Environment – Bringing our community together

Restore Rodney East (RRE) is a community-led, independent charity supporting environmental action across Rodney East. Grounded in kaitiakitanga (guardianship), RRE works to strengthen volunteers, projects and partnerships dedicated to protecting the region’s land, waterways, ocean, and wildlife.

Across the rohe, locals are rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in, quietly achieving meaningful results for nature. From Puhoi to Te Arai, volunteers are planting native trees, maintaining traplines, and restoring wetlands and waterways. These efforts are helping to rebuild habitats, reconnect fragmented ecosystems, and create safer pathways for native species to return and thrive.

This work goes beyond individual projects. By connecting neighbours, landowners, community groups and technical experts, RRE helps ensure efforts are coordinated, strategic and built for long-term impact. The result is not only healthier ecosystems, but stronger and more resilient communities.

On the ground, that looks like hundreds of native seedlings going into the soil each season, traplines being checked and maintained, rivers monitored and shared knowledge growing across the network for everything in between. It also means the people who are volunteering are gaining hands-on conservation skills, building confidence and forming lasting community connections with others who care about the future.

There’s a role for everyone in conservation. You don’t need experience, just a willingness to get involved. Whether it’s joining a local planting day, bird counts, supporting behind the scenes or simply coming along to learn more, every contribution plays a part in restoring Rodney East’s natural environment.

And right now is a great time to step in. With planting seasons, community events and restoration projects underway across the region, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in a way that suits you.

Take the first step today. Visit rre.org.nz to explore upcoming events, find a local project near you or see how you can contribute. You can also follow Restore Rodney East on Facebook to stay up to date and connect with others already making a difference.

Come along, lend a hand and volunteer to be part of something positive, helping to restore our environment, strengthen our communities, and ensure Rodney East thrives for generations to come.

Restore Rodney East – website