A dedicated group of volunteers are working tirelessly to preserve its unique ecosystem. Bob Hoskins, Derek Prior, Craig Dunlop, and Arnim Littek are four such volunteers whose efforts are making a lasting impact on the environment and the local community.

Aotearoa New Zealand, like most countries, is a signatory to the United Nations Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.   Of the seven designated internationally important wetlands in this country, the Manawatu Estuary Ramsar site is the most accessible.

The Manawatū Estuary Trust, Foxton Wildlife Trust and other community groups work together with DOC, Horizons Regional Council, and Horowhenua District Council to care for the estuary. The community have led the development of the new 10-year management plan, which has just been finalised and will be released in 2025. This Ramsar site is arguably the best run Ramsar site in the country.

 

Photo Above: Craig, Derek and Neil resurrecting a vandalised sign.

 

The Wednesday Group, aka Dr. Bob’s Coastal Wattle Team

Dr Bob Hoskins is a geophysicist. Although it has taken the councils some time to recognise his expertise, he has been able to influence their actions, such as assisting with the writing of the resource consent for Horizons, which was used for the upgrade of part of the Manawatū River loop at Foxton and the adjacent reserve.

Bob moved to Foxton 35 years ago, and from the very beginning, he started picking up litter. Over time, Bob began noticing children getting thorns in their feet and inflatable toys being punctured—thanks to the invasive boxthorn plant. Recognising this as a serious problem, Bob decided to take action. He started chopping down boxthorn and coastal wattle, another invasive species that was rapidly spreading.

As Bob worked, passers-by saw what he was doing and wanted to join in. Fast forward to today, and although volunteers come and go, Bob, Derek Prior, and Craig Dunlop have remained the core group for the past three years. Every Wednesday, they work together, along with a small crew, to remove weeds, and tackle the spread of coastal wattle, euphorbia, tree lupin, fleabane, and other invasive species. The group starts at the bird lookout and works their way down to the Surf Life Saving Club car park before starting over again.

Craig jokes that he’s “one of the slaves” in the group, but despite the hard work, the team remains committed. Bob, now nearing 80, isn’t planning on stopping anytime soon. "It’s an obsession, not a passion," he says, reflecting on his decades of work to improve the estuary’s health.

Success requires more volunteers to lighten the load and make a bigger impact. With a the team all in their retirement years, they are urgently calling for the next generation to step up.

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Photo Above: Arnim and Lorraine conferring on weeds

 

The Sunday Fortnight Group – Te Wharangi Dune Garden Wilderness

Arnim Littek, an amateur ecologist, joined the Manawatū Estuary Trust after moving to Foxton almost 9 years ago. After developing a passion for biodiversity through Cape Kidnappers and Ocean Beach Sanctuary, which opened channels to some of New Zealand’s best scientists, providing a global perspective on conservation.

For Arnim, the key to preserving biodiversity in the dunes is tackling invasive weeds, which threaten the survival of native flora and fauna.  Arnim and the Dune Garden team work alongside 4WD club members to encourage disciplined vehicle access and educate off-road vehicle drivers about why and where their vehicles cause damage.

The Dune Garden team is focused on the western end of the estuary Ramsar site.  “The plants are thriving with the removal of weeds,” he says. The Te Wharangi Dune Garden is easily the most native dunes and dune wetland ecosystem on this coast, where we can see and learn what our dune wilderness should look like.

Arnim encourages others to get involved on their own, eg. by using iNaturalist to capture and share nature, even in their own backyards. “Citizen science is a great way to connect with others and develop your new obsession!” he says.

 

Photo above: Dr. Bob with Chris and Lorraine on Dune Garden rounds

 

A Call for New Volunteers

Despite the tireless work of volunteers like Bob, Derek, Craig, and Arnim, the team needs more hands. With the average age of volunteers increasing, there is an urgent need for younger generations to get involved. Their work is a testament to the power of community effort, and with more support, they can continue to make a lasting difference in preserving the Manawatū Estuary for generations to come.

If you’d like to help, whether by volunteering or simply spreading the word, now is the time to get involved. Together, we can ensure the future health of this remarkable estuary.