Waitakere wetlands and waterways supported
A collaboration of Waitakere community groups will be supported with a $281,865 grant in their work monitor and make
restoration plans for local wetlands and waterways, including the Epping Wetland which has high ecological values.
Associate Environment Minister Scott Simpson today announced the grant provided through the Community Environment Fund
to Community Waitakere Charitable Trust for their Ngā Puna Manaaki Wahapu project.
“The exciting aspect of this project is the very high level of local engagement and cooperation that’s happening. This
project has schools, community groups, iwi, businesses and council staff working together to collect data about wetland
sites, evaluate results and identify opportunities for improvement. Then actively participate in community restoration
and mitigation activities,” Mr Simpson says
“I’m also really impressed by the level of individual commitment. These aren’t scientists or experts, these are people
from all walks of life. They’re local businesses and community groups. They learn how to do the monitoring, they learn
how wetlands work and how to run a restoration project. This is citizen science at its best and I am thrilled to see so
many people involved.”
This is a three year project that has received in kind contributions made by Morphum Environmental Limited, Auckland
Council, ACG Sunderland School and Rutherford College.
The Community Environment Fund provides funding to empower New Zealanders to take environmental action. It supports
projects that strengthen partnerships, raise public awareness of environmental issues, and encourage community
participation in environmental initiatives. The fund has awarded more than $12 million to environmental projects since
2010.