About us
The Waikawa Beach Environment Group (WBEG) was formed in 2022 by a group of local residents who share a passion for protecting and enhancing the natural environment of Waikawa Beach.
Our vision is to create a thriving coastal ecosystem where native flora and fauna can flourish. We are dedicated to preserving and restoring its natural habitats, while fostering community engagement and promoting sustainable practices that will ensure the long-term health of our environment for future generations.
Working collaboratively with local communities, iwi, landowners, councils and partner organisations, we are committed to improving biodiversity outcomes and supporting the long-term sustainability of our unique coastal environment. We work to protect and enhance native habitats by identifying and addressing threats to indigenous flora and fauna, including invasive plant and animal species that place pressure on biodiversity.
We advocate on behalf of our community on environmental matters including freshwater quality, river management, coastal processes, biodiversity protection and environmental policy.
We believe in action as much as advocacy. Our members are actively involved in restoration planting, pest plant and animal control, species monitoring, habitat restoration and community education. We collect and share environmental information to support evidence-based decision making and contribute to wider programmes being delivered by councils, researchers and community partners.
Collaboration sits at the heart of everything we do. We engage widely within our community, contribute to planning and advisory groups, and work alongside experts from local government, iwi, environmental organisations and the wider community to build knowledge, strengthen relationships and achieve better outcomes for Waikawa Beach.
Above all, we believe that environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility and that communities can achieve extraordinary things when they work together.
Big thanks to...
Being a voluntaeer-based organisation means we ask for help... a lot. Fortunately, we receive great advice, fantastic support and an incredible amount of people power in return.
So this is a BIG thank you to our local councils and their amazing staff, to those who generously share their expertise and knowledge with us, to the talented photographers who help capture our story (many of whose images feature throughout this website), and to the many volunteers from our wider community who turn up for planting days, weeding sessions and working bees.
We'd also like to acknowledge our warm and supportive local community, our whānau and friends, and everyone who quietly lends a hand behind the scenes to help make our work possible.
Most importantly, we'd like to recognise the past members of Waikawa Beach Environment Group whose vision created this wonderful organisation and who put in the hard yards to build the strong foundations we continue to benefit from today.
Thank you all — we couldn't do it without you.
Photography Acknowledgement
WBEG has, over a number of years, collected photographs from a variety of sources to help educate and inspire our community about Waikawa Beach's unique natural environment.
Every effort has been made to identify and acknowledge photographers wherever possible. However, if you recognise a photograph as your own that has not been correctly attributed, please contact us. We would be delighted to add the appropriate credit or, if you prefer, remove the image.
We sincerely thank everyone who has contributed photographs in support of environmental education and conservation.