Love Our Wetlands restoration work at Rangihoua just received a huge financial boost with the help of Million Metres and hundreds of donors through the crowdfunding campaign that raised over $43,000.00 for the long term project.
The project began in 2015 and since then over 6000 ecosourced native trees have been planted and over 1700 volunteer hours have helped to make that happen. The Love Our Wetlands restoration team work also in the wetlands each week removing weed species, tree releasing and monitoring.
The crowdfunding campaign which started in April (2017) saw donations roll in ranging from $10 all the way up to $10,000USD thanks to a passionate, amazing and generous local Mark Russell and his whanau in America. Members of the Waiheke women’s networking group W3 raised over $1000 for the campaign and holiday home owner Rebecca Keen offered up match funding in excess of $5000.
The response to the campaign was truly incredible. We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity and want to thank everyone who has helped to make this such a huge success. This as a sign that people are taking waterway health seriously. Only 10% of wetlands remain in New Zealand so it is really important to do all we can to look after them.”
Many, many locals got behind the project and attended events such as the Green Drinks networking evening and even signing up to jump off Matiatia Wharf in mid winter to raise cash. Scott Sinton an Auckland based professional photographer took up the wharf jump challenge and pledged to jump off a wharf for every $10 he raised. Scott managed to raised over $1000 for the project and jumped over 100 times off a private wharf in Shelly Beach.
The awesome people at Million Metres Streams Project that ran the campaign is helping plant one million metres of New Zealand waterways with native plants and trees. The initiative is led by the Sustainable Business Network (SBN), in partnership with the Department of Conservation.
Million Metres helps landowners and community groups set up and run crowdfunding campaigns to raise money for planting. Love Our Wetlands Waiheke, which is managed by the Waiheke Resources Trust and funded by the Waiheke Local Board with support from Fullers, raised the $43,000 to support their work in the Rangihoua wetland and are also working to restore Te Matuku, Te Whau wetlands as well as Matiatia Headland.
We would love to welcomes corporate, school and community volunteer groups throughout the year to join us in the wetlands and with the support of Fullers can offer 50% discount on ferry fares for groups coming from Auckland.
“Being a sponsor of the Love Our Wetlands project has been fantastic for us at Fullers. It’s great to support the community, sports, schools and arts but to actually get involved with helping our environment in the Hauraki gulf and in particular on Waiheke, that’s pretty special. Hats off to Kristin and her amazing team – they’ve worked really hard to get this spectacular result for Waiheke with the million metres campaign.” – Nicky Oglvie Waiheke Community Relations Manager for Fullers.
What an amazing ride it has been these last few months, we are so stoked to have made the target and 1483 metres of wetland will be planted out next season. Thanks a MILLION Rangihoua Wetland whanau.We did it!!!!
