Matuku Link

Community wetland restoration in the Waitākere River Valley

Our project is named after the endangered Matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) which needs wetland to survive. There are an estimated 700 matuku left, with some living in Te Henga, Auckland’s largest mainland wetland. Matuku Link aims to restore and protect wetland habitat in West Auckland, linking several other conservation projects to create a safe corridor for native flora and fauna.

In 2016,  the Matuku Reserve Trust bought 37 hectares of bush and wetland with the help of many funders. Hundreds of volunteers have now revegetated our old paddocks with eco-sourced plants grown in our on-site nursery and are controlling pests to protect our native flora and fauna. This has created a safe corridor, linking several other local conservation projects.

Our educator delivers our hands-on wetland education programme Te kaupapapa rohe kōreporepo to over 1000 primary school children each year, and many groups of all ages join our working bees, open days, or guided tours.

Visiting Matuku Link: as we are a very small team, we are not always here – which means the gate might be shut! Please contact us if you would like to visit Matuku Link. Dogs are not allowed as we have active pest control methods in place to protect our birds.

What’s happening

VIP Kayak Day 2026

Our annual fundraiser, always a sell out success: VIP Kayak Day on 18th April 2026 Once a year only - so as not to disturb the wildlife too much - and with access generously granted by our neighbouring properties, our VIP Kayak Day is back! Experience Te Henga wetland...

Donate to educate

Our Wetland Education Programme for local low decile primary schools, is a huge success with over 1500 children a year visiting Matuku Link. Our incredible educators teach them to love wetlands and appreciate the bush, nature and the natural environment while doing a...

Spring and Summer Sundays

It's hot, it's dry.... and still the weeds are growing! Help us free our earlier planted trees from grasses overwhelming or convolvulus strangling them. We'd love you to join us at 111 Bethells Road at one of our Summer Sundays.  For H&S reasons: if you haven’t...
September 2026
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Support our work

Hands-on volunteering

Our regular working bees are every third Sunday of the month and every Tuesday morning. Depending on the weather, tasks will be around weeding, planting, growing plants in the nursery, doing predator control or building and maintenance. More info here. 

Please contact Annalily on hello@matukulink.org.nz with questions, or if you’d like to join us and it’s your first time out to Matuku Link. We’d love to welcome you here!

Helping out in other ways

Nothing is possible without our valued funders, donors and supporters. Matuku Reserve Trust is a charitable trust so any donation over $5 is tax deductible. Please consider becoming a supporter, more info here.

Business support

The success of Matuku Link would not be possible without the support of people, businesses and organisations who have given generously of time, money and materials.

Thank you to our many generous sponsors and individuals who have helped us with in-kind or financial contributions!

From the blog

Vicky Goodier – educator

Vicky Goodier – educator

Vicky joined the Matuku Link team in 2026 as an Environmental Educator. She grew up in the Waitākere Ranges and has a love for the outdoors and a commitment to environmental protection. Vicky views the wetlands as the critical, living link between the land and the...

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Joshua Campbell – researching more moths

Joshua Campbell – researching more moths

Moth Monitoring at Matuku Link Reserve Josh Campbell is a master's student in Biological Science at the University of Auckland. His research focuses on lepidoptera (the moths and butterflies) and the behaviour associated with their camouflage.  As part of his...

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Dan Borja – moths camouflage research

Dan Borja – moths camouflage research

Kia ora everyone! My name is Dan Borja, and I am a master’s student from the University of Auckland studying entomology. Over the last couple of months, I have been conducting experiments at Matuku Link with the permission of the lovely staff who have given me a very...

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Contact us:

Secretary Annalily van den Broeke

022 692 2016 or email us at hello@matukulink.org.nz 

Physical address:

111 Bethells Road, Te Henga, Auckland

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