Central Waikato Predator Free Hub

09/10/2026

Did you see the 'Great Matuku-hūrepo Muster' on Seven Sharp last night?
Here's it is incase you missed it! ;)
Love Bittern
Bittern Conservation - New Zealand

05/10/2026

🙌🙌

Love Bittern

30/09/2026

Thanks Neil for this photo of a Kererū yesterday in the Mangaone Gully.
It's great to see more Kereru starting to pop up around the Hamilton and Tamahere gullies systems.

Thanks to all the groups out there making this possible! 🙏🙌

Photo credit: Predator Free Tamahere.

28/09/2026

Make your vote count this election..

Concerns have been raised that Hamilton’s prized gully network is at risk under looming government reforms.

25/09/2026

The Great Matuku-hūrepo Muster is a nationwide citizen science initiative in New Zealand to count and monitor the critically threatened Australasian bittern
Run by Love Bittern.

Matuku-hūrepo are secretive. But in spring, the lovelorn males make an extraordinary booming call hoping to attract a mate.

During the muster, volunteers around the country stand in wetlands and count the booms, providing a vital check in on the dwindling population. There’s less than 1000 of these magical wetland birds left.

https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/361079958/wendys-been-bitten-bittern-bug

For more information about the muster and sign up: goeco.org.nz/muster
Go Eco

Waikato volunteers are being urged to join the Australisian Bittern muster as fewer than 1000 of the native birds remain after poor water quality has left them starving.

16/09/2026

THIS SATURDAY!
🌿 NATURE IS TO BE PROTECTED, NOT EXPLOITED!

1pm this Saturday, 19 September, people from across Aotearoa will take to the streets of Auckland for the March for Nature.

Marching because even the places we thought would always be protected are now under threat.

The Conservation Amendment Bill proposes changes to how public conservation land is managed, including loosening existing constraints around the exchange and disposal of conservation land and enabling greater development on conservation land.

These are places that belong to all of us, our forests, rivers, wetlands, mountains, coastlines and the habitat our native wildlife depends on.

Enough is enough.

We’re marching to protect public conservation land and to stand up for the oceans, rivers, forests and wildlife of Aotearoa.

🌳 Nature is not a commodity.
🦜 Our native species need protection.
💚 Our wild places are worth standing up for.

📍 Albert Park, Auckland
🕐 1pm: Saturday 19 September

Nature has no voice but we do.. 🌿
https://facebook.com/events/s/march-for-nature/1024689433507304/

14/09/2026

We spent an inspiring two days at the Endangered Species Hui in Kirikiriroa.

Kiwis rugby league legend and co chair of the Endangered Species Foundation of New Zealand message was clear, we need to put that inspiration into action.
But real change starts with a plan. What does success look like? Who's going to help? What's the next step?

Saving New Zealand's native species takes communities, landowners, volunteers, iwi, organisations, and everyday people all working together with a shared goal.

11/09/2026

🌿 Protecting our wetlands, protecting our future. 🐦

It was a priviledge to be invited to Napinapi Marae in the Waitomo district on Monday, along with Wendy from the Love Bittern Project, to share the message about why protecting our precious wetlands is so important and how we go about doing it.

It was awesome to connect, share knowledge and talk about the mahi. We’re looking forward to heading back down the track to see the trapline they’re setting up at their local wetland and see the benefits of their mahi first-hand. 😎

We love getting out into the heartlands of Aotearoa, meeting the people who are the future of making a difference for their local taonga and working together to give our native species and people a better future. 💚

And while we’re talking wetlands and taonga species…
Vote matuku hūrepo for Bird of the Year! 😉🐦

Huge thank you to Waikato Regional Council for making this wānanga possible thanks to the NHF funding Go Eco is receiving to support our Wetland and Stream Education Program across the Central Waikato and beyond.

Love Bittern

10/09/2026

🙌

Ngāti Te Wehi has collected over 10,000 signatures in a petition to stop bottom trawling in Māui dolphin habitats, hoping the government will take urgent action as the population dwindles to just 48.

✍Anastasia Manza
🔗Read more below

09/09/2026

🦎 Ever wanted to make a lizard garden for our native lizards in your own backyard?? 🌿
HERE'S HOW!

Creating a haven for lizards=
🪨 Add rocks and logs. These provide warm spots for basking and places for lizards to hide.

🌸 Plant fruiting and flowering natives; they provide food for lizards and attract the insects they love to eat.

🌱 Plant grasses like Carex; these provide great shelter and habitat for both lizards and insects.

🏡 Create a mix of sunny and sheltered spots; lizards need warmth, cover and places to escape predators.

Every garden can make a difference. More lizard-friendly gardens = more habitat for our native taonga! 🦎💚

📷: Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park, Kirikiriroa (Hamilton).