Matuku Link: Gold Star Wetland Centre

Our Sustainable Wetland Education Centre is not funded by a national or local government or any agency. It is a community driven, private charitable trust with four passionate conservation volunteer trustees who saw the need to save and restore a piece of wetland - with only 9% wetlands left in New Zealand, every bit counts. In a short time, it has developed from a dilapidated barn to a site for students to learn about wetlands as a prelude to what they will then observe and learn outside. It is also the centre of our operations, with space for administration and teaching staff. From 2017- 2020 all work was done solely by volunteers. It has been a community effort spearheaded by a small number of passionate, well-connected people from a range of backgrounds, not only with other conservation organisations but also in finance and communications. Drawing on local support, the previous poor quality pastures have been revegetated with eco-sourced plant species grown in our onsite volunteer-run nursery. Tracks, signage, boardwalks, and new ponds have all been developed using predominantly volunteer labour. An education programme has been initiated and now has 1.5 paid staff plus volunteer helpers. The biodiversity of the site and that of the adjacent Royal New Zealand Forest & Bird reserve is protected by trapping and baiting of introduced mammalian pest species (mustelids and rodents), and the wetland centre functions as a hub for other volunteer groups to supply tools and information on pest plant and pest animal control.