Rebecca joined Matuku Link in 2023, after volunteering with our education programme for a year. She grew up locally exploring the Waitākere Ranges and West Coast beaches. Now she shares her love of the natural world with her three children.

Rebecca brings her experience from 10 years of child education, fundraising, and event organisation with Playcentre Aotearoa. More recently she has been involved with setting up an environmentally conscious online business that inspired families to explore nature-play while being kind to the world around them. Rebecca is also involved in running the Kiwi Conservation Club in Waitakere for the most junior members of our local Forest & Bird.

In addition to educating the children who come here, Rebecca also manages our Matuku Link shop.

Contact Rebecca at shop@matukulink.org.nz

Since November 2025 Matuku Link is supported by Project Rise, the philanthropic project of the Dawoodi Bohras Auckland. The Dawoodi Bohras are a global, peaceful Muslim community, numbering around one million, with origins in Western India and a strong presence in over 40 countries. Led by His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq (unrestricted missionary), Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, based in Mumbai, they follow the Fatimi Ismaili school of thought, focusing on education, trade, environmental responsibility, and maintaining a unique, close-knit cultural identity.

The community is actively involved in business, education, and social development, maintaining a strong, globally interconnected network. They are one of the largest food bank and hunger relief providers in the world, with the aim “nobody will go to sleep hungry”. 

Matuku Link is proud to share these community values, especially on education and environmental responsibility. John Sumich, Annalily van den Broeke and Grac Coyle recently joined their Iftar – the breaking of the 15 hour fast as part of Ramadan. It was a joyful occasion with beautiful food shared and a great opportunity to strengthen the bonds between our organisations and learn more.

Did you know: 

• They are Shia Muslims who adhere to the Quran and Sharia, performing 5 daily prayers, fasting, and valuing community, education, and women’s empowerment. Originating from Gujarat, India, they are historically a community of traders.
• They have a unique language called Lisan ud-Dawat (derived from Arabic, Persian, and Gujarati) with a distinct, modest dress code: men wear white outfits (dopi), and women wear a two-piece colorful dress called Rida.
• They emphasize being law-abiding, loyal citizens in their host countries, with a strong focus on philanthropy (Project Rise) and environmental sustainability.
  Community Life: They are known for their community-sharing, often dining together from a large plate called a thal.

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 from the best possible perspective and raise funds for its protection at the same time. The navigable part of Waitākere River is accessible only from private land. On this one day, access will be allowed for our biggest fundraiser of the year – a two hour paddle in small groups on kayaks. Drift along the Waitakere River, which flows through Matuku Link, through to Te Henga wetland.

Tickets are $80 each, with all equipment (kayaks, paddles, life vests, etc.) and training provided. Minimum age is 12 years. For enquiries about younger participants or other questions, please contact us.  Book now, last year this sold out within two weeks!

Book now!

All proceeds go directly to Matuku Link, a community conservation and education project in Bethells/Te Henga. Your support helps us restore the wetland with plants from our nursery, protect wildlife through pest control, and provide wetland education programs for local primary schools at our Sustainable Wetland Education Centre. The smell of a sausage sizzle (regular, vegan & GF) will await you when you arrive at our Sustainable Wetland Education Centre (aka “the barn”), with home baking, locally roasted coffee and cold drinks all for sale to provide you sustenance before or after your kayak tour.

Bookings required, no door sales! Last year this sold out within two weeks. Proudly part of EcoFest.

Hope to see you there! – Annalily, colleagues, trustees, volunteers – and all the birds you’ll be supporting!

All images by our voluntary professional photographer Stefan Marks – thank you!

It wouldn’t have been the same without our stall holders who engaged with our visitors with activities, information and conversation.

• the Bethells Fire Brigade,
• Christine Rose Ceramics,
• Muriwai Environment Trust (those penguins!),
• Pest Free Waitakere Ranges Alliance,
• Ark in the Park (that stuffed cat!),
• PredatorFreeSwanson/Waitekere,
• Friends of Whatipu (weekend outing coming up!),
• Frazer the Biodiversity Guy,
• Birds New Zealand,
• Te Henga Tuturiwhatu & Penguin Protectors,
• Department of Conservation (clean your boat!),
• Kauri Rescue (got any kauri for a health check?),
• Auckland Council Tiakina Kauri,
• Auckland Zoo
• Entomological Society (so many beautiful tiny creatures),
• Mountains to Sea (getting wet feet),
• EcoMatters (flower arranging with weeds!)
• Brandy Davis, who screen printed her beautiful design on our t-shirts all day long!

Join us to care for our plants with “Search and Rescue” – protect our native trees from getting smothered by weed or later in the season help to plant new trees. We’d love you to join us at Matuku Link at 111 Bethells Road. For H&S reasons: if you haven’t been before, please REGISTER here.

Our working bees are every Tuesday 9am till noon and every Third Sunday of the month:

• Sunday 15th February10 am – 1 pm
• Sunday 15th March10 am – 1 pm
• Sunday 19th April10 am – 1 pm
• Sunday 17th May 10 am – 1 pm – start planting season in earnest!
• Sunday 21th June 10 am – 1 pm
• Sunday 19th July 10 am – 1 pm
• Sunday 16th August 10 am – 1 pm
• Sunday 20th September 10 am – 1 pm.

If you’re new, we’ll take you on a guided tour around the project and you might even spot our pāteke (brown teal) or feed the huge eels. If you’re a regular, you know how satisfying and fun this is, so bring your friends! All ages welcome, especially the tamariki.

• no need to bring your own gloves and spades, but if you do: everything needs to be squeaky clean because of kauri dieback
• for the shared lunch we’ll provide soup or salad & snacks (and homemade baking if you’re lucky!) & hot drinks to share, if you can bring something to add, that’s always appreciated.

If you’d rather come during the week, we also do Tuesday Nursery & Field Days – every Tuesday from 9am till noon, with a very nice morning tea at 10.30am.

But don’t forget if you haven’t been before to register HERE.

Hope to see you there! – Annalily & the trustees

0212207136 or hello@matukulink.org.nz

Contact Aileen at schools@matukulink.org.nz for anything education related.

Grac is a young queer conservationist who has recently come on board the team at Matuku Link to add their skills in storytelling for conservation. 

They have been volunteering with us for just over a year now, helping out with the School Holiday Programme, getting their hands dirty in the nursery, doing bait lines and general mahi around our wetlands. Growing up in the Waitākere Ranges, they developed a passion for connecting community and te taiao which spans both terrestrial and marine spaces.

Grac has a BA/BSc in Anthropology and Marine Science, and works for Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust as their Volunteer Coordinator. They regularly volunteer with other conservation initiatives and a peace education organisation, CISV, as well. As a young, queer, disabled person Grac strives to improve accessibility and intersectionality in conservation spaces for all.