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How can I make a difference in my own backyard? That will be one of the questions posed at the inaugural Enviro Expo in the Warkworth Town Hall on Saturday, June 22.
The family-friendly event is being organised by Restore Rodney East (RRE) and The Forest Bridge Trust.
Nearly 30 social and environmental organisations are involved, as well as schools, businesses and Auckland Council. The day will showcase the wide range of environmental programmes operating in the Mahurangi area, covering everything from pest control and wildlife protection to recycling.
RRE facilitator Sarah Churchouse says the emphasis will be on making it a fun and family-friendly day.
“It’s important to be introducing our younger generations to the concepts of what conservation is all about and why it’s important,” she says. “It’s especially important to promote the idea that you can contribute to what’s happening across the region by just doing things differently in your own backyard, whether this means trapping for rats or starting a compost.
“It’s our youth who will be responsible for carrying on the work that is being done today, so if we can help them to take ownership and understand why these organisations exist then, hopefully, they will become supportive.”
Among those exhibiting will be the Compost Collective, Leigh Penguin Project, Kaipara Kiwi Project, Mahurangi East Land Restoration and the Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary Society.
The organisers are especially excited to have the Blake NZ Virtual Reality Underwater Experience as one of the participating groups (learn more here).
Churchouse says the expo will be a chance to meet the numerous conservation groups actively working on projects in the Mahurangi area and beyond, and discover more about the amazing environmental work that is happening across Rodney.
There will also be trap setting demonstrations, kapa haka performances, a sausage sizzle and free tea and coffee.
All expo visitors will go in the draw to win two tickets to visit Tiritiri Matangi Island.
The expo will be open from 9am to 3pm. Organisers are asking people to book a time slot for the Virtual Reality Experience here: https://shorturl.at/0r1MM
Lottery Grants, Save the Kiwi, Auckland Council and the Rodney Local Board were thanked for their support.
