Caring for our Waterways and Coast

Help care for our streams, rivers, estuaries, and coast — reduce pollution, plant natives and join others.

Healthy waterways and coastal areas support native fish, birds, insects, and marine life, and they play an important role in the wellbeing of our communities.

This page shares simple ways to care for our streams, rivers, estuaries, and coast — at home or through volunteer opportunities. These places are home to tuna/eels, inanga/whitebait, kōaro, freshwater crayfish, migratory shorebirds, and many coastal plants and marine species.

By protecting clean water and healthy riparian and coastal habitats, we help these species thrive.

What You Can Do

Your actions can make a real difference:

Keep contaminants (paint, chemicals, sediment) out of stormwater drains- Watch: Healthy Streams Start at Home
Remove invasive weeds from stream edges and coastal dunes
Plant natives along waterways or in coastal restoration areas - Native Planting and Weed Control
Reduce litter and pick up rubbish on local walks
Clean, Check, Dry - check and clean gear before moving between waterways - 'Check Clean Dry': help protect New Zealand's waterways | NZ Government
Join stream clean-ups, beach clean-ups, or estuary restoration events
Report pollution, sediment issues or rubbish hotspots to Council 0800 NO POLLUTE (0800 667 655883)
Record sightings of freshwater or coastal wildlife using iNaturalist
Keep dogs away from shorebird nesting areas
Avoid disturbing inanga/whitebait spawning sites and shorebird nesting areas [link]
Conserve water at home -check out these tips
Harvest Rainwater - install a rainwater tank

These actions support cleaner waterways and healthier coastal ecosystems.

Join a Group Near You

There are many community groups working to restore waterways, clean up beaches, remove weeds, and protect freshwater and coastal habitats.

Friends of Nelson Haven and Tasman Bay
Friends of Haulashore - find them on Trap NZ
Tāhunanui Dune Planting Day - Nelson City Council Parks team holds a dune planting day every winter.
Paremata Reserve Restoration
Beach Clean-Up | Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park
Friends of the Maitai - water quality monitoring
Wakapuaka Sandflats trapping groups - find them on Trap NZ
Delaware Bay Trapping - find them on Trap NZ
Tasman Bay Guardians