The Valley Project

18/06/2026

The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey is back from 28 June – 5 July, and taking part is easy! Spend just one hour counting the birds you see in your garden, local park, school grounds, or favourite green space and contribute to one of Aotearoa's largest citizen science projects.
To help identify the birds you spot, download the FREE Official Open VUE Guide to Dunedin Garden Birds from our website, or pick up a printed copy from the office (koha appreciated to help cover printing costs).
Need help identifying a mystery bird? We're fortunate to once again have University of Otago bird experts Phil Seddon and Yolanda van Heezik available to assist North East Valley participants. Simply email [email protected] for support.


https://www.northeastvalley.org/community/open-vue

Open Valley Urban Ecosanctuary. ​Residents, visitors and volunteers are vital to see this vision through, by taking action in their own backyards and community spaces. Find out more and contact us to get involved!

15/06/2026

This National Volunteer Week, we honour the hard work, contribution and dedication of all our Valley Project volunteers. Kia ora rawa atu - big thanks volunteers! 📣💚

Whether you help us write and deliver the Valley Voice, pack up food for Kai Share, monitor traps, assist with working bees, spring clean the community rooms, help with crop swap, contribute to the NEV Resilience Group, help in the propagation nursery, provide biodiversity advice, chop carrots at a community dinner or even do social media marketing, we see you, and we thank you again for your amazing mahi! 🙏😍🙏🫶

❤️

15/06/2026

09/06/2026

What's for lunch at the Valley Project today? Hearty winter vege soup with lentils, barley and chickpea made by Jennie.

Here are the ingredients for Jennie's delicious winter vegetable soup!

Pumpkin
Swede
Carrot
Tinned tomato
Chickpeas
Kale
Celery
Barley
Lentils
Dehydrated vegetable powder/stock
Garlic
S&p to taste
Water to cover ingredients

Share your favourite winter soup recipes in the comments below or just tag in the person you know who makes the best soup ever!

08/06/2026

Our hearts are filled with gratitude! Heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed up at the Winter Warmer event on Saturday! So wonderful to see people making new connections, finding some treasures to wear, and being part of this awesome Valley community.

We'd still love your feedback - if you didn't get to fill in a form on the day, please take 2 minutes and share your thoughts so we can continue to improve this event every year. https://forms.gle/YTUfgK13ByyFnVgw9

Special shout out to Julie from New World Gardens who was on her feet all day cooking us up a feast.

Big thank you to Dunedin bedding bank , Dunedin Curtain Bank , Natalie the Dietitian from WellSouth , Scout and Helen from the NEV Resilience Group and Lisa, the Eco Design Advisor from DCC for being present to share awesome tips and info with local community members.

Thanks to Hakan Oktay for these beautiful photos!

We also thank everyone who made generous winter clothing and bedding donations! The response was incredible and the event a success. Hope everyone enjoys their new items!

Kā mihi nui

08/06/2026

Our Lilliputt Library is back in action! 😍Big shout out to Janeen and Richard from North Dunedin Shed Society Inc. for making a new door for our little community library here at 262 North Road. Help us cheer up our Lilliputt Library with your used books - the shelves are looking a bit empty! Come pop in a book or two when you're next passing by.🙏

07/06/2026

Safe places to talk open across the country
Otago Mental Health Support Trust's Crisis Recovery Cafe is open here at the Valley Project supporting mental health and addiction recovery, or for anyone simply seeking connection - read more about the initiative here: https://dailyencourager.co.nz/safe-places-to-talk-open-across-country/

06/06/2026

Fresh food in the Pataka Kai pantry at 262 North Road!!! Come get it while it's still hot/ice cold!

Ice cream, nacho chips, pork flavoured sausages, veggie soup, beans and rice, sausage curry, potatoes and more!

Dinner is served thanks to New World Gardens 🍲 💚