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Volunteer events

Volunteering is a great way to help look after the environment you enjoy. Learn more about your community, be active in the outdoors and meet new people. Find an event for you, your family and friends to join.

Community Volunteers from the Styx Mill Reserve Planting Day May 2017

Volunteer in a park

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There are many events throughout the year. Activities vary, but may involve general clean ups, planting, weeding and mulching.

Some of our planting events are family-friendly and eligible for Children's University (CU) credits.

Please read the volunteer guidelines, then contact the listed organiser.

Event Date Contact Eligible for Children's University credits?
Barnett Park planting with Trees for Canterbury(external link) 1pm Saturday 27 May fiona.fenton@ccc.govt.nz  Yes
Halswell Quarry Park Planting Day 10am to midday Saturday 27 May nigel.morritt@ccc.govt.nz Yes
Bowenvale (Huntsbury) planting (Port Hills) 1pm Saturday 3 June fiona.fenton@ccc.govt.nz  Yes
Arbor Day planting (schools) Papanui Bush 10am to 1pm Friday 9 June parks.volunteers@ccc.govt.nz  Yes
Arbor Day planting Papanui Bush 10am to 1pm Saturday 10 June stacey.holbrough@ccc.govt.nz Yes
Dry Bush (Port Hills) 1pm Saturday 10 June fiona.fenton@ccc.govt.nz   
Halswell Quarry Park Planting Day 10am to midday Saturday 10 June nigel.morritt@ccc.govt.nz Yes
Brooker Reserve community planting(external link) 10am Sunday 11 June avonotakaroforestpark@gmail.com Yes
Dallington Terrace with CVNZ  1pm to 4pm Wednesday 14 June dlusby@cvnz.org.nz Yes
Banks Ave Dudley Stream forest planting with AvON(external link) 10am to midday Saturday 17 June parks.volunteers@ccc.govt.nz Yes
Eco-Action Nursery Trust at Chimera Cres (red zone)(external link) 10am to midday Sunday 18 June ecoactionnt@gmail.com Yes
Tarata Park community planting 9am Sunday 18 June rodney.chambers@ccc.govt.nz  To be confirmed
Halswell Quarry Park Planting Day 10am to midday Saturday 24 June nigel.morritt@ccc.govt.nz Yes
Cedarwood Reserve - National Volunteer Week 1pm to 4pm Saturday 24 June dlusby@cvnz.org.nz Yes
Engelfield Reserve with Styx Living Lab & T4C(external link) 10am to midday Saturday 2 July info@treesforcanterbury.org.nz Yes
De ville Place (5000 trees) plant and care whanau day 1pm to 4pm Saturday 8 July sarah.mankelow@ccc.govt.nz  Yes
Styx Mill Conservation Reserve with T4C(external link) 10.30am to 12.30pm Sunday 9 July info@treesforcanterbury.org.nz Yes
Dallington Terrace with CVNZ 1pm to 4pm Wednesday 12 July dlusby@cvnz.org.nz Yes
Cedarwood Reserve with CVNZ 1pm to 4pm Saturday 22 July dlusby@cvnz.org.nz Yes
Halswell Quarry Park Planting Day 10am to midday Saturday 22 July nigel.morritt@ccc.govt.nz Yes
Brooker Reserve community planting(external link) 10am Sunday 30 July avonotakaroforestpark@gmail.com Yes
Eco-Action Nursery Trust at Chimera Crescent(external link) 10am Sunday 30 July ecoactionnt@gmail.com Yes

 

Event Next event date Ranger contact
Akaroa Cemetery Once a fortnight heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
Ashgrove Reserve(external link)   heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
Barnett Park(external link) Every Sunday from 1pm to 3pm rosemary@spiritednz.com
Bottle Lake and Spencer Park  To suit Park Rangers 03 941 8999
Brooker Reserve(external link)

Second Sunday of the month

  • Summer 9am to 11am
  • Winter 10am to midday
 avonotakaroforestpark@gmail.com
Charlesworth Reserve (Ferrymead)

Every Sunday:

  • During daylight savings, 3pm to 5pm
  • Rest of year, 2pm to 4pm
 Andrew Crossland, 027 434 1155
Coronation Reserve Every Friday from 9am to 10.30am heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
CVNZ(external link) Every Wednesday from 1pm to 4pm  Donna Lusby, dlusby@cvnz.org.nz
Diamond Harbour Last Sunday of the month through to August from 10am to 1pm heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
Donkey Track First Sunday of the month from 10am to midday

Te Ringatina Group via Heidi Wilton 027 547 2933
Drayton Reserve(external link)

Middle Sunday and last Saturday of the month

  • Winter 2pm to 4pm
  • Summer 9am to 11am
 Karen Smith, 027 886 5988
Duncan Park Every Friday through to August at midday heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
Ernle Clark(external link) Last Saturday of the month from 3pm to 4pm heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
Farnley Reserve  Every third Sunday from 9am to 10.30am friendsoffarnley@gmail.com
Laura Kent(external link)  First Saturday of every month from 9am to 11am Karen Smith, 027 886 5988
McCormacks Bay Third Sunday of the month from 2pm to 4pm Holly Whitaker, 027 240 6276
Papanui Bush Second Tuesday of the month from 8.30am to 12.30pm Denis McMurtrie, 021 125 1920 
South New Brighton Domain Third Saturday of every month from 2pm to 4pm Pieter Borcherds, 027 611 8655
Thistledown Reserve Last Saturday of the month at 10am Karen Smith, 027 886 5988
Travis Wetland Third Saturday of the month from 9am to 12.30pm John Skilton, 027 4968 935
Event Details

Volunteer track projects

Get involved with the development and maintenance of walking and biking tracks with the Port Hills recreation team. 

Contact Rodney.Chambers@ccc.govt.nz or Nick.Singleton@ccc.govt.nz
Drayton Reserve Volunteer(external link)
(external link)		 Regular working bees, sign up for their newsletters to find out when the next one is.
Styx Mill Reserve Bird Monitoring(external link)(external link) Regular working bees, sign up for their newsletters to find out when the next one is.

Avon Ōtākaro Forest Park(external link)

 We run regular working bees maintaining our 10 sites in the OARC. Follow us on Facebook for event details.(external link)
Eco Canterbury Calendar(external link) The Eco Canterbury Calendar lists environment-themed events in the region.
Forest and Bird Youth Christchurch(external link) Forest and Bird Youth Christchurch is an environmental advocacy group for 14 to 25-year-olds.

If you're interested in conservation projects, campaigns and volunteering, contact Alex, Christy or Amelia at forestandbirdyouthchch@gmail.com.
Community gardens(external link) If you're keen to learn more about gardening or want to share your expertise, a community garden might be right for you.
Graffiti removal Get involved with graffiti removal around Christchurch.
Volcan(external link)
(external link)		 Volunteer Canterbury offers a wide range of projects for individuals and groups.
Conservation Volunteers New Zealand(external link) Conservation projects.
iNaturalist(external link) Join the online community and record your nature observations on iNaturalist.

You can also explore observations made around New Zealand, and learn more about our native species.
 

Map of volunteering locations

Help our rangers out. If you see an issue in a park, report it via Snap Send Solve.