2021 Report

2021 not only saw increased engagement with local schools and community groups, but also a wider social presence through our engagement on social media. As a result, the Ruamahanga Restoration Trust is truly established with a name and reputation that is now well-known and respected within the local community.

2021 was the second year of our signature Schools Behind Our River project designed to engage local school students in the restoration and protection of bio-diverse ecosystems within the wider catchment. The project, which is unique to the Ruamahanga Restoration Trust, encourages teachers and students to get embrace environmental conservation efforts and our activities included a class-based restoration planting at Rathkeale College, rural riparian plantings in support of a local farmers, along with support for school plantings onsite at Mauriceville School, Opaki, Solway Primary, Gladstone School, Douglas Park School, Kahutara Primary, and Carterton South End School. We are pleased to report that we've increased participation from eight schools in 2021 to 18 in the 2022 calendar year.

In addition, the Trust successfully initiated and assembled a Predator Tracking and Trapping Kit programme coordinated in collaboration with EnviroSchools Wairarapa and Pukaka National Wildlife Centre. We also invested in the purchase of eDNA water testing kits from WilderLabs, which are shared with participating schools.

Our fundraising efforts also increased significantly, thanks largely to the support received from Masterton Trust House, One Foundation, Eastern & Central Community Trust, Macarthy Trust, and the Lloyd Morrison Trust.