Events Schedule 2025
MARCH & APRIL
SATURDAY, MARCH 15th
Scuba Kina Removal Event
Join Te Kohuroa Rewilding and Auckland Scuba as we dive the outer reef at Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay to assist with the project’s kelp restoration and marine conservation goals.
Participants will carry out two scuba dives, led by Auckland Scuba, to remove kina and carry out data collection in the outer zone of the kelp restoration site under the requirements of our MPI Special Restoration Permit.
This event is for experienced scuba divers who can demonstrate a high level of environmental awareness and buoyancy control. Read more about the sign up requirements and event details by clicking through below.
LOCATION: Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay Reserve
FACILITATOR: TKRI / Auckland Scuba
TIME: 9.00am - 3.00pm
COST: FREE
EQUIPMENT: You will need to provide your own mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, booties and gloves. All other gear can be hired from Auckland Scuba.
TUESDAY, MARCH 18th
Leigh School - Marine Reserve Investigation
Leigh School will be joining Experiencing Marine Reserves and Whitebait Connection, who specialise in marine and freshwater education, to put their snorkel training and marine and freshwater workshop knowledge to use at Te Hāwere-a-Maki Goat Island Marine Reserve.
Students will participate in intertidal and fresh water stream surveying plus a guided snorkel to learn about the ecosystem and expand their knowledge base about their local environment.
This is a fully funded programme thanks to the Wai Connection Project, funded by the Ministry for the Environment. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing support from Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust.
LOCATION: Te Hāwere-a-Maki Goat Island Marine Reserve
FACILITATOR: Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust
TIME: 9.30am - 2.30pm
COST: FREE (Funded through MTSCT).
EQUIPMENT: Provided through the programme.
TUESDAY, APRIL 1st
Leigh School - Facilitated Action Day
The Mountains to Sea School Programme empowers schools and tamariki by providing hands-on experiences in marine and freshwater environments.
After carrying out two environmental investigations, Leigh School students will be sharing and celebrating their action projects with their families and the local community. These projects have been designed by the students to create better outcomes for our local environment, and will help guide the design of future activities for tamariki through Te Kohuroa Rewilding Initiative.
LOCATION: Leigh School
FACILITATOR: Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust
TIME: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
COST: FREE (Funded through MTSCT).
EQUIPMENT: Provided through the programme.
TUESDAY, APRIL 11th
Ecological Assessment Day
We are delighted to be partnering with Frazer Dale from Auckland Council’s environmental educational outreach team and Experiencing Marine Reserves to bring an exciting day of ecological exploration for local schools.
Students will work together with teachers, parents and project volunteers to undertake biodiversity assessments within the rocky shore, wetlands and kauri forest. There will be a particular focus on bird counts, plant ID and invertebrate hunts to learn more about the environmental taonga (treasures) within the fresh water catchment and rocky reef ecosystem at Matheson Bay.
This event is happening with support from Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust’s Experiencing Marine Reserves programme and Auckland Council.
LOCATION: Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay
FACILITATOR: TKRI, EMR and Auckland Council
TIME: 9.30am - 2.30pm
COST: FREE
EQUIPMENT: Provided through the programme.
THURSDAY, APRIL 17th
Marine Reserves Workshop
As Aotearoa New Zealand celebrates 50 years of Te Hāwere-a-Maki Goat Island Marine Reserve (the world’s first marine reserve) and 25 years of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, we are delighted to be hosting an evening to talk about the future of marine protection within our own big blue backyard.
We will be joined by Adam Whatton and Emma Kearney (Department of Conservation) and Tim Haggitt and Nikita Daniel (Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre) who will talk about the current state of our reserves, how communities can play a part in making sure they are kept safe and also future legislation for increased protections within the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
There will also be a Q+A session at the end with the presenters and the TKRI team, then tea and coffee.
LOCATION: Leigh Community Hall
FACILITATOR: TKRI
TIME: 6.30pm - 8.00pm
COST: FREE.
REFRESHMENTS: tea and coffee will be provided.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23th
iNaturalist Training (online session)
Join us as we prepare for our iNaturalist Biodiversity Assessment event, with an online workshop facilitated to learn about the iNaturalist platform.
In this online workshop facilitated by Experiencing Marine Reserves and Frazer Dale (Environmental Education team) from Auckland Council you will learn how to contribute valuable photographic observations to a national database of nature observations.
Participants will be shown how to sign up and create an account, how to easily upload photos taken via phone, GoPro or camera and also how to link them to the Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay specific project within the platform.
LOCATION: Online (link provided when you sign up)
FACILITATOR: TKRI, EMR, Auckland Council
TIME: 7.00pm - 8.00pm
COST: FREE.
EQUIPMENT: grab your notebook and a pen!
SATURDAY, APRIL 26th
Community Biodiversity Assessment Day
Participate in a fun and interactive day of biodiversity assessments (BioBlitzing) at Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay. We will take photographic observations of the plants, animals, bugs, fishes and fungi that live in the wetlands, awa (river) rocky shore and submerged reefs to help document the incredible species within our ecosystem, by uploading our photos to the iNaturalist project for Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay.
The day is being facilitated by Experiencing Marine Reserves and Frazer Dale (Environmental Education team) from Auckland Council who will guide you through a variety of explorations such as guided snorkels, river walks and invertebrate hunts.
This is a MUST for all eager phone photographers who like to snap the local wildlife and GoPro enthusiasts who love to explore the underwater world with their cameras.
LOCATION: Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay
FACILITATOR: TKRI, EMR, Auckland Council
TIME: 9.30pm - 3.30pm
COST: FREE (with thanks to EMR and Auckland Council).
EQUIPMENT: Bring a camera, eg, your phone, digital camera or GoPro.
Events season is coming to an end.
From May 2025 onwards, Te Kohuroa Rewilding’s pilot program will be transitioning into its next phase.
We are excited to share with you all that we have learned and bring you more stories, educational resources and future news for how the project will be expanding next season.
Are you a future restoration volunteer?
Join our mailing list below to be the first to hear about new project and event announcements :)
