Today, 31 October 2026, Friends of Bullock Creek Trust celebrates its 10th birthday, a chance to look back at the transformation of Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs and thank everyone who has helped along the way.

On this day in 2016, FOBC and Te Kākano planted 84 native plants at the site. Ten years later, the before-and-after photographs tell a remarkable story: once-bare ground has become a thriving green space, shaped by years of planting, restoration and ongoing care.

That change represents countless hours of work. Planting days, weed control, watering and tending young plants have all contributed to the wetland we enjoy today. Much of that work happens quietly, with volunteers returning regularly to give each planting the best chance to become established.

This birthday is as much about those people as it is about the landscape. To every volunteer, past and present, thank you for your time, energy, persistence and good humour. Whether you have joined one working bee or contributed for years, you have been part of this restoration.

We also extend our thanks to Te Kākano, our partners, funders and donors. Your knowledge, practical support and generosity have helped turn plans into progress and sustain the work over the decade.

A special acknowledgement goes to Otago Fish & Game, the owners of the land, for supporting the restoration of Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs.

While these photographs give us plenty to celebrate, restoration is an ongoing commitment. Caring for existing plantings, managing weeds and continuing to protect the wetland remain central to FOBC’s work.

As we begin our next decade, we invite you to be part of the story. Volunteer with us, make a donation to support our restoration efforts, or sign up to our emails to stay connected with news and opportunities to get involved.

To find out more, contact info@fobc.kiwi. We would love to hear from you.

Thank you to everyone who has helped Bullock Creek grow over the past ten years. Here’s to continuing that care, together.

This October marks 10 years of restoration at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs. Volunteers, contractors, trustees and supporters have all helped care for and restore this special place over the past decade.

We’ll celebrate together on Thursday 29 October 2026, from 11.30am. Join us at Bullock Creek for a relaxed gathering with a BBQ lunch, salads and refreshments as we thank everyone who has been part of the journey.

We’d love to see you there!

Over the past two months, our team has been clearing areas of exotic trees and plants at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs, particularly cotoneaster and blackberry. This work is preparing the ground for native planting in 2027.

Through spring and summer, the team will continue treating the remaining live stumps and stems to help prevent regrowth. It’s careful work that will give future native plantings a better start.

Thank you to Ed, Eva, Josh and our volunteers for the work they’ve put in on site.

FOBC volunteers have planted 1056 native plants at Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs this season, meaning we have smashed our goal of 1,000. More than 200 plants are growing in our nursery, with many due to be planted over the next six weeks. The smallest will be cared for through summer and planted in 2027.

Our Thursday volunteers have also been clearing weeds around established natives, giving the young plants more room to grow. Thank you to everyone who has helped with planting and ongoing care this season.

We’re grateful to trustee Andy for securing a Love Wānaka grant to support future planting. From 2027, Te Kākano is expected to supply most of the native plants for the restoration.

From Thursday 15th October, join us at Bullock Creek every Thursday from 9–11am. Come along and lend a hand caring for the wetland with new volunteers always welcome.

As the seasons change and daylight saving begins, our weekly volunteer sessions at Bullock Creek are moving to an earlier time.

From Thursday 15th October, volunteers will meet every Thursday from 9–11am.

Paul leads our volunteer sessions, guiding the group through the hands-on work that helps care for the creek and surrounding wetland. It’s a lovely way to spend a morning outdoors and contribute to the ongoing restoration of Bullock Creek.

New volunteers are always welcome. If you’d like to get involved, come along on a Thursday morning, we’d love to see you there.

Friends of Bullock Creek recently welcomed primary school students from Te Kura o Take Kārara for a hands-on learning experience at the Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs wetland.

The visit was held in collaboration with WAI Wānaka and Southern Lakes Sanctuary, bringing together local knowledge and conservation expertise to help students learn more about the creek and its surrounding ecosystem.

FOBC’s Paul van Klink helped host the visit, sharing his knowledge of Bullock Creek, the wildlife it supports and the ongoing work being undertaken to restore and protect this special urban wetland.

The students had the opportunity to explore the site, ask questions and discover why healthy waterways and native habitats are so important to our wider environment.

It was wonderful to see the next generation engaging with nature and learning more about the valuable conservation work happening in their own community.

A big thank you to Te Kura o Take Kārara, WAI Wānaka, Southern Lakes Sanctuary and Paul for making the visit possible.

A small addition is making a big difference at Bullock Creek, with a new power box recently installed on site.

After a long wait, our volunteers and contractors can now charge tool batteries while they work, helping restoration and maintenance tasks run more efficiently. Just as importantly, we can finally boil the jug for a well-earned cuppa during volunteer sessions!

We are incredibly grateful to Te Rūnanga o Moeraki for generously allowing us to connect to the cottage power supply. Their support will make day-to-day work at Bullock Creek much easier as we continue restoring and caring for this special urban wetland.

Kā mihi nui to Te Rūnanga o Moeraki for helping make this possible.

Friends of Bullock Creek is currently updating the signage along our boardwalk to include the new landscape plan developed by All Elements Outdoor Construction.

The detailed map will give visitors a clear picture of our long-term vision for Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs, including the restoration work, planting and improvements we intend to complete across the site.

The signage is still a work in progress, but once installed, it will help visitors better understand the project and see how each stage of work contributes to the wider restoration of this special wetland.

Recent extreme weather has highlighted how quickly heavy rainfall can affect our waterways. When rain runs across roads, driveways, roofs and gardens, it can collect sediment, rubbish, oil, chemicals and other pollutants before entering the stormwater system.

Unlike household wastewater, stormwater is generally not treated before it reaches local streams, wetlands and lakes. This means anything washed into a roadside drain may eventually make its way into waterways such as Bullock Creek, affecting water quality and the plants and wildlife that depend on it.

There are several simple ways our community can help:

• Keep leaves, grass clippings and rubbish out of gutters and stormwater drains.

• Avoid washing paint, chemicals, detergents or dirty water into outdoor drains.

• Wash vehicles on grass or at a commercial car wash, where wastewater can be properly managed.

• Secure rubbish and recycling bins before strong winds or heavy rain.

• Reduce the use of fertilisers and garden chemicals, particularly when rain is forecast.

• Maintain planted areas around your property to help slow runoff and capture sediment.

• Report any spills, discoloured water or unusual smells in local drains and waterways to the appropriate authority.

Healthy waterways begin well beyond the creek itself. Small actions around our homes, gardens and streets can collectively make a meaningful difference, especially as intense rainfall events become more frequent.

By keeping stormwater drains clear of pollutants, we can all help protect Bullock Creek and the wider environment for wildlife and our community.

Friends of Bullock Creek is incredibly grateful to Otago Fish & Game for their generous $10,000 grant towards the ongoing restoration of Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs.

As the landowners of this special wetland, Otago Fish & Game have long been supportive of our vision to restore and enhance the site for native wildlife and the wider community. Their latest funding will help us continue important restoration work, including weed control, native planting, habitat enhancement and maintaining the infrastructure that enables our volunteers to make a lasting difference.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to protecting and improving one of Wānaka's unique freshwater ecosystems. With the support of Otago Fish & Game, alongside our dedicated volunteers and other funding partners, we are steadily transforming Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs into a healthier, more resilient habitat for native birds, insects and aquatic life.

We sincerely thank Otago Fish & Game for their continued confidence in Friends of Bullock Creek and for investing in the future of this remarkable wetland.