All previous newsletters can be found here.
Work Day Reminder, January 17 2026
The next monthly work day will be from 9.00am – noon this coming Saturday.
This month we’ll most likely be weeding somewhere around the wetland, probably the Southern Woods. If you arrive late there will be a notice on the Education Centre door explaining where we have gone and a phone number for you to call if you need more guidance to our location.
All tools provided. Gumboots are recommended, but not essential at this time of year. If you don’t have any we have pairs for loan at the Education Centre. Please bring your own gloves if you can, but we have some of them for loan too.
If the weather on the work day is poor and we decide to cancel then an email will be sent by 8am on Saturday morning. So if you think the conditions are marginal, please check your emails.
If you’re reading this on the website and are not on the email list then you can add yourself to it through the form at the foot of the home page. If you change your mind there’s an unsubscribe link in each newsletter.
Volunteers welcome
Would you like to volunteer to help with caring for the wetland? We would be interested to hear from you. You may have a community group, workplace or extended family that would like to be involved too. Please contact us via info@traviswetland.org.nz
Report on the last work day, 20 December
We had a cloudy and cool day for our last volunteer effort of the year. It was ranger John Skilton’s last day before retirement and he chose an edge of the southern woods as our site. He was keen to plant some kahikatea there and our 20 volunteers were game to join in. Soon about 60 plants had been put in, with other species including wineberry, pōkaka, and toe toe.
There was rampant weed growth in the area, so our task soon became removing thistle, dock, Bidens and grasses to reveal plantings from previous visits. Mostly these were doing well, though there were some failures with mānuka. Very recent plantings of small coprosmas by Waitākere School had sturdy guards and will have a better start after our weeding.
Back at the Ed Centre we were treated to a huge spread of bbq foods, salads and desserts and a chance to chat with John and thank him for his excellent work and good humour over the years.
John sent a lovely email to Trust Board members thanking everyone who has volunteered over the years. Here is an extract from it :
Thanks to everyone on the Travis Wetland Trust board and the volunteers that come on the work days. Its been my privilege to work with you all to be part of the journey restoring Ōruapaeroa. You are the kaitiaki and without your passion not as much would have been achieved.
Enjoy your extra free time, John – and thanks to everyone who helped at the workday.
Article and images: Sue Britain
World Wetlands Day 2026 Guided Walk
At 7.00pm on the evening of Sunday 1 February we’ll celebrate World Wetlands Day 2026 with a guided walk along the Anne Flanagan Walkway. This year we’ll start from the Education Centre (see map below) to the Anne Flanagan Dell and back, a total distance of about 2.6km of easy walking.
There is plenty of parking near the Education Centre, come through the gate onto the gravel road and park on the grass near the toilets. Cars should be safe there, but don’t leave any valuables in the car in plain view.
If the weather is bad and we decide to cancel the walk then we will email a cancellation notice by 6pm on the day of the walk.
What is World Wetlands Day?
World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2 February (but our walk is on 1 February) to raise awareness about wetlands. This day also marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted as an international treaty in 1971.
Why World Wetlands Day?
Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.
It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them.
World Wetlands Day is the ideal time to increase people’s understanding of these critically important ecosystems.
WWD2026 highlights the deep-rooted connections between wetlands and cultural practices, traditions and knowledge systems of communities across the globe.
The meaning behind this year’s graphic:
- Circle of outstretched arms – global connection of all people to wetlands and one another.
- Palms – life, hope and our collective future.
- Hands – our ability to exert influence and act on behalf of the world’s wetlands.
- Wetlands flowing through arms and hands – traditional knowledge passed from ancestors to future generations.
Article: Dave Evans
Pre Schoolers Visit the Wetland
Chattering excitedly the group of children and carers were led by ranger Alice and Eleanor towards the Bird Hide.
As they walked their first task was to collect small samples of colours they could find in nature.
Amazingly they managed to discover lots, which when put together made a rainbow.
They enjoyed watching geese, ducks, cormorants, pukekō in their water habitat [and swallows flying] from the bird hide. Children felt feathers while discussing their use for the birds. It was fun for them to ‘See like a Bee’ and complete a pukekō card to take home.
Article: Eleanor Bissell, image: carer
Repehinapapa (Arthropodium candidum)
This delightful small plant is also known as the Small Renga Lily. It grows in dense clumps to a height of around 20 cm, preferring moist, well-drained soil in partial shade.
Leaves are grass like and may be green or purplish. Tiny white flowers with yellow and purple centres appear from November to January on tall delicate stems, followed by round fruits with black seeds. Foliage dies back in winter and the plant has white tuberous roots, which are useful for storing water and nutrients. The roots are edible and were eaten by Maori.
We planted a few specimens at Travis in the spring and we are pleased to see rapid leaf growth and the production of flower panicles.
Information from plantsofthisplace.com and nativeplants.nz.
Article and image: Sue Britain
Wonderful Wednesday Weeders at the Wetland
Every week a group of keen Wetland lovers meet to perform various, much needed tasks there. Tasks cater for people who love weeding, planting when it is appropriate and cutting back. Working in different parts adds interest and knowledge about what is there. Convolvulus is our focus at present. See the photo! A ngaio was trying to grow there!!
Article: Eleanor Bissell, Image: Sue Britain
Recent images from Ōruapaeroa Travis Wetland
All images by Grahame