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On Friday 5 June 2026, around 1,000 students from schools across Kirikiriroa Hamilton gathered at Tauhara Park, Rototuna, for Arbor Day 2026. Together with kaiako, parents, and a community of dedicated kaimahi and funders, they planted 10,000 native trees in a single day.

The Endangered Species Foundation has delivered its first online Awhi Awa | Embrace a Stream workshop, connecting Bupa staff with the story of endangered freshwater species in Aotearoa and the actions businesses can take to help protect local waterways. The new online format opens the door for workplaces across the country to engage with freshwater restoration, native fish protection, and practical environmental action.

Earlier this month, the Endangered Species Foundation's Natalie Jessup presented Awhi Awa | Embrace a Stream to Hamilton City Council as a ready-to-deploy solution for urban waterway restoration in Kirikiriroa. Together We Can Turn Things Around.

Aotearoa freshwater fish are in crisis, with 76% threatened or at risk of extinction. Species like tuna and īnanga rely on connected waterways to survive, yet barriers, habitat loss and degraded rivers are driving decline. Restoring river connectivity, protecting habitats, and supporting iwi-led solutions are critical to ensuring these taonga species can complete their lifecycles and thrive.