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Our events and workshops mix social fun with learning. Whether you’re here to pick up new skills or hang out, we’ve got something for everyone.
It’s about connecting, sharing ideas, and making a difference together.
Native Birds & Trees Bioblitz
Help us discover the amazing biodiversity in our catchment!
Join us for a fun, hands-on community event celebrating the incredible native birds and plants that make our coastal catchment so special.
Whether you're a keen nature enthusiast or just curious about what's living on your property, everyone is welcome.
Both the event learning day and competition is open to West Waikato children (9yo & up), schools, families, landowners and the wider community.
When the event is over we will have a full survey of the native species across our catchment!
What to expect
🌿 Learn from local bird and plant experts.
🐦 Discover some of the unique native species found within our catchment.
📱 Learn how to identify and record birds and plants using free apps.
🏆 Compete for prizes.
The adventure continues...
Following the learning day, you'll have two weeks to record native birds and plants across our catchment as an individual, family or team.
Prizes will be awarded for the most interesting and diverse naturally occurring native observations inside the catchment, so start organising your teams now!
Members from local bird and botany organisations may also be available to visit properties and assist participants with identifying species. Let us know if you would like this support.
Get a head start!
Download these free apps before the event:
🌳 Seek by iNaturalist – identify trees - https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app
🌿 iNaturalist – record native trees - https://www.inaturalist.org/
🐦 Merlin Bird ID – identify birds by sight and sound - https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
📝 eBird – record bird sightings - https://ebird.org/about/ebird-mobile
You will need your eBird and iNaturalist Username to register for the competition.
ADD OUR INATURALIST PROJECT: WWCC - West Waikato Coastal Community Catchment
Download our Quick Start App Guide
Download our West Waikato Plant Field Guide Booklet prepared by Wayne Bennett of Forest Flora
Learning Day Details
📅 31 August, 10:00 am - 1:40 pm
📍 Nikau Cave & Cafe, 1770 Waikaretu Valley Road, Waikaretu
🥾 Bring closed outdoor shoes and a raincoat
📱Please bring your own smart device and download the apps first!
🍴Children should bring a packed lunch and water bottle
Event Registration is essential. Please register here —>
Our Learning Day Speakers:
Wahangaoterangi “Russell” Riki
Russell brings over 30 years of experience teaching and advising on Māori tikanga, culture and protocol through the Waikato and beyond. As a respected kaumātua with whakapapa connecting him to Tainui and West Waikato iwi including Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Mahanga and Ngāti Hauā, he brings deep cultural and ancestral connection to the whenua, taonga and natural world.
Wayne Bennett
Wayne brings a lifetime of experience exploring how to recreate native forest, having taken every opportunity to explore and understand local examples of native ecosystems. He has decades of practical experience growing native plants and undertaking ecological restoration. He is the founder of Forest Flora nursery and author of restoration guides.
Jesse Golden
Jesse brings a strong passion for birds and conservation, with years of experience exploring and recording birdlife across the Waikato. As an active eBird contributor and member of the Waikato birding community, he offers a wealth of practical knowledge about bird identification, monitoring and using eBird to build a better picture of the birds sharing our landscapes.
Waikato Regional Council
Anne & Phillip Woodward
Waikato Hunting & Fishing, Te Rapa
Competition details
📅 From 1 to 14 September, 2026
📍Wherever you are in the West Waikato Coastal Community Catchment
Registration is essential to identify your entries into the competition. You can register as an individual, a family or a team.
Be sure to create your eBird and iNaturalist accounts and have your usernames ready for competition registration.
Prizes will be awarded for:
naturally ocurring native species that are identified and recorded using the apps.
Birds will need to be recorded in eBird and Trees/plants will need to be recorded in iNaturalist.
Only entries inside the catchment area can be counted.
Your entries will be identified using your your eBird and iNaturalist Usernames.
ADD OUR INATURALIST PROJECT: WWCC - West Waikato Coastal Community Catchment
Download our Quick Start App Guide
Download West Waikato Plant Field Guide Booklet prepared by Wayne Bennett of Forest Flora
Thank You
The West Waikato Coastal Community Catchment Group would like to thank our sponsors that help make this event possible:
Rural & Port Waikato Community Board
Department of Conservation
Hamilton Zoo
Wayne Bennett / Forest Flora
Te Akau School
Waikaretu School
Community Advisory Group Meeting
Held online on 4 August 2026
Read the meeting notes here: WWCC Community Meeting - August 04
Complete the Community Survey by Sunday, 16 August 2026 here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/LVVC0guGg9
Coming Events
August
20 August – Planting for Waterways Webinar | 7:30 pm
31 August – WWCC Native Bird and Tree BioBlitz Day | Waikaretu
September
1-14 September - Native Bird & Tree 2-week Competition Bioblitz Challenge
18-27 September – Matuku Muster:Let’s see if we can record bitterns in our wetlands
(Matuku Muster - Postponement/Rain-off dates Friday 23rd Oct to Sunday 1st Nov)
Events dates to be confirmed
Aug/Sep – Dung beetles presentation & discount opportunity!
Sep/Oct – WWCC Settlement History Evening: Iwi & Pakeha perspectives
Sep/Oct – Electric Fishing: Visualising stream life
Oct – Subcatchment meet-ups
Oct/Nov –Farm Environment Planning
Oct/Nov –Emergency Management for WWCC
Nov TBC – AGM 2026 & Community Meeting
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