Events Calendar

GorseBusters or Operation Okarito, The Watery War on Weeds, Zero Invasive Plants …. anyway, March 22nd to 27th March 2021, we’re hosting a week here in Okarito to start to tackle the gradual spread of gorse and other weeds around the lagoon. Want to help?? Great … read on …

Okarito Kayaks are aiming to support and lead some 20-40 keen volunteers a day over six days day this autumn, to get out around the edge of the beautiful and shallow Okarito Lagoon, pushing back against the gradual spread of gorse and any other weeds we come across. The work will be wet, but rewarding; spiky, but social; busy, but fun. We’re doing this ourselves, without any funding from anyone else; seems like a good year to give a bit back to the great place we all live in.

We’ll be providing kayak and boat access throughout, using the weather and tides to our advantage, and organising tools, equipment and knowledge to just do whatever we can together to look after our beautiful backyard. DOC, Te Runanga o Makaawhio, and the local Okarito Community Association are all supporting us with help.

So, if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty and being out in this incredible landscape for a couple of days together as a minimum, we’d love to hear from you. You don’t necessarily need a great deal of experience, but a good attitude and sense of humour is a must; if you have any of your own tools, waders or gummies, or expertise that could help, we’d really love to know. We’re organising free of charge camping and bunkhouse accommodation, may be able to organise use of local baches at reduced cost, and are putting on evening social events and making plans now.

Should be a great week. Keen? Come and get stuck in …