Love Wānaka Community Fund

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Love Wānaka Community Fund

A giving platform inviting visitors and our industry to protect this place for generations to come.

07/10/2026

It's almost time to pack the skis away and get the hiking boots out. When planning your spring adventures, a few small habits make a big difference for the land we love.

Tim Steward from Wānaka Mountain Guides shared his top tips for low-waste adventuring, and they're refreshingly simple: pack out everything you pack in (yes, even the food scraps), choose gear from brands that repair rather than replace, and sort your rubbish, recycling and compost as you go rather than sorting it out later.

None of it is complicated. It just takes a moment's thought before you head out the door, and it means the trails, huts and views we love stay wild for the next person too.

Small choices, big impact. That's tautiakitaka (guardianship) in action.

Read the full guide for all of Tim's tips: https://lovewanaka.co.nz/wanaka-stories/your-low-waste-adventure-guide-with-wanaka-mountain-guides/

28/09/2026

Ever wondered what your dinner's really made of, environmentally speaking? Now you can actually find out.

The Planetary Facts Dashboard is a free tool by the Planetary Accounting Network (aka PAN) that lays out the environmental footprint of everyday kai (food) and lifestyle choices, no more guessing.

Compare up to four foods side by side across 10 different metrics, from carbon and water use to biodiversity and nitrogen. Break it down per serve, per gram of protein, or per unit of energy. There's even a petrol car vs EV comparison, with more categories on the way.

Nutritional facts and planetary limits had a baby. This is it.

Head over to https://planetaryfacts.com/ to learn more.

22/09/2026

As a region built on the beauty of its mountains, lakes and trails, we're passionate about looking after this home of ours. This land gives so much to the people who live here and visit, and it needs them to give a little back in return.

The perks? This kind of travel often starts with slowing down and getting deep into the place you’re visiting. The best way to experience Wānaka is the way locals do: slowly, intentionally, and with a deep respect for the land.

Read our guide to regenerative travel in Wānaka: https://lovewanaka.co.nz/wanaka-stories/guide-to-regenerative-travel/

16/09/2026

It’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori / Māori Language Week.

From the wai (water) flowing through our rohe (region) to the awa (rivers) carrying whakapapa (genealogy) and kai (food), te reo Māori holds generations of insight into our connection to the whenua (land) and how we care for the world around us.

Here in the Upper Clutha, that connection runs from the mauka (mountains) down to the lake, shaping how we live, work, and look after this place we call home.

Let’s celebrate this knowledge as we protect this taiao (environment) for generations to come.

📸: Bri Woolnough | NZ Lifestyle, Outdoor & Adventure Photographer

15/09/2026

This year, $40,085 is heading out into the Upper Clutha to support six community organisations doing the hard mahi to look after this place.

These grants are supporting everything from native planting and predator control to wetland restoration and freshwater action.

What we love most is how connected it all is. Groups are building on each other's work, sharing resources, and proving that lasting change rarely comes from one project alone.

None of it happens without our visitors, businesses and wider community choosing to give back, so thank you to everyone who got behind our mahi this year.

Swipe through to meet this year's recipients, then head to the link for their full stories: https://lovewanaka.co.nz/wanaka-stories/2026-impact-grant-recipients/

07/09/2026

Bird of the Year / Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau is back, and voting is open.

There’s the Hutton’s shearwater / Kaikōura tītī, commuting daily between mountain and sea. The Fairy tern / tara iti, the rarest bird in Aotearoa. And closer to home, the Kea, cheeky, clever, and completely at home in our mauka (mountains) here in Te Waipounamu.

Have a read of their stories, see who catches your eye, and cast your vote. However you choose, it’s a small way of helping our native birds thrive for years to come.

Vote over at birdoftheyear.org.nz. Voting closes 5pm, Sunday 20 September.

Thanks to Stef Zeestraten for the incredible video.

31/08/2026

Whether you’re looking to lend a hand, meet like-minded locals, get the kids involved, or simply spend some time in the great outdoors, there’s always something happening in our community.

Swipe through for upcoming volunteer opportunities and community events, head to the link for all the details, then add your favourites to the calendar.

https://lovewanaka.co.nz/how-to-help/events/

See you out there!

29/08/2026

When you donate to Love Wānaka, your funds are pooled together for collective impact. That means no matter how big or small your contribution, it joins with others to support environmental action in a meaningful way across our region.

Consolidating our community's giving also means your money goes further, not just for you, but for the local organisations doing the mahi (work) on the ground.

And here's the bit we're most proud of: all of your donation (yep, 100% of it) supports local impact, whether it's supporting immediate environmental needs or future resilience.

Learn more: https://lovewanaka.co.nz/how-to-help/donate/

26/08/2026

There's something satisfying about finding a good second-hand piece. Maybe it's the story behind it, the price tag, or just knowing it's one less thing heading to landfill.

Here in Wānaka, second-hand shopping has always felt like part of who we are. Wanaka Wastebusters has been proving that for years, one treasure hunt at a time.

Turns out, that instinct is backed by more than a good feeling. A study (supported by a 2025 Love Wānaka Impact Grant) by the Planetary Accounting Network found that a second-hand pair of jeans from Wastebusters uses around 1% of a single day's environmental budget, while the material in a new pair can use up to five days' worth.

Small choices really do add up. If you haven't already, read the full impact report: lovewanaka.co.nz/wanaka-stories/impact-report-the-planetary-accounting-network/

24/08/2026

Grassroots is where change begins, and momentum starts to shift systems. Our actions ripple upwards, not the other way around.

That's the kōrero (conversation) from Wao Aotearoa co-founders Monique Kelly and Arna Craig, who sat down with us ahead of this year's Wao Summit.

From food and energy systems to building design and community connection, this year's Summit (27–31 October, across Wānaka and Queenstown) brings together five days of practical ideas for building resilience where we live, not just talking about it.

Read our full Q&A with Mon and Arna to hear their thoughts on systems thinking, local action, and what to expect from this year's programme.

Read the full conversation here: lovewanaka.co.nz/wanaka-stories/wao-summit-with-founders/

Photos:

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