Attending open day earns resident Kapiti Island stay
Attending the Waikanae Estuary Care Group Open Day saw Paraparaumu Beach local Brian Tester walk away with a two-day stay on Kapiti Island.
The Kapiti Island trip was donated by Kapiti Island Alive, which runs a nature lodge and educational tours on the northern end of the island.
"It blows me away how generous organisations and agencies are for community groups such as ours," Care Group chair Jeff Eaton says.
"The support from Kapiti Island Alive is particularly special due to the symmetry of their work on the island with the Kapiti Marine Reserve and the Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve".
Brian attended the open day, held over Queens Birthday weekend, to help plant native wetland species and learn more about the significance of the estuary.
He says he intends to redeem the Kapiti Island prize later in the year when the weather is warmer. "I have a friend who is also very much into this sort of thing and we are both looking forward to the trip in the spring".
Close to 50 people attended the Open Day and the many hands made light work of the planting, before enjoying informative talks, spot prizes and a BBQ.
"We are grateful for the support of so many people despite the Open Day being a week late and it's great to see some new members to our group," Jeff Eaton says.
The Waikanae Estuary Care Group works with Greater Wellington, Kapiti Coast District Council and the Department of Conservation with a vision to improve the estuary over the long term.
The care group grows most of their own eco sourced plants and runs regular working bees. Anyone is welcome to attend - contact Jeff Eaton, Care Group chair, P 04 494 2391 or 04 905 1396.
The group holds its AGM on 22 June at 7pm in the Paraparaumu Library meeting room.
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