
Establishment Visioning Workshop
A “Visioning workshop” was held in November 2022 in Kaiapoi with 18 invited ecologists and environmental staff from DOC, Waimakariri District Council, ECan, QEII National Trust, Waimakariri Irrigation Limited, and independents to look at: “what are the gaps in provision of assistance with biodiversity protection and restoration?” and “how can the Trust best fill the gaps?”. The session was facilitated by Garth Nowland-Foreman (from LEAD).
The Workshop generated energetic discussion with 40+ ideas for activities that participants felt that the Trust could undertake listed! The group felt that the independence of the Trust was a bonus, giving it the ability to network and co-ordinate the many people already working on this (often in isolation) in the District, and to bring together ecologists from different organisations.
Garth led the Trustees in a second workshop a week later. There the Trustees and Co-ordinator identified priority actions for 2023-2024 from the larger list developed earlier.
Watch this space!
We have an exciting community restoration project coming soon. Check back for updates.
Funding Partners
Collaboration Partners
