Conservation and Education
© Raymond Buckmaster / Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalists' Trust

Conservation and Education

Supporting community conservation and environmental education

WWF-New Zealand wants to inspire and enable New Zealanders to care for their habitats and species as part of a healthier society and economy. To help Kiwis rise to the global challenge of how to live sustainably today, without compromising quality of life for future generations. 

We do this by developing partnerships with local councils, iwi, communities and government agencies to increase the effectiveness of conservation at a grass roots level. And providing resources and funding to community-led conservation groups and schools.

© Taranaki Kiwi Trust

Community Conservation Funding

WWF, in partnership with the Tindall Foundation, supports projects that are led by and engage local communities to conserve and restore Aotearoa New Zealand's natural environments and native species.

Many supported initiatives involve youth through hands-on learning opportunities where they can build skills and develop deeper connections with the environment.

Projects we support not only bring people together for a shared conservation goal, but also inspire ongoing environmental action among our local communities.

Our biodiversity is precious, but it is in trouble. The projects we support have a strong focus on protecting our most threatened habitats and species. Together we can have a positive impact on nature.

Find Out More
© Young Ocean Explorers

Environmental Education

To create long term positive change for our environment, it is important to foster changes in our behaviour.

Environmental education is a critical tool to achieve long lasting social change.

WWF-New Zealand supports environmental education in a number of ways.

Teaching the younger generations about the environment, we are helping equip the next generation with the knowledge and values needed to protect the planet.

Providing information, activities and resources to support environment-focused teaching and learning.

Supporting the Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship that provides financial assistance to students from remote regions of Nepal to study at Lincoln University.

Scholarship information
Resources

Conservation and Education Stories

Read about some of the community conservation and education projects WWF-New Zealand is supporting around the country.

Drone
Success Story

Coromandel group use drones to survey threatened wetland bird population

A Coromandel conservation group has deployed thermal-imaging drones to survey populations of the threatened wetland bird matuku-hūrepo /Australasian bittern.
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Grebe nest
Success Story

Pūteketeke conservation efforts take off in Wānaka

A bird that found global fame on a US talk show and went on to win Bird of the Century is making a comeback in Wānaka thanks to the hard work of volunteers.
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Little blue penguin
Success Story

Rena’s legacy: Looking after our little penguins

A Bay of Plenty conservation project is making sure kororā colonies affected by the Rena oil spill in 2011 are not forgotten and continue to thrive.
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Hokianga volunteer group
Success Story

Native trees flourishing again in Hokianga thanks to volunteers

Thousands of native trees are flourishing on a regenerated block of land in Northland thanks to the hard work of volunteers battling weeds and replanting native species.
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Children planting tree
Success Story

Regenerating ‘green corridors’ in the Far North

A network of green spaces or ‘green corridors’ is growing in Kaitaia due to a partnership between a local environmental group and the community.
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Group of school children joining clean up
Success Story

‘Nature Ninjas’ join beach clean-up

A nationwide project is inspiring New Zealanders to clean up their local beaches and protect sea life from plastic and rubbish pollution.
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classroom display
Success Story

Tamariki learn to care for rivers and awa

Kiwi kids in Northland and Hamilton are learning to care for their local rivers and streams to protect them in the future.
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plant delivery Pāuanui beach
Success Story

Coastal restoration projects given a boost

Local community groups are hard at work restoring beaches and dunes in the Hawke’s Bay and Coromandel in a bid to boost native wildlife and protect their communities from the impacts of climate change.
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Two little blue penguins chicks in nesting box
Success Story

Muriwai Penguin Project rebuilds after Cyclone Gabrielle

A year after the tropical Cyclone Gabrielle unleashed destruction across the North Island, little blue penguins on the west coast of Auckland are slowly making a comeback.
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Image of people planting trees
Success Story

Powering one town’s clean energy transformation

A local community group on Wellington’s Kāpiti Coast is on a mission to make sure there’s enough 'good' energy for all its residents.
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A picture of kids inside a caravan learning about protecting the environment.
Success Story

Mobile classroom inspires next generation of environmental stewards

A roving caravan is teaching Kiwi kids in Tāmaki Makaurau about the importance of looking after the environment.
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Image of a New Zealand wetland
Success Story

Helping to revive Aotearoa’s wetlands

With many of New Zealand's original wetlands lost, WWF is supporting two local projects to help conserve these precious habitats in Aotearoa.
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