World Wetlands Day Festival 2025

Celebrate World Wetland Day this year by visiting Tāmaki Makaurau’s largest mainland wetland!

Matuku Link is holding our annual open day and wetland celebration on the 1st of February 2025.

With two free family activities every hour including guided tours on bugs, birds, eels, and plants, 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 fifteen thousand volunteer hours spent improving the place, accessible boardwalks, and a Wetland Education Centre.

There will be an all-day market with gifts, food, art, crafts, information, and entertainment.

Stallholders in 2025 include Forest & Bird Waitākere, Birds New Zealand, The Entomological Society, Whitebait Connection, Kauri Rescue, Auckland Council Biodiversity, Auckland Zoo, Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance (PFWRA), and more.

Enjoy homemade treats, BBQ (vegan and non-vegan), drinks including fresh coffee, all available for purchase. We’re proud to make this a low-waste event, using composting, recycling, and reusable items wherever possible.

We would love you to join us on this special day. All free and all welcome.

See you there for a fun filled family day!

Saturday 1st February 2025 10 am – 3 pm

111 Bethells Road, Te Henga/Bethells, West Auckland.

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

Hourly Schedule

Wetland Festival

10:00am
Karakia / Welcome
with Te Kawerau ā Maki
10:15am
Guided Walk through the Wetland
with John Sumich - Matuku Link
10:30am
Better Bird Spotting
with Ian McLean - Birds New Zealand
11:00am
Eel Talk
with Leah Nielsen - Matuku Link
11:15am
Keeping Kauri Healthy
with Dr Mels Barton - Kauri Rescue
11:30am
Eco-sourcing Wetland Species
with Mark Bellingham - Waitākere Rivercare
12:15pm
Special Species Artwork Unveiling
with Te Kawerau ā Maki and Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance
12:30pm
Art and Nature
with artist Derek March
12:45pm
Bittern - a Special Bird
with John Sumich - Matuku Link
1:00pm
Guided Walk through the Wetland
with John Staniland or John Fawcett - Matuku Link
1:15pm
Textile Treasures
with Laura McNeish - Sustinnoworx
1:30pm
Bug Hunt
with Alan Flynn - Entomological Society
2:30pm
Eel Talk
with Leah Nielsen - Matuku Link
10am - 3pm
All day Screen Printing
with Brandy Davis - bring your own dark coloured t-shirt, or buy one of ours to get screen printed!

Date

Feb 01 2025
Expired!

Time

10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Category

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