Locals will be pleased to know, one of Papakura’s top priorities is to restore and protect its natural environment. In 2025/2026 financial year, the board allocated more than $200,000 to invest in a range of environmental and sustainability initiatives which are being delivered at a local level.
Here are four exciting initiatives the local board has committed to for your neighbourhood, and how you too can be involved.
How many moth plants do you see in this picture? Too many!
Pest Free South Auckland – Papakura ($63,000+)
Papakura’s mission to revive native biodiversity is stepping up a gear as the next phase of the Pest Free South Auckland programme gets underway – with community leading the charge. The programme empowers residents and volunteers to be armed and ready to go to war against pest plants animals to protect natives.
Papakura Local Board’s investment enables the Beautification Trust to bolster efforts with tools, devices and staffing to coordinate the programme.
With 282 traps, 72 bait stations and 161 monitoring stations, locals were able to trap 67 predators at the end of 2025 in their backyards and nearby reserves.
Not only are natives thriving thanks to these efforts, the programme itself continues to grow with community engagement and activations to spark interest and spread the good word. Recently, the programme has held ‘Ask an Expert: Pest Plant Edition’ at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, working bees, workshops, school education sessions – with evening Bat Walks planned for upcoming months.
Among its many initiatives, the annual Moth Plant Competition is a popular one, bringing local schools into the fight against one of the region’s most persistent pest plants.
You too can join the war on weeds - to register, email Pest Free South Auckland. Competition closes 8 May.
A total of 67 pesty predators were caught in Papakura's backyards at local reserves at the end of 2025.
Papakura families learn ways to reduce, reuse and recycle ($30,000)
Conscious consumption are the new buzzwords in town for Papakura residents, thanks to Papakura Local Board’s investment in supporting residents live more sustainably by reducing waste.
In the past few months, the programme provided educational workshops, which were in high demand with more than 400 attendees across a total of 30+ workshops, where families learnt to apply more sustainable lifestyle choices to their daily lives.
The workshops’ focus has zoomed in on conscious consumption, which means only buying essentials, encourages upcycling, purchasing preloved items, learning to sew, crochet, knit and plan events that produce less waste going to landfill.
Karamū (Coprosma robusta) seedlings thriving at the Papakura Stream Restoration Project Nursery, boosting planting supplies for a healthier Papakura Stream.
Papakura Stream Restoration programme ($25,000)
Papakura’s waterways are significantly improving thanks to the ongoing success of the Papakura Stream Restoration project – a community effort that has made a remarkable difference.
Over the past five years, more than 120,000 native plants have been planted and 1.5 tonnes of rubbish removed across the 63km area, helping restore biodiversity and improve water quality flowing into the Manukau Harbour.
The momentum continued through 2025, with the programme’s progress surpassing expectations. A total of 42,000+ native plants were established across six sites, including 3,600+ planted in the last quarter of the year alone, exceeding the annual target. These achievements were made possible by an incredible community effort, with 1,000 volunteers contributing 2,600 hours across 41 planting events.
Beyond planting, “Tree-Rescue” events are held to keep these areas healthy, with three recent events clearing more than 3,000 square metres of weeds supported by 42 volunteers, while a newly operational nursery has potted 15,000 seedlings for this year’s planting season.
Keen to get your hands dirty? Get in touch with Conservation Volunteers New Zealand to see how you can be involved.
Kauri Flats School students put Papakura water quality to the test.
Wai Care Papakura Programme ($32,000)
Papakura students are leading the way for healthier waterways by getting hands-on outside of the classroom to care for their local environment.
Building on last year’s success, the programme empowers young people to connect with the natural environment, learn about protecting streams and how marine ecosystems operate through experiential learning.
The programme specifically focuses on monitoring water quality and stream life, to inspire the next generation of environmental kaitiaki (guardians).
So far, Rosehill College signed up at the end of 2025 to participate in planting and rubbish clean-up at Greenhaven Reserve – a positive step towards restoring Papakura’s waterways.