Friends of Te Wairoa Catchment 

2025 Auckland Catchment Group Showcase: Friends of Te Wairoa Catchment 

The Friends of Te Wairoa Catchment are making significant strides in restoring the mauri (life force) of the Wairoa River – the second largest in the Auckland Region. 

Born from the merger of two existing groups in 2018, Friends of Te Wairoa Catchment brings together local residents, Ngai Tai ki Tamaki iwi, Auckland Council, the Franklin Local Board, and other stakeholders in a collaborative effort to improve the river’s health. 

They run numerous activities to restore and enhance the environment, including empowering residents to act on their own properties by connecting them with knowledge and materials. 

A key focus for the group is predator control. Over the past five years, they have reached a quarter of the catchment’s 2,000 properties, resulting in the removal of almost 22,000 pest animals, including possums, ferrets, stoats, and feral cats. This success is creating a halo effect – protecting native species within the adjacent Hūnua Ranges and paving the way for potentially reintroducing kiwi. 

The group is seeing a noticeable increase in native birdlife, with more kaka and kereru observed in the area. Even long-tailed bats are venturing out of the ranges into the rural landscapes. 

Beyond predator control, the group is actively tackling other environmental challenges. They are spearheading efforts to remove invasive crack willows, which impede river flow and contribute to flooding. They are also engaging with local schools through the Wai Connection education programme to raise awareness about the river ecosystem and the impact of invasive species like koi carp – their next major target. 

The Friends of Te Wairoa Catchment has huge community support and is a testament to the power of collaboration.  

Through workshops, plant nursery sales, and community events, they are inspiring residents to take action and contribute to the restoration of their local river. With continued support and community engagement, the Wairoa River is poised for a healthy future.