More than half a tonne of invasive weeds were removed when Northcote residents got together to help protect our natural environment.

Make Your Mark, an event hosted by Kaipātiki Project at Northcote’s Te Ara Awataha greenway last month, attracted 57 locals who dived into hands-on activities that will help ensure our native plants thrive.

In total, volunteers removed 560 kilograms of pest weeds and collected one-and-a-half large bags of litter at the event, as well as discovering five soccer balls in the stream and returning them to the neighbouring school.

Alongside the successful clean-up, the Kaipātiki Project team also offered a chance for volunteers to explore the mysteries of their environment with the Nature Detective Corner, where participants uncovered secrets with a stream testing kit, bird identification and more.

Meanwhile, renowned ecological artist Laura Donkers led a Nature Art Workshop, inspiring creativity with natural materials.

Despite the persistent wind, the sunny weather created a pleasant atmosphere for participants, connected through their new greenway and a sense of ownership and responsibility for its preservation.

Get involved

Want to find out more about Te Ara Awataha, or make your mark in Northcote by helping to protect our natural environment? Check out the Kaipātiki Project website.