World Wetlands Day is held on 2 February annually to celebrate the 1971 adoption of the International Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian City of Ramsar.
Each year there is a new theme for World Wetlands Day and events are held throughout the country. In 2022 the theme is Wetlands Action for People and Nature.
The call to action is an appeal to invest financial, human and political capital to save the world’s wetlands from disappearing and to restore those we have degraded.
Examples of some of the events around the country are below and for more see the Wetland Trust website.
All events are subject to COVID level changes, see the event’s weblinks for up-to-date information.
NOTE: If you know of any world wetland day events we have missed, please get in touch: enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz.
Matuku Link Open Day – CANCELLED
12 February 2022
Try to find one of the wandering pateke (brown teal), spot a secretive spotless crake or even our namesake matuku (bittern), or join one of the guided tours on bugs, birds, eels or flora & fauna.
For more information: www.eventfinda.co.nz/2022/world-wetland-open-day/auckland/bethells-beach
World Wetlands Day Out – Zealandia
29 January 2022
There will be activities all over the Zealandia sanctuary for all ages, including Kōrero with a ranger, face painting, art activities and storytelling.
For more information: www.visitzealandia.com/Events/ArtMID/2271/ArticleID/381/World-Wetlands-Day-Out
Te Taiao Whānau Fun: Freshwater – POSTPONED
Due to the COVID Red setting this has been postponed, new dates yet to be announced.
29 January 2022
Drop in with the whole whānau for a day of fun science activities, deep diving into the wetlands, streams, rivers and lakes of Aotearoa.
For more information: www.tepapa.govt.nz/visit/whats-on/events/te-taiao-whanau-fun-freshwater
Wetland Restoration Day – Plimmerton
30 January 2022
Join the Conservation Volunteers NZ, Zealandia Te Maara a Taane, and Friends of Taupo Swamp to get your hands dirty removing weeds in this unique habitat.
For more information: https://bookings.conservationvolunteers.org/project/wetland-restoration-day
Conservation of New Zealand wetland orchids
2 February 2022
Join Dr Carlos Lehnebach at Te Papa Museum of New Zealand for a special talk, unpacking the hidden world of wetland orchids and current research to help save them from extinction.
For more information: www.tepapa.govt.nz/visit/whats-on/events/talk-conservation-new-zealand-wetland-orchids
Related content
Te whakamahi i ngā rauemi o Tuihonoa Te Reo o Te Repo hei whakarite ara whakaako curates our collection of te reo Māori resources drawn from Te Reo o Te Repo – The Voice of the Wetland. He kōrero hei āwhina i te kaiako is a mātauranga pūtaiao framework for kaiako with suggestions on how to use the repo resources.
Repo (wetlands) – a context for learning curates our collection of English-medium resources, along with pedagogical and curriculum information. The interactive Wetlands – inquiry and action learning process supports educators who are interested in local wetland connections and restoration. We’ve also created Te repo/wetlands – a public collection for you to copy and use.
Explore the importance of wetlands alongside the Waikato River here.
