Welcome to The Kaipatiki Project 
and Environment Centre

We are a community based organisation providing environmental education and nature restoration services located on the North Shore, Auckland.

We offer a wide range of environmental talks, workshops and support for the public, and education programmes for schools and groups. Call us to request a speaker for your club, event or group. We also organise volunteer days for groups and companies - come and get your hands dirty planting trees or weeding  - all materials, training and fun provided.

Our resources are available to the general public, schools and community groups on a number of topics such as waste minimisation, storm water, pollution, mangroves, pests and predators, flora and fauna, noxious weeds and plant propagation.

New look for Kaipatiki Project

Get Involved!
As a community based organisation, we rely on volunteers and members (from $20 per year membership). Please see the volunteers page for more information on how you can help out - every skill and effort helps.

JOIN IN OUR COMMUNITY PLANTING DAYS – LOVE YOUR LOCAL FOREST
Once again, we are planting trees in beautiful Eskdale Reserve Network in Birkdale/Glenfield – and we need your help.
Bring your family, mates, school, church, club … and a spade if you have one!
FREE BBQ for all planters.
Saturday 5 June 9.30 – 12.00pm Lauderdale Reserve, next to 37 Lauderdale Road, Birkdale
Saturday 3 July 9.30am – 12.00pm Eskdale Reserve, opposite Speedy Crescent, Glenfield Road, Glenfield
Saturday 7 August 9.30am – 12.00pm Eskdale Reserve, opposite Speedy Crescent, Glenfield Road, Glenfield
Saturday 4 September 9.30am – 12.00pm Eskdale Reserve, next to electricity substation, Eskdale Road, Birkdale
Enquiries: 482 1172 or email cwiapo@ihug.co.nz
Please click here for further information.

COMMUNITY PLANTING CO-ORDINATORS
FREE TRAINING PROGRAMME - May-Sept 2010
Kaipatiki Project, in partnership with Okahu Rakau Native Bush Care & Nursery, are offering a limited number of work-experience opportunities for anyone interested in becoming a planting co-ordinator either professionally, for volunteering experience, or to get started on their own planting project.
Please click here for more details.

Come to Courses!
Find out about our adult education courses, activities and upcoming workshops.

> NEW COURSES FOR 2010!!!

Details are currently being confirmed and will be posted here on our website as soon as possible - alternatively you can register your interest now and we will email you the details - send your name to admin@kaipatiki.org.nz and put 'gardening' in the subject line or call 09 482 1172.

Grow your own delicious seasonal veges with confidence - join our inspirational and enthusiastic tutors who will show you how to start from scratch and get your vege patch working for you.

These courses are aimed at beginner gardeners and cover all the basics of getting your garden up and running - training is hands-on, working in small friendly groups.

All courses take place at the Kaipatiki Project Centre's Native Plant Nursery & Teaching Gardens set amid beautiful bush surroundings at 17 Lauderdale Road, Birkdale, North Shore.

> NEW!!! HEALTHY CHILD, HEALTHY PLANET

A playgroup and parent course in ONE - starting 4 May 10.30am - 12.00pm
Kaipatiki Project is hosting these talks (and play) at its Environment Centre at 17 Lauderdale Road, Birkdale, next to beautiful Eskdale Reserve. Topics include:

• The concept of Healthy Child, Healthy Planet
• Nutrition and your Child
• Chemical-free Living
• Nappy-free Parenting
• Cloth Nappies
• Gardening with Kids

Toys are available to occupy small children while parents listen to subject experts, ask questions and meet like-minded people. Bookings essential. Entry by gold coin donation. Please click here for topics, dates and times.

> Create Your Own Eden

FREE composting and worm-farming courses - find one in your area - please click here for the course timetables in Auckland, Manukau & North Shore.

> EXTENDED!!! Take an educational bush-walk with Discovery Walks

‘Bush Walk & Talk’ is now offered on Friday and Saturday mornings throughout 2010
Kaipatiki Project is delighted to offer even more of these learning leisure walks. Friday morning walks come as a series of 4 walks starting on May 7 and cost $40 for the series. Saturday morning walks come as a series of 5 walks and cost $50 for the series. On each walk our experienced and knowledgeable guide will help participants identify common NZ native trees, plants, flowers and pest plants whilst taking in the beauty of some of the North Shore's most popular reserves. Please click here to find out more.

We look forward to seeing you at Kaipatiki.

Special News & Acknowledgments
Any regular visitors to the Kaipatiki Project's Environment Centre cannot have failed to notice the make-over which has been made possible recently through the generosity of some very special companies. Interface NZ, specialists in sustainable flooring, provided and laid a new carpet throughout much of the centre - hard-wearing and totally recyclable, the new carpet tiles bring a much needed fresh look to our HQ. As does the new paint-job, with bright, new colours provided by Guthrie Bowron, the paint specialists, in Browns Bay.

Sponsorship like this makes a huge difference to the Centre, for the first-time visitor as well as for everyone who works there, whether part-time paid staff, or as a volunteer. A very special acknowledgment of thanks goes to Penny Andersen, ex-committee member and volunteer sponsorship/events organiser, who has over the past two years worked extremely hard on Kaipatiki's behalf to secure all manner of goods and services for the organisation.

Penny bowed out on a high note following the hugely successful Green Drinks event hosted by Kaipatiki Project at its Environment Centre on 8 December 2009. Green Drinks is an international green networking movement which organises monthly get-togethers, and Kaipatiki was thrilled to host the Auckland region one on a beautiful evening outside the centre. Thanks to Penny, Jane Avery, Julia Lindesay, Kate Jackson and Lisa Ridehalgh for organising the event, and to all our event sponsors for the delicious food and drink supplied so generously. Click here for a full sponsors list.

Well done also to IAG NZ Ltd, our corporate volunteer partners for 2009 & 2010, for winning the Overall Large Exemplar award in the Sustainable 60 Series which recognises companies whose practices are about more than just building environmental awareness. Since February 2009, nine different teams from IAG NZ have taken a day out from their Auckland call-centre to 'give back' to the community by coming to Kaipatiki Project to help carry out restoration work in Witheford & Eskdale reserves, totalling up over 300 volunteer hours.