Environment > World Wetlands Day

WWD 2008 around NZ

Fish & Game NZ is the lead agency for organising public awareness of World Wetlands Day (WWD) each year. A diverse range of events took place around NZ to celebrate the event this year, the official date for which is Feb 2nd, although it can be celebrated on another day that month. WWD marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea (see www.ramsar.org.nz).

WWD is also used each year as the occasion to launch Fish & Game New Zealand's Game Bird Habitat stamp. Each year a new artwork featuring a game bird is commissioned to create the new stamp, with the general public encouraged to buy a print of the artwork, funds from this are used to benefit wetlands. Game bird hunters also donate $2 to wetland development with every game bird hunting licence they purchase. Click here for more information on the Game Bird Habitat Collection

Each year Ramsar sets a theme for WWD, this year’s theme was Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People.

WWD 2008 at Tawharanui Open Sanctuary, Auckland
More than 150 people watched the release of 24 pateke into Ecology stream, Tawharanui Open Sanctuary. The Pateke Survival Guide was also launched to assist landowners with how to habitat improvement for the benefit of pateke and other species.

The Department of Conservation pateke recovery programme is headed by the Brown Teal Recovery Group, which involves a network of captive breeders. The pateke destined for release to celebrate WWD 2008 were flown from Peacock Springs in Christchurch (for disease screening) to the sanctuary on the day of release. All birds have transmitters attached and volunteers will monitor their progress.

The day was organised by Matt Maitland (Open Sanctuary co-ordinator) with the Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society Inc (TOSSI) providing drinks and biscuits and support for the activities.

WWD 2008 at Hannahs Bay, Rotorua
Fish and Game, New Zealand teamed up with the Department of Conservation (DOC), Environmental Bay of Plenty (EBOP), Rotorua District Council (RDC) More FM and the Hannahs Bay Restoration Group to celebrate World Wetlands Day at the Hannahs Bay Reserve.

With a turnout of about 150 children, plus their parents partaking in the arranged activities there was a great festive atmosphere. Tree planting, story telling, displays of mounted native and pest wetland animals, guided tours and a "touch pool" for kids to get close and personal with some of the creatures that live in the Hannahs Bay Reserve there was something for everyone.

This year the day was aimed at youth, as they are the ones who would be responsible for caring for the environment in the future.

WWD 2008 at Waituna, Southland
World Wetlands day in Southland saw the official opening of the Waituna Wetlands' new boardwalk and observation shelter. About 60 invited guests helped celebrate the opening of the 230m boardwalk and shelter, providing visitors to the area with good facilities to enjoy their time at the wetlands but still maintaining and preserving the natural values of the place.

The structure has taken about a year to complete and is the first recreational asset to be established at the wetlands. However, thanks to the Arawai Kakariki funding more recreational opportunities are being considered along with additional biodiversity and monitoring work.

World Wetlands Day was also a celebration in more ways than one, when the Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick announced that an extra 16,000 hectares of Southland's wetlands are now part of a network of just six New Zealand sites that are recognised under the International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, adding to the existing 3,500 hectares of Waituna Scientific Reserve which became a Ramsar site in 1976.

The convention recognises the unique values and importance of the area around the Awarua Plains, New River Estuary, Toetoes Harbour and Spit, and around Foveaux Strait. The area which will now be known as the Awarua Wetlands, covers a very diverse range of natural habitats; including bog, swamp, forest, shrubland, saltmarsh, mudflats, estuaries, lakes, rivers, lagoons and sand dunes.

the newly developed viewing platform

Canterbury
DOC and Fish & Game North Canterbury celebrated World Wetlands Day on Friday 1 February with a fun family outing around Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora. A bus trip taking parents and children to the shores of Lake Ellsmere (at Yarrs Flat) was led by local experts from Ngai Tahu, ECAN and the Ornithological Society, who explained the environment and pointed out interesting birds and plants. The tour proceeded to the Selwyn River (Coes Ford), where lunch was held, along with a talk about the river environment from DoC and Fish & Game staff.

Selwyn River lunch break

Auckland Waikato
WWD 2008 was celebrated on Saturday 2 February in the Waikato by almost 150 people, visiting seven separate wetland sites on a guided bus tour coordinated by Fish & Game NZ, the National Wetlands Trust, Department of Conservation, NZ Landcare Trust and Mighty River Power. 2008 is also the year in which the Ministry of the Environment publishes the second edition of its highly-acclaimed 1997 'The State of New Zealand's Environment Report'. The field trip showed that it is possible to achieve more sustainable agricultural and urban water practices with an accompanying improved water quality.

Every year Fish & Game organize a range of events throughout the country to highlight the importance of wetlands. These happen on February 2nd, which is the international date for World Wetlands Day, or the closest covenient weekend day to that date.

Each year Ramsar, the international organisation governing the wise use of wetlands, sets a theme for WWD. This year’s theme 'Wetlands support fisheries - keep them healthy' with the slogan ‘Fish for Tomorrow?’ highlights the importance of ensuring that fisheries, and the wetlands that support them, remain productive and sustainable for future generations. More

Keith Thompson talking to WWD attendees at Lake Te Ko Utu