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Student Rachel Pierson (third from left) talks to enthusiasts passionate about Mahurangi streams. From left, Dr Amanda Valois (NIWA freshwater scientist), Martin Evans (FOAM) and Sarah Dimitrijevic (Whitebait Connection).
University of Vermont graduate student Rachel Pierson was in Mahurangi this month checking out volunteer monitoring of the region’s streams.
In particular, she interviewed local group Friends of Awa Matakanakana (FOAM) on their experiences and the results of their water quality testing.
The study sets out to determine people’s motivation to participate in volunteer stream monitoring programmes and the outcomes of their participation.
It aims to understand whether motivations change over time and what effect participation may have on volunteers’ environmental outlook.
While in New Zealand, Rachel also interviewed Friends of Waiwhetu Stream in Wellington and Friends of the Maitai in Nelson.
The study is also being conducted in Canada and the United States and will compare experiences in the different countries.
Rachel says few studies have looked at volunteer motivations across different cultures or programmes in multiple countries.
Although hesitant to discuss preliminary findings, Rachel says it appears volunteers’ motivations change over time.
Initially, volunteers may simply “want to help out” but as time progresses become more fascinated by the scientific implications of their water quality testing.
FOAM vice-chair Martin Evans says it will be interesting to see how FOAM’s efforts compare with volunteer activities in other parts of the world, when the findings of the study are finally released.
The FOAM community group aims to help restore and maintain healthy waters in the Matakana-Sandspit catchment area.
