Celebrate World Wetland Day with us at Matuku Link!
📅Sunday, 1st February 2026 | 10am – 3pm

Get ready for a day of discovery, excitement, and free family fun at the Wetland Day Festival 2026 at Matuku Link!

With free family activities every hour including guided tours on bugs, birds, eels, and plants, a VR kauri dieback game, and local conservation groups to chat to, you will have plenty to do all day. While you are here, look for our local pāteke (brown teal), spot a secretive spotless crake (pūweto), and keep an eye out for our cryptic namesake, the matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern). See how much Matuku Link has changed since its beginnings in 2016, with over eight thousand volunteer hours spent annually improving the place, building accessible boardwalks, and a Wetland Education Centre. Enjoy homemade treats, BBQ (vegan and non-vegan), drinks including fresh coffee, all available for purchase.

Stallholders in 2026 include Auckland Zoo, Birds New Zealand, Forest & Bird Waitākere, Arataki Visitor Centre, The Entomological Society, Mountains to Sea, Kauri Rescue, Auckland Council Biodiversity, Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance (PFWRA), Muriwai Environment Trust and many others.

See you there for a fun filled day for the whole whanau!

Annalily & trustees Chad Wilkie, Dale Bainbridge, John Fawcett, John Staniland and John Sumich and all our volunteers.

Celebrate Our Gold Star Award with an Open Week at Matuku Link 

Matuku Link has been recognised on the world stage, winning a Gold Star Award at the Wetland Link International Awards – one of only three wetland centres in the world to be given this award! We’re celebrating with a week of open days from the 22nd to the 30th November with fun activities, daily tours, and informative displays. 

Discover our expo showcase, sharing the story of how a small community of volunteers transformed an old barn and wetland into an award-winning education centre. Learn about our ongoing conservation work – restoring habitats, propagating native plants, and protecting threatened species like the matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern), banded kokopū, and pāteke (brown teal).  

Enjoy a cuppa and home baking at our pop-up café, browse our gift shop, and connect with the dedicated volunteers and supporters who make this all possible. 

Daily tours – Guided Wetland Tours at 11am & 1pm ($5 per person)
Weekend extras – Free eel talk at 10:30am on Saturdays and Sundays. Local artist Derek March will be talking about his impressive 35 meter long mural Tuna Heke on 22nd and 23rd November at 12.30pm as part of the Waitākere Open Studios.

Whether you’re a nature lover, photographer, or simply curious, this is your chance to experience our hidden wetland sanctuary up close, celebrate community-led conservation in action, and be part of protecting Aotearoa’s last remaining wetlands. 

Get tickets for the guided walks here: https://matukulink.org.nz/product/wetland-tour/

Matuku Link, a community-led wetland restoration project in Te Henga, West Auckland, has been recognised on the global stage, winning one of only three Gold Star Awards in the world at the Wetland Link International (WLI) Star Wetland Centre Awards, announced during the UN Wetlands COP in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The Star Awards are the world’s only accreditation recognising excellence in wetland education and visitor engagement. Matuku Link joins centres in Australia and Hong Kong as the only Gold Star winners, selected from 39 recognised centres worldwide.

Judges praised Matuku Link’s volunteer-led model, strong educational focus, and deep community roots. “Matuku Link has achieved something extraordinary,” says Connor Walsh, Chair of the Awards Judging Panel. “They’ve shown that a small local centre, powered by passion and purpose, can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best.”

With only 9% of New Zealand’s wetlands remaining, Matuku Link is working to shift perceptions from “smelly swamps” to “biodiversity beauties.” Wetlands are vital ecosystems, filtering water, storing carbon, and providing habitat for rare species like the matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern), tuna kuwharuwharu (longfin eel), and pāteke (brown teal).

Founded in 2016 after a $2.04 million fundraising campaign, Matuku Link is a charitable trust run by five trustees and powered by a dedicated team of volunteers. Since purchasing its wetland and bush property in Te Henga, the group has transformed an old barn into a purpose-built Wetland Education Centre, constructed two native plant nurseries, and with support from Jobs for Nature, created accessible boardwalks and trails through Auckland’s largest mainland wetland.

Every year, Matuku Link also sees over 1,000 school aged children visit through their education programme, school holiday programme, and family-oriented events. Matuku Link’s hands-on education programme focuses on real hands-on science within the wetland. By fostering curiosity and connection, Matuku Link is helping inspire the next generation of kaitiaki to protect New Zealand’s last remaining wetlands.

Matuku Link will be celebrating this achievement with guided tours and an exhibition on wetlands during open days on the 22nd –30th November. 

Our Winter Fungal Foray
June 2025

Our recent Fungal Foray at Matuku Link was a sell-out success, despite the cold and wet weather. Nature lovers and curious minds bundled up and joined us for a fascinating walk led by expert mycologist Dr Peter Buchanan.

Peter’s passion for fungi is infectious, and over the course of the morning he introduced us to the hidden and often overlooked fungal life thriving in our wetland reserve. From colourful mushrooms to barely visible fruiting bodies, each find came with its own story.

Among the discoveries were:

• A paper wasp infected with a cordyceps fungus, an eerie and impressive example of parasitism in nature

• Tiny bird’s nest fungi, with their miniature “eggs” known as peridioles

• A large bolete with a spongy underside and rich earthy colouring

After our foray through the bush and wetland edges, we gathered in the barn to warm up and learn more. Peter shared some of his favourite field guides and gave us a close-up look at a few remarkable specimens, including the legendary āwheto or vegetable caterpillar – a native caterpillar mummified by a native cordyceps fungus.

It was a fantastic morning of learning and discovery, reminding us how important fungi are to our ecosystems – and how much we still have to learn about them.

A huge thank you to Dr Peter Buchanan for his generosity and enthusiasm, and to everyone who braved the elements to join us. We’re already looking forward to the next foray into the fungal world!

Bat Walk at Matuku Link
June 2025

Our recent bat walk was a wonderful chance to connect people with the creatures that come to life after dark in our wetlands and forests. Although Saturday’s weather wasn’t on our side, we were lucky to have clearer skies on Sunday evening.

The evening began with an introduction to bats from local expert Tina Hamlin, who shared her knowledge of New Zealand’s only native land mammals, pekapeka (bats). Then, armed with bat detectors, our group set off into the twilight, ears tuned for the telltale clicking sounds of bat echolocation.

With plenty of insects in the air, the conditions seemed good for hearing bats – and we weren’t disappointed! While we didn’t see any bats, some of our detectors managed to pick up a few echolocation calls as bats zipped through the night sky.

Of course, bats weren’t the only highlight. Along the way, we also encountered some of the other fascinating nocturnal wildlife that calls Matuku Link home – titiwai (glowworms) glowing quietly among the trees, a large female tree wētā, a leaf-veined slug, and several very cool spiders.

We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us for this special night, and especially to Tina for her generosity and enthusiasm. Ngā mihi nui!

Thanks to Melissa Ward for sharing her photos from the evening.

Leave a gift in your will

Since 2016 donors such as yourself, working alongside hundreds of volunteers and supported by many donor organisations, have transformed old farm paddocks into a vibrant, regenerating wetland. We have seen signature species such as the matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) and pāteke (Brown teal) return to the wetlands. Wetland forests are being recreated and biodiversity increasing.

This is the work of a lifetime, many lifetimes in fact, and your gift in your will enables the continuing journey of regeneration and restoration. Your legacy will be found in the fresh water, clean ponds and increasing native wildlife.

How to leave a gift to Matuku Link in your will:

It is easy to leave a gift for Matuku Link in your will. When you next see your solicitor to update your will simply request that you would like to leave a gift to Matuku Link. You could copy the suggested wording below and take that to your solicitor.

There are three types of legacy wording in a will. ( It is important to consult with your solicitor before choosing an option.)

• A specific sum, or
• Percentage of your estate, or
• The rest and residue of your estate.

While many people consider leaving a specific amount as a legacy in a will, you may wish to select the option of a set percentage of your estate. The advantage of the second option is that it allows for changes in inflation and circumstances relating to your own assets at the time of disbursement. The third option makes certain that the other beneficiaries of your will are properly cared for before dispersement to Matuku Link.

Because the wording of a will is very important it is strongly advised that you consult a solicitor before making adjustments to your will. Simple errors in wording can create confusion and delays in carrying out your wishes. It is important you include the full name of the charity – MATUKU RESERVE TRUST BOARD (hereinafter known as Matuku Link) – together with our registered charity number which is CC53807.

How to word your will clearly:

For the convenience of your solicitor or advisor who may be helping you draw up your will, here are examples of useful and accurate wording, covering two types of legacy.

1 – Legacy of all or part of a net estate

‘I give to MATUKU RESERVE TRUST BOARD, registered charity number CC53807 (hereinafter called Matuku Link) the residue (or % share of the residue) of my estate absolutely and I direct that (i) the proceeds may be used to for the general purposes of Matuku Link and (ii) a receipt signed by a person for the time being authorised by the governing body of Matuku Link shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my executors’.

2 – Fixed sum legacy

‘I give to MATUKU RESERVE TRUST BOARD, registered charity number CC53807 (hereinafter called Matuku Link) the sum of $______ and I direct that (i) the proceeds may be used for the general purposes of Matuku Link and (ii) a receipt signed by a person for the time being authorised by the governing body of Matuku Link shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my executors’.

Types of gift:

Leaving a general gift towards the work of Matuku Link provides flexibility for us to respond to the most urgent conservation issues as they emerge. However, we would be delighted to discuss with you the best options if you wish to leave a gift in your will towards a specific purpose.

Residue: The ‘residue’ is the term used to describe what property of yours is left over after the deduction of specific gifts, debts, legacies, tax and the expenses of administration.

Specified sum or assets: You may prefer to leave a specific amount of money, real estate, shares, bonds, items or a nominated gift to the charity.

It is important to include the full legal name of Matuku Link in your Will (MATUKU RESERVE TRUST BOARD), including the registered Charity Number (CC53807), to ensure correct distribution.

You do not necessarily need to rewrite your whole will. Sometimes an addition, or codicil, can be attached to an existing will. As always, consult with your solicitor before finalising your will.

Please get in touch if you have any questions, want more information, or if there is a specific part of Matuku Link’s mahi you would like to support: hello@matukulink.org.nz

Photo: Jacqui Geux

The talented Anna Rugis has written an incredible song for Matuku Link, and we’ve paired it with images and videos to bring it to life. Anna created this song to highlight the vital role of healthy wetlands – not only for Matuku Link’s namesake, the matuku hūrepo (Australasian bittern) but for all the creatures that depend on these habitats.

A huge thank you to Anna for this beautiful song!

We’ve been highlighting some of the amazing plants and animals you can find at Matuku Link on our social media. From well-hidden birds to unique flowers and insects, here are a few of our favourites. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see more!

We’ve been highlighting some of the amazing plants and animals you can find at Matuku Link on our social media. From well-hidden birds to unique flowers and insects, here are a few of our favourites. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see more!