Waihi Beach Environment Society

The Waihi Beach Environment Society (WBESI) is a community-based conservation group which has been involved in environmental restoration since 1998 and was later incorporated on 01 September 2006. The volunteer group undertakes a range of environmental initiatives including extensive dune restoration, mahi with Coast Care, target pest control, selective weeding in the bush, planting and predator trapping; this list is not exhaustive. WBESI fully support the aims and objectives of the Predator Free Waihi Beach strategy which is aligned with other umbrella organisations such as Dot Watch Waihi Beach & Surrounds, who monitor the Tūturiwhatu – Northern NZ Dotterel population here at Waihi Beach.

The Dot Watch initiative seeks to raise awareness and advocacy in the community about the plight of the tūturiwhatu, and encourages individuals to respect the bird’s nesting activities, whether it is on the beach, on a subdivision, on reserve land or in neighbouring fields.

The society operates with stakeholders such as the Department of Conservation, Bay Conservation Alliance, Western Bay Wildlife Trust, the local council and Coast Care.

OBJECTIVES

• Working with nature to enhance and improve Waihi Beach and harbour environs.
• Valuing beach protection, natural character and enhancement of amenity options and believing that these values must be paramount in any coastal and harbour protection measures.
• Understanding that cultural, historical, spiritual, and visual amenities with intrinsic values are the heritage of generations, and damage to these values is often irreversible.
• To preserve our taonga of flora and fauna for generations to come.
• Promote predator-free trapping of target pests such as rats, possum, mustelid, feral cats and hedgehogs.
• Encourage the community to become involved with the projects through working bees and organised events.

How to Help

Volunteer activities include dune planting, pest weeding, pest target predator trapping, trap line maintenance, administration of trap lines and administration of the Waihi Beach pest trap library. Volunteers also spend time working with the local kura to engage in predator trapping exercises to remove predators from areas where taonga such as kororā and tūturiwhatu are nesting. The volunteers also provide valuable education on native flora and fauna and conservation efforts within the area.

Find Out More

Check out the links below to find out more about WBESI