Village Residents Embrace Local Waterway with Awhi Awa Workshop

Residents at Bupa Foxbridge Care Home in Hamilton have taken important steps toward protecting Aotearoa’s freshwater ecosystems, participating in an Awhi Awa | Embrace a Stream workshop hosted at their village on Minogue Drive.

 Noleen and Willie Willetts, and Alison Bartley from Bupa Foxbridge Village with their new Awhi Awa resource pack.

The hands-on session invited residents to connect with the state of our rivers and streams, and to explore simple, meaningful ways they can contribute to restoring their health. With 45% of New Zealand’s rivers now unsafe for swimming and 76% of native freshwater fish species either threatened or at risk, the message struck a chord.

Resident Alison Bartley reflected on the experience:

"It was really inspiring and we learnt a lot of new things. We are pleased to hear that the younger generation are looking after the waterways better than we did. We will tell people including our children and grandchildren about this."

The workshop included an interactive presentation on the importance of healthy urban streams for freshwater species like tuna (longfin eel) and kōaro, the role of stormwater drains, and practical actions anyone can take – from better waste disposal to looking after a local stream or drain.

Bupa Activity Coordinator Rupali Sharma was initially unsure how the session would be received but was quickly won over by the residents’ response:

“I wasn’t sure if they would like it, but I could feel the positive environment and how engaged they were to make a positive difference for future generations. They were very involved, supportive and interested. I could see they were so happy.”

At the close of the workshop, residents Noleen and Willie Willetts pledged to care for the stormwater drain outside their home. They took home a full Awhi Awa pack, which includes information about endangered freshwater species, a kōaro (fish) sign made from scrap stainless steel and a concrete drill and screws.

The workshop was part of an ongoing movement to empower communities – young and old – to protect freshwater habitats and reverse the decline in water quality and biodiversity.

If you would like to find out more and get involved please visit:

www.endangeredspecies.org.nz/awhi-awa