Exploring the backyard
The Department of Conservation alongside local community group Project Tongariro is seeing in the New Year by hosting the Mahi Aroha Summer Programme 2021.
With a line-up of over 20 events from January 1 to January 31, the programme is focused on connecting New Zealanders with opportunities to enjoy and protect their environment.
Running for over 50 years, the Mahi Aroha Summer Programme offers a range of events within the Central Plateau and Tongariro districts that inspire and encourage conservation outcomes. This year, it’s also focusing on supporting locals as a response to the economic impact of Covid-19, with businesses such as the Blue Duck Station and Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary on board to share their environmental journeys and providing limited tours that are not normally easily accessible to the public.
Kiri Te Wano, conservation coordinator for Project Tongariro says New Zealanders have a newfound appreciation for their own backyard this year and the Mahi Aroha Summer Programme will provide opportunities for this to grow. “Families can discover new ways to experience our unique backyard, from Taupo¯ to the Tongariro National Park, and everywhere in between.”
Join local community groups such as the Central North Island Sika Foundation, the Environmental Education Collaborative, and the Mangawhero Trapping Project and be inspired by their enthusiasm in protecting our taonga species. Take your family on a journey of discovery by going to see the Boyd and Oamaru valleys, the Okupata Caves, Te Matapuna Wetland or the TaurangaTaupo¯ Waterfall. Learn from local experts such as Dr Harry Keys and hear his tales of the volcanic history of Mt Ruapehu eruptions, lahars and landslides. i
You can find information on the Mahi Aroha events and more at tongariro.org.nz.