The Waiwhetū Stream
At the AGM book was officially launched by Deputy Mayor Tui Lewis. The book chronicles the restoration efforts since the Friends of Waiwhetū began in 2011. We have distributed the book to schools and volunteers in the valley.
The PDF of the book can be downloaded here
If you would like a hard copy, please contact us
Website updated 12 March 2023
Corporate volunteers - if your organisation or business would like to volunteer, please get in touch. We are specifically looking for 2-3 hours of physical work for Rishworth Reserve.
Contact Henry Steele if interested
Mob: 021 026 25020
Email: henry.steele02@gmail.com
Look out for three new signs along the stream. Each of them tell a bit of history associated with the stream
Putting out the Fyke nets for the February fish survey this year
Welcome
Waiwhetū: Star-reflecting stream
The Friends of Waiwhetū Stream is an active community group established in 2011 to work towards a healthy ecosystem for the Waiwhetū Stream in Lower Hutt.
The Waiwhetū Stream starts in the Eastern Hutt Hills in the suburbs of Taita and Naenae and flows out to the mouth of the Hutt River. As the Hutt Valley was settled, the stream underwent changes which were often disruptive of its natural state. In places the natural stream was straightened with concrete channels, vegetation cleared and rubbish and pollutants entered the stream.
To rehabilitate the stream Friends of Waiwhetū volunteers undertake many activities to improve the natural ecosystem. Planting native vegetation, eradicating weeds and clearing rubbish are some of the many activities carried out. Contact us to learn more and get involved. Check us out on Facebook or Email: friends.waiwhetu.stream@gmail.com
We're also proud to support the Naenae Nature Trust (on Facebook) and the Friends of Awamutu Grove (Contact Amber 0272725410)
2021 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards - Heritage & Environment Winner for Hutt City. Watch this short video that explains our purpose.
The beautiful sculpture at the northern end of Te Whiti Park was funded in part through the money from the 2014 Wellington Community Awards. Hutt City Council also supported the installation.
Created by Jason Dench (www.rawtiron.com) the sculpture is a kowhai tree and the stream.
AWARD finalists
Friends of Waiwhetu finalists in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Community Awards for 2019
Get involved
There are several ways you can volunteer:
Plantings: Turn up with good footwear, gardening gloves and a spade, although some are provided
Weed control: Pulling out weeds, spraying or helping spread mulch. Contact rosw62@gmail for info.
Fish Surveys: Come along and count the fish on selected days. Look out for upcoming dates on the website
Rishworth Reserve
Located at the end of Rishworth Street, come along every Wednesday at 10 am to help plant natives and carrying out weeding.
Rubbish collection: The first weekend in every month volunteers collect rubbish. Sturdy shoes or gumboots and good gardening gloves. Bags and pickers supplied. The stream is divided into sections and on a typical collection 40 people will collect over 20 bags of rubbish. If you'd like to be involved contact us.
Committee meetings: Come along and find out what we do and how to help out. Contact us for details. Usually 7.15 pm, every second Monday of the Month at Pelorus Trust House
Hutt City Council and Wellington Airport Regional Community Award 2014
The many stages of Waiwhetū Stream
A small concrete channel flowing through Naenae
A more natural stream in Fairfield, Waterloo and Waiwhetū
