Love to help protect our waterways?

Photo / Supplied

Here are a few suggestions to help. We can all make a difference to waterways.

Planting trees, restoring wetlands, cleaning up beaches: thousands of Kiwis are getting together and getting stuck in to help protect and restore our waterways all around the country. Click on the links below to see what's happening in your area, sign up to volunteer at an event, or learn what you can do to make a difference at home. It all adds up to healthier waterways, for all of us!

Down To Earth Kiwis
Down to Earth Kiwis NZ organises regular community and family-friendly clean ups of New Zealand's rivers, parks, beaches and community spaces. DTEKNZ are all about family values and respecting and sharing our environment sustainably, so that future generations can enjoy the rich lifestyle New Zealand has given us. Find out more here.

They usually do a clean up every month – you can find these on their Facebook page!

Conservation Volunteers NZ
Conservation Volunteers New Zealand has a range of projects and initiatives that focus on protect our precious coastlines and waterways, and they'd love your help!

Last year, they supported over 100,000 hours of volunteering and planted over 150,000 native trees. They welcome Kiwis with a love of the outdoors and an interest in the environment. You don't need any experience – just a willingness to get stuck in and make a difference.

Photo / Supplied

Student Volunteer Army
SVA is an education charity run for students, by students. Formed in response to Christchurch's September 2010 earthquake, their mission is to inspire and activate students to be the change in their community. Visit the website at SVA.

SVA provides a range of volunteering opportunities for primary, secondary and tertiary-aged young people, including waterway clean ups and planting days across the country – check out their Facebook page here.

Ministry for the Environment
Want to know what you can do on a daily basis to help clean up our waterways? Check out these helpful tips compiled by the Ministry for the Environment to help reduce your water footprint at home and lessen the pollution going into our rivers, lakes, beaches and streams.

Your local council
Regional and local councils are a huge source of info and events – click to find the official page for your local council.

If you have a community project you would like to add, please get in touch with thevisionisclear@dairynz.co.nz