First ever Restoration Week

By Frank Neill

The first ever Restoration Week is currently under way in the Wellington region.

The week began on Sunday 21 May and runs to Saturday 27 May.

For more than 20 years, Restoration Day has given people the opportunity to learn restoration skills from experts and each other.

This year, in a collaborative effort, Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), mana whenua, territorial authorities and conservation partners will provide an entire week of free events dedicated to helping curious conservationists make a difference.

Local communities can have a huge impact on conservation progress, Jo Fagan, Senior Biodiversity Advisor at GWRC, says.

“By sharing skills and stories, conservationists can support each other in revitalising our region.”

The week's events include wananga-waimaori, a day of talks, workshops and fieldtrips focussed on restoring local waterways.

This event will begin at Takap w hia Marae, Porirua at

8:30am on 25 May, and field trips will be held at various locations.

For more information and to register for the event visit www. gw.govt.nz/your-region/eventsand-meetings/restoration-weekwananga-waimaori/.

There will also be a Fish Passage Field Trip where people can learn about New Zealand’s native fish species and how their pathways through Wellington waterways are being improved. This event will be held at the Ramaroa Centre, Queen Elizabeth Park, from 9:30am to 3pm on 27 May.

People need to register for this event, and can do so at www. gw.govt.nz/your-region/eventsand-meetings/restoration-weekfish-passage-field-trip/.