Volunteering in our Reserves

Interested in volunteering around the Western Bay of Plenty?

Contact Jake Andersen on 027 200 6732 or email: volunteer@westernbay.govt.nz with your name, phone number and where you would be interested in helping out and he will get back to you.

Volunteering involves donating your time, skills, knowledge and enthusiasm to a project designed for the greater good of the community.

You can volunteer for a number of reasons, including:

• To make new friends
  
• To contribute to a good cause
• To give back to their community
• To improve the environment
• To learn new skills
• To feel good about themselves
• To have fun.

Volunteers are doing some fantastic things in the Western Bay of Plenty area and you can join in too!

Projects range from clearing and replanting public areas, to cladding toilet blocks - it's all about working as a team to make a difference and improve the community in which we live.

Disclaimer: This information is a guideline for safety only. Information on hazards and legislation are subject to change at any time.

The right to a healthy and safe work environment

As a volunteer you have a right to be in a safe and healthy workplace, so make sure you ask your group leader what they are doing to ensure this.

You also have an obligation to take reasonable care for your own health and safety and to make sure you don't affect the health and safety of others.

A fear of legislative hurdles around the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) should not deter people from volunteering. Volunteering New Zealand have created a factsheet on the HSWA for Volunteers. They have also developed a number of other factsheets providing further information on volunteering, see the Volunteering New Zealand website.

Working Together

We work with numerous volunteer groups in the community. When volunteer projects take place on Council owned land, in buildings or the road reserve, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, we have a 'duty of care' to ensure the group are working safely.

Groups should contact our customer call centre on 0800 926 732 during the planning stages of the activity or project to discuss requirements. You'll need to talk to our parks and reserves team, roading team or compliance team - depends on where it will be held.

You may be allocated a Council project manager who will then be your point of contact and will ultimately give approval for the activity or project to go ahead.

Site Safety

As part of the planning process, it is a good idea for your group to go through all the tasks to be carried out to determine the most effective and safest way to do them. Council can help in this process by providing expert advice. This will also help identify what risks are involved. E.g. will you be using weed killer or a chainsaw? When people interact with them, these risks can become hazards.

Hazards, and the controls you intend to put in place to reduce the risk, should be recorded into a site specific hazard register. The raw risk score is calculated before any controls are put in place, e.g. what harm could occur driving a car. The residual risk is calculated after certain controls have been put in place e.g. if I wear a seat belt and the car has ABS and air bags. These controls should reduce the risk score.

You can use the hazard register template below - your project manager can provide advice on how to complete it.

Hazard Register Template

It may be that you consider some tasks too dangerous to undertake yourselves e.g. felling a large tree. Council may be able to assist with such undertakings, contact your project manager to discuss options.

Some activities may require a Site Specific Safety Plan to be developed by the volunteer group. We can help by providing information and supplying a template (see below). The plan will provide details such as an outline of the proposed work, any conditions put in place by Council, details around first aid and medical provisions, emergency response, equipment and training and contact details for people on the site. The plan must be signed off by your Council project manager before any work starts.

Site Specific Safety Plan Template

The plan should be kept on site when work is being carried out, and discussed with the group on a daily basis. This enables people to know where they should be working and what tasks they should be doing. Meetings like this are often called toolbox talks.

These meetings are a good opportunity for you to let your group leader know what you are and aren't capable of. Remember you have a responsibility to look after yourself so if you are on medication or have an existing injury, such as a bad back, let your team know so they can find a job you can do without the risk of hurting yourself.

Please be aware that Council has the right to refuse approval of a volunteer project if the risk to health and safety is considered too great or the proposed controls are considered insufficient to manage the hazards.

Reporting Accidents and Injuries

If an accident happens, your Council project manager should be notified as soon as possible, particularly if someone is seriously injured. This will allow us to assess the nature of the incident and respond accordingly. By investigating how accidents happen we learn how they happened, how they could have been prevented and if possible put in place measures to ensure they do not happen again.

Traffic Management

Any activity or event that affects a road corridor (road, footpath or berm) requires a Traffic Management Plan (TMP).

A TMP is a site-specific plan that covers the design, implementation, maintenance and removal of temporary traffic management measures while work or an activity is carried out in the road corridor. This includes such activities as tree pruning and litter collection.

The plan details how road users - including cyclists and pedestrians - will be directed around a work site, accident, or other temporary road disruption, to minimise inconvenience while providing safe conditions for both the road user and those carrying out the activity.

For details on how to submit a TMP, see our TMP webpage.

Basic Safety Advice

• Wear footwear and clothing that can cope with the conditions and terrain you will be working in. Sensible boots or shoes, warm clothing and in some cases, overalls are essential
• Check to see if your site has good mobile phone coverage, if not you may have to find an alternative form of communication.
• Be sun smart: sunscreen, a hat and appropriate clothing to protect you from the sun's harmful rays. Remember to slip, slop, slap and wrap'
• Have a first aid kit available and someone onsite trained in basic first aid.
• Bring something to eat and drink. Working outside can be tough. If it's warm weather, you'll need plenty of water
• Carry a mobile phone and give Council staff on site your phone number so that we can contact you
• Take plenty of breaks and get help from your buddies if you need to do any heavy lifting
• Make sure you have medication with you if you suffer from allergies, asthma or other medical conditions. Let someone in your group know what to do if you fall ill
• All safety equipment must be checked before you embark on your project
• Ensure the tools you require are available and operational and that your members are trained or experienced in their use
• Only use power or mechanically driven tools if you have proper experience and safety equipment and have discussed the project thoroughly with your group leader.

How we can help your project

If you have a project in mind and a group of volunteers to help you out, here's how we may be able to work together:

• Collaboration and assistance with job planning
• Providing funding
• Contributing materials
• Connecting you to other volunteer groups

Options available can be discussed with your Council project manager.

Helpful links

Further information can be found in our Volunteers Guide (PDF 737KB), which can be printed out and handed out to volunteers at your event.

We can also help point you in the right direction by linking you to a number of other websites available in the Western Bay of Plenty and nationally if you'd like.

Volunteer opportunities:

If you would like your group to be added to this list please contact our Customer Service team by email or phone 0800 926 732.

Here is a list of volunteering inspiration.

More to be added soon, so watch this space!

Friends of Cooney Reserve

The Friends of the Cooney Reserve member formed in early 2022 with the objective of restoring and enhancing the reserve.

In that time a volunteer group of over 40 residents has formed to work multiple weekday and weekend working bees. Strong and fruitful relationships have been formed with the environment leaders of Western Bay of Plenty Council, Kate Loman-Smith, Steven White, and Peter Watson, and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Anna Dawson.

In addition, Ōmokoroa community groups have contributed and benefitted from the clean-up and enhancements of the Cooney Reserve.

These include: The Ōmokoroa Point Primary School – who have adopted naming of their classrooms for the bird species found in Cooney Reserve; The Ōmokoroa Bird Group, Ōmokoroa Public Art Group, Ōmokoroa Photographic Group, TOLO and local businesses; Fresh Choice, Ōmokoroa Country Estate, and YOUR real estate for the Welcome Home Godwit (Kuaka) Day last October – a significant community event with engagement of the Pirirākau Community, Local Board members and the Mayor and councillors of WBoP District Council.

Major works accomplished:

• Removal of pest weeds, plants, and trees in the foreshore areas, and along fence-lines, re-furbishing the fences. Planting extensive areas adjacent to the foreshore, realigning of the bike path/walkway with adjacent landscaping, drainage and access improvements, the creation of a grove of Pohutukawa, the installation of picnic tables and the donation of memorial seats plus the erection of a Godwit kinetic sculpture adjacent to the freedom camping area, and much more.

None of this was dreamed of when we began and could not have been achieved without the engagement and close cooperation of volunteers, contractors, council representatives, and advisors from DOC and within our own community.

The next phase of our environmental enhancement of Cooney reserve has three major components:

• The creation of a bird hide on the northern aspect of the existing path to the foreshore.
• The creation of Storyboards for the Bird Hide, Cooney history, bikeway to Tauranga.
• The installation of a bike repair stand.

Friends of Gerald Crapp Historic Reserve

Friends of Gerald Crapp Historic Reserve undertake work to see that it is kept tidy but in a natural state for enjoyment by the public and for exercise, picnics, views, the ancient exotic trees and to admire the Gellibrand Statue. The group's activities include, clearing windfall debris caused by adverse weather, removing pest plants like Black Walnut and Acacia. We also see the pathways are clear and other general maintenance is undertaken.
Group working bees are arranged as and when required but any volunteer who wishes to work alone is not discouraged.
You are encouraged to join our group to assist with maintenance, meet others and take pride in the natural environment plus protect, preserve, and enhance the character of the reserve.

Friends of I'Anson Bush Reserve

Friends of I'Anson Bush Reserve formed in 2018 to reclaim it from pest plants that were threatening the forest canopy. Since then, the reserve has recovered and is a thriving ecosystem. Volunteers meet regularly to undertake pest plant and animal control work. The Te Puna Reserve, just 10 minutes' drive from Tauranga, was a dairy farm until the late 1980's when it was donated to the QEII National Trust and planted with nearly 200,000 native plants by the community. It is a miraculous example of a restoration project. Friends of I'Anson Bush Reserve welcome new volunteers who wish to be involved, no experience or equipment is required, just turn up and learn alongside us.

Friends of Puketoki Reserve

The Friends of Puketoki Reserve volunteers’ goal is to maintain the natural ecology within the Reserve. Their main activities relate to animal pest control - possums, rats, mice, stoats, ferrets, hedgehogs, and cats. Although the pest control has been in operation for approximately seventeen years, there is still a low level of invasion from the perimeter.

Approximately 14 members of the pest control team meet regularly to walk the trap lines and tidy up the traps. Joining is a great way to meet new friends with common interests in pest control and who also enjoy outdoor activity within the reserve environment. Working within a group like ours helps with learning and sharing of knowledge.

Puketoki Reserve is a 40ha native forest remnant left to the community by the original saw millers around 100 years ago. There are many large trees of undeterminable ages - Rimu, Puriri, and Tawa being some of the attractions to view.

There are two easily accessible loop tracks - one of 20 minutes and the other of 50 minutes duration. The tracks are well maintained by the volunteers, with the help of the MAHI BOYS and are bridged over lovely streams.

Bird life is prolific with the attractions for most people being the North Island Robin, Kereru, Tui, Fantail and many more.

Some of our volunteers undertake reserve activities on weekends. Ribbon markers often need to be replaced and if you are handy with secateurs, that’s helpful too.

Predator Free Waihī Beach / Bowentown

Predator Free Waihī Beach, inclusive of Bowentown and Athenree areas, recognises our ecologically diverse coastal location, which has a range of natural habitats, including wetlands, estuary, coastal forest, and beaches bordered by natural dune systems. We have identified our local taonga species and are implementing measures to protect these through predator control.

We have found that residents are proud of their surrounding environment and passionate about protecting it. As a community, we want to work to preserve and raise awareness about bringing back the natives for residents, visitors, and future generations to come. The Predator Free Waihī Beach website page reflects this Predator Free Waihi Beach – SWB (sustainablewaihibeach.co.nz)

We have been supporting the coordination of our community champions who volunteer on various predator-free workstreams. We also work within the school supporting tamariki to champion trapping on reserve land, distributing traps and encouraging the recycling of caught predators.

Controlling predators and protecting biodiversity were identified as high priorities by the Waihi Beach community during the development of the Waihī Beach Community Plan, leading to the adoption of a goal to become Predator Free by 2025. This is a little ambitious however, the mahi has begun with a significant piece of work rolling out on 01 June - Predator Free Bowentown and the opening of a ‘Community Predator Trap Library’ run from the MenzShed.

During this mahi, Predator Free Waihī Beach has forged great relationships and collaboration between community environmental and predator trapping groups, iwi/hapu/marae and other local support/government organisations to ensure a sustainable community contribution to conservation.

Renaturing Katikati

Renaturing Katikati is restoring, enhancing, and protecting the indigenous habitats and biodiversity of Katikati’s shared green spaces. Helping our environment to become more resilient and sustainable comes with the side-effect of enjoyment and connectivity for participants and a definite sense of achievement.

Community volunteers are supported by Project Parore’s Katikati Environment Activator who communicates, coordinates and resources the renaturing activities. Sessions in local reserves and esplanades including Haiku Park, Uretara, Yeoman, Park Road and Beach Road walkways are focused on weeding out invasive plants, carrying out pest control, and planting natives. Propagating and potting-on seedlings in the nursery happens on occasion too. There is also the opportunity for individual care of specific bait and trap lines, which can be managed at times to suit the volunteer.

The group sessions are only a couple of hours long and an optional convivial morning tea follows: a hot cuppa and home-baked treats thanks to generous and hospitable locals.

Tools and high viz are provided but volunteers are welcome to bring their own gear. Renaturing Katikati volunteers meet weekly and monthly in various locations – the best way to find out more is to get yourself on the e-newsletter list by emailing Sharon Strong at kea@projectparore.nz or by joining the Renaturing Katikati Facebook page.

Te Mata Wetland Care group

Te Mata Reserve Care Group formed when a group of local volunteers got together to help kids from Waihī Beach Primary School to restore the Te Mata Wetland Reserve. The school has been growing native seedlings – Supported by Trees for Survival - and planting them around the margins of the wetland for three years now and the results are starting to transform the appearance of this area that lies right in the middle of Waihi Beach town.

Volunteers meet regularly and pitch in to keep the new plants weed free until they grow larger.

Western Bay District Council has developed pathways, commissioned an ecological assessment, and arranged poisoning of willows and the spraying of other pest plants such as convolvulus and blackberry.

Currently, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Western Bay District Council are working together to develop an Environmental Plan that will provide ongoing funding to continue to the restoration program over five years.

Te Puna Quarry Park

Te Puna Quarry Park, halfway between Bethlehem and Ōmokoroa, is in the foothills of the Kaimai; it is managed by volunteers, with support from us.

There are nearly 50 volunteers who share a love of gardening and outdoor work. They meet every Tuesday morning and work to their hearts content; some finish by 11am, while others continue until late, some come on other days too. Many retirees have been volunteering in the Quarry Park for decades, they thoroughly enjoy working with like-minded people while staying active and fit. They are looking to expand our volunteer base and are seeking people for a wide range of activities, such as gardening, technical work, arts, butterflies, special events, admin, web-content, and more.

They're keen to attract new people, ranging from unexperienced enthusiasts to specialists in their field. Their largest sub-groups are engaged in general garden maintenance and weed and pest control. Smaller groups look after specialised sections, for instance, orchids, bromeliads, fuchsias, succulents, herbs, hibiscus, magnolias, South African plants, etc.

Other subgroups can use a boost too, e.g. their qualified operators for the tractors, mini truck, trailer, chain saw etc., who ensure that the heavy lifting is done safely. And the technical group who maintains the many structures, shelters, seats, tracks and bridges. On the creative side, they need assistance with maintaining and expanding our collection of garden arts, and with promotion, photography, writing web content, contact with members, and general admin. Finally, they are keen to get occasional help with hosting groups in their fantastic amphitheatre and their popular (wedding) venue the Gallery, and for running special events such as our regular plant sales.

Athenree Homestead

Athenree Homestead volunteers have reclaimed the overgrown railway embankment (which closed in 1969) from weeds and replanted it with 750 natives.

Thanks to a small band of local ladies and work by Waihi Native Nurseries the embankment is now looking good but occasional weeding is required until the plants mature. The embankment can be viewed from the homestead gardens which are open to the public.

There are other opportunities to volunteer in the homestead and gardens too.

The house and station kitchen open on the first Sunday in the month during winter and every Sunday in summer.

Pest Free Ōmokoroa (PFO)

PFO began in 2005 after rodents were seen throughout Ōmokoroa and residents noticed a significant decrease in bird song. A small team of volunteers began regular baiting from the beach end of Ōmokoroa through to the Railway line.

Over the years birdsong has increased, but to this day, there is the need to manage these pests.

Until July 2023 baiting was the only method of managing pests but subsequently trapping and pest plant teams were established. In August 2024, the Ōmokoroa Environmental Managers Incorporated (OEMI) Bird Group joined with PFO. We have about 70 volunteers.

Our Bird Team also work closely with Bay Conservation Alliance, monitoring shorebirds and native birds, as well as educating school children and local groups and visitors. The team also plays a large part in the planning and running of the annual Godwit Festival.

We are grateful to be supported by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council. This enables us to purchase bait and traps each year to manage rodent numbers.

PFO welcomes new volunteers. No experience is required.

You can volunteer for as many or few hours as you wish. All we ask is that you learn with us, share your knowledge, enjoy the company of like-minded people, while striving to improve the environment.

For more information, please check out our Facebook Group, Pest Free Ōmokoroa, or email us,

pestfreeomokoroa@gmail.com.