World Wetlands Day at Lake Rotopiko just south of Ōhaupō was an overwhelming success for its organisers, attracting close to 200 visitors in just four hours.
Brilliant sunshine and a very welcome ice-cream truck gave this month’s World Wetlands Day at Rotopiko a gala touch. Photo: Don Scarlet
The collaborative family day was held in alignment with the United Nations-designated World Wetlands Day, an international event held on February 2 each year to mark the anniversary of the 1971 signing of the Convention on Wetlands Treaty.
Organisers of the day at Lake Rotopiko included the Te Awamutu Rotary Club, DOC, the National Wetlands Trust, both Waikato Regional and Waipā District councils, and Landcare Trust.
There have been several World Wetlands Day (WWD) events at Rotopiko since the sanctuary was built. Other WWD events have been held across various Waikato wetland locations over the past 25 years, with the exception of the Covid years.
Days before the event, it was revealed the Whangamarino Wetland has proven more resilient to fire than expected following an October fore
The blaze covered about 1000 hectares in one of the few remaining raised peatlands in the southern hemisphere.
Despite the considerable damage caused, DOC Whangamarino ranger Lizzie Sharp said thanks to relatively high water levels in the peatland before the fire, only a shallow layer of the peat soils was burned.
“The wetland is showing signs of hope,” she said.
See: Putting the wind up ‘wicked’ birds
See: Wetland project ends
Information stands around the site were popular with visitors to the wetlands. Photo: Stephen Cox
