Gold Star Wetland Open Week

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, plus a mural talk with local artist Derek March at 12:30pm. 

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.