Waikare Whangamarino Wetlands Restoration
Whangamarino wetland under a big Waikato sky

News

What’s happening, and what’s next.

Project updates, science explained simply, council and government developments, and the stories behind the restoration work.

Latest

Updates & explainers

Aerial view of Whangamarino peat bog pools

Assessment · 2026

DOC’s 2026 assessment: Whangamarino’s condition has declined

The Department of Conservation reports a deterioration in ecological condition at Whangamarino and calls for collaborative restoration action. What that means for our catchment — and why it strengthens the case for the Action Plan.

Algal bloom on the water surface

Water quality · Explainer

What ‘hypertrophic’ actually means for Lake Waikare

A plain-English look at nutrients, algae, turbidity and why the lake reflects sunlight back before it can reach the plants that would clean it.

Students testing water samples beside the lake

Community · Field notes

Students on the lake edge: water testing field day

Secondary students, scientists and volunteers gathered clarity, nutrient and temperature readings from the lake shore — real data, collected by the generation who will inherit this place.

Turbid water at the lake edge

Koi carp · Research

Turning a pest into a product

Removal only works if it keeps going. We look at how commercial use of koi carp could help fund long-term control.

More articles are on the way. Facebook is where day-to-day updates land first.

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