Community with a deep love for Whangateau Harbour came together in May in the first of three workshops to build an Action Plan to protect and restore this special place. Project Lead, Alicia Bullock gives an update on this community-led kaupapa and a summary of the workshop outcomes.

On Saturday, 22nd March, an enthusiastic group gathered at Leigh Hall to take part in a groundbreaking eDNA stream testing workshop, hosted by Whangateau HarbourCare in collaboration with Mountains to Sea, and lead by Pattle Delamore Partners (PDP) and Healthy Waters. This brand new, hands-on workshop was a deep dive into how environmental DNA (eDNA) can support conservation efforts and catchment remediation, offering an exciting new tool for monitoring biodiversity and stream health.

The Whangateau Hall was full as community came together to learn about the pressures facing the Whangateau Harbour, and to kick-start an action-plan to care for this special place.