Today we want to recognise the importance of partnerships, collaborations and funders to the continued mahi of Friends of Bullock Creek. When organisations work together, resources, knowledge, skills and efficiencies can be shared, meaning more capability within the community for environmental, ecosystem and change and benefit for everyone.

 With the continued collaboration and partnership with key organisations like Te Kākano, WAI Wānaka, Otago Catchment Community Inc, Tiaki Bees, Wānaka Backyard Trapping, Otago Regional Council and Otago Fish & Game, we benefit from their resources and their own staff and volunteer bases, providing the land on which we undertake the restoration work, providing support and guidance, helping us to plant the native plants, and monitoring the creek and waterway health. Plus so much more.

And without funding from key funders like Otago Catchment Community Inc, Patagonia and Central Lakes Trust, the wetlands restoration work we do at Bullock Creek wouldn’t happen. Period.

And let’s not forget our wonderful volunteers, who we continue to uplift and celebrate, in being there week in, week out over the past 9 years, during the rain and the sunshine, doing the hard mahi of weeding, mulching, and planting (and everything in between) to help restore Bullock Creek wetlands and springs to the space we all enjoy now.

Thank you to everyone who makes, and has made, Bullock Creek what it is today.

Be sure to check out and support all these fabulous organisations- together, we all make a strong community, passionate about environmental and ecosystem health and wellbeing.

What a successful day we had for World Wetlands Day on Sunday 2nd February 2025; we’re still on a high!

The sun was out, the birds were singing, the fish were swimming down the creek and we had at least 300 visitors pass through Bullock Creek! Many visitors took the opportunity to engage with the interactive displays and demonstrations, learning about the Bullock Creek ecosystem and the importance of wetlands and waterways and their conservation, to human and animal health. Demonstrations included fish displays, catching and viewing freshwater macroinvertebrates, learning about reducing the spread of didymo, meeting rabbit-catching ferrets doing their bit for predator control, learning about bees, wandering along the boardwalk to discover the native species plantings, getting to know a bit more about Wānaka history, and much, much more.

Visitors enjoyed a free community BBQ on the lawn and took the opportunity to chat with friends, new and old, and even engage in some fishing line casting fun! Some visitors were neighbours who walk along the boardwalk track daily; some were locals who haven’t visited for awhile and were awestruck by the changes made in ecosystem restoration and invasive species management; one couple who met each other at Bullock Creek decades ago came back to visit together; while others visited from out of town, keen to learn more about the gem that is Bullock Creek. Such beautiful stories of connection and of the social and ecological benefits that Bullock Creek provides for us all.

Thank you to everyone involved, funders and partners alike: Otago Fish & Game Council, Otago Catchment Community Inc and Nicole Sutton, Te Kākano, Predator Free Wānaka (formally Wānaka Backyard Trapping), Otago Regional Council, WAI Wānaka, Tiaki Bees, Wānaka History, QEII Trust, and Corrections NZ.

Volunteers excited for the plant delivery from Te Kakano

Here at Friend of Bullock Creek, we understand that we couldn’t accomplish what we do without the generous help and support from the Wanaka Community at large. We always enjoy and greatly appreciate any opportunity to collaborate and work with any friends. Work at Bullock Creek has managed to unite a community and heal an ecosystem.

Recently, we recieved a generous delivery of plants from Te Kakano, another amazing local organization. They too rely on generous volunteer time. This fabulous collaboration will lead to native species: Kanuka, Kahikatea & Olearia hectorii - getting to grow up right at Bullock Creek. Here’s the instagram and facebook posts about it!

Olearia hectorii in particular is a very important inclusion! This native - also known as Deciduous Tree Daisy, is nationally endagered. Many Olearia are simply nearing the end of thier life and there are not enough young plants growing to replace them. Meanwhile sprouting plants struggle to establish themselves and are often outcompeted.

Getting to put a few Olearia Hectorii in the ground was valuable to say the least. Existing Olearia are important members of the ecosystem, offering homes to many bugs and other forms of life! At Bullock Creek these youngsters will have plenty of opportunity to grow strong and healthy - and will always have friends in those who spend time there.

To learn more about Oleria Hectorii - DOC does a great job at profiling this awesome plant in a video. And if you want an even deeper dive - check out this article when Olearia was plant of the month!

It is always a pleasure to work with Te Kakano to help an ecosystem out… I wonder what team up will be next…? If you’d like to get involved with either Te Kakano or FOBC - don’t hesitate!

Olearia Hectorii & its yellow flowers. Image from New Zealand Plant Conservation Network.

Blessed with a magnificent Spring Day, over 70 people joined Fish & Game and FoBC to celebrate the protection of the 2.7ha Bullock Creek wetland site under a QEII Covenant.

Speakers on the day were : Ian Hadland Fish & Game, Rob Wardle QEII, Dave Madden Dept.of Corrections and Ben Irving, FoBC President. Rob Wardle’s speech highlighted the significance of achieving a QEII covenant over land in an urban area. Bullock Creek is unique in this regard.

Some interesting statistics about The QEII Trust and QEII Covenants:-

• The QEII Trust was established in 1977 at instigation of some farmers wising to protect mostly forest remnants.  It is an independent charitable trust that partners with private landowners to protect sites on their land with covenants registered in perpetuity on land titles. 

• A QEII Covenant is an agreement between The QEII Trust and a landowner to protect land forever. The landowner continues to own and manage the protected land and the covenant and protection stays on the land, even when the property is sold to a new owner.

• As at· 2023, almost 70% of NZ is in private ownership. Protecting biodiversity and heritage on private land is critical to reversing the decline of indigenous biodiversity and preserving our history.

• Currently, there are 5117 registered Covenants, protecting more than 177,000 ha of private land. Added together would rank QEII Covenants fourth in size with our national parks behind Fiordland, Kahurangi and Mt Aspiring.

Following the speeches, the rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing under the shade trees to enjoy a drink, some delicious nibbles organised by FoBC and good conversation.

It’s always important to celebrate our achievements and successes – even more so in these uncertain times.

Paul van Klink, of Otago Fish and Game Otago, noted that it’s five years since the restoration work started on the Bullock Creek hatchery springs site. Anyone familiar with what it looked like back then will know just how much has been accomplished – it is literally a transformation, from impenetrable jungle of invasive weeds and pests to stunningly beautiful wetland, wildlife habitat and greenspace amenity.

What better way to celebrate this milestone than with a BBQ and drinks for workers, supporters and neighbours. Hosted by Fish and Game with the support of Friends of Bullock Creek, around 40 people turned up on Wednesday November 3rd for a delightful occasion in absolutely glorious weather.

Paul welcomed everyone to a shady corner of the hatchery springs site where a gazebo, chairs and BBQ had been set up by Paul, Ben Sowry and Klaartje (Claire) Van Schie.

Sausages sizzled, salads glistened and beers flowed as stories were told, friendships and partnerships affirmed and speeches were made.

Paul and Roger Gardiner recounted how the project had started, how many hours invested, plants planted and paid tribute to partners such as Te Kākano and the Department of Corrections. Corrections community workers have been key to the achievements made, contributing hundreds of hours to the clearance, planting and structural work undertaken at the hatchery springs site.

Dave Madden, Senior Work Supervisor from Corrections responded, saying how rewarding the project has been for them and their community workers, giving everyone a real sense of pride and achievement. It was great to see four senior staff members of Corrections at the BBQ, including Southland and Central Otago district manager Glenn Morrison.

Su Anderson, Manager of Wanaka Retirement Village spoke about how important Bullock Creek and the hatchery Springs site is to residents of the village, a green and pleasant haven right on their doorstep. Eleven village residents came along to help us celebrate.

All in all, the BBQ was a great success, a chance to look both back on milestones achieved and forward to the future of Bullock Creek, and the work and challenges that lie ahead. With the spirit of ‘can-do’ and partnership on display, we can be confident that many more milestones will be celebrated.  

A beautiful Day

Paul welcomes all

Roger giving his speech, Dave and Paul

Wanaka Retirement Village Manager Su Anderson speaks to the gathering

BBQ action

Mary Gardiner and Niamh Shaw