Above: Wanda Tate has championed the restoration of the Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve.
Wanda Tate has been recognised for her tireless work at Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve and her passion for Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour.
Mrs Tate received a prestigious “Old Blue” award from Forest & Bird for her role leading the successful revegetation and restoration of the
wetland reserve. The award is given annually to people who make a significant conservation contribution.
For the past two decades, Mrs Tate has worked to restore and protect our harbour and is personally responsible for planting many thousands of
plants around the Pāuatahanui Inlet catchment, says Anita Baker, Councillor and Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour and Catchment Joint Committee Chairperson.
“She has poured thousands of volunteer hours into the reserve and it’s thanks in large part to her efforts that the Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve is in such good shape.”
Mrs Tate was also a member of the Pāuatahanui Inlet Community Trust that was instrumental in the first plan to protect the inlet and then the development of the Porirua Harbour and Catchment Strategy and Action Plan, and the establishment of the Porirua Harbour Trust.
She joined the Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve committee in 1993 and can still be found at the reserve most days of the week weeding and planting.
Her work has been acknowledged with a Queen’s Service Medal and she won the environmental section of the Wellingtonian of the Year award, but she emphasises it is a team effort and thanks all the reserve’s volunteers.
“I’m really proud of what the team has achieved. The results of all the planting and other work are starting to really show. We’ve worked in the background and taken the time to let nature sort itself out. I do get a great kick out of that.”
“My real satisfaction is what we’ve done at the reserve is inextricably linked to the marine ecology of the Pāuatahanui Inlet and the whole harbour and that impact is ongoing.”
28 Aug 2017
