The Kuaka team has coordinated 32 conservation volunteer groups since 2002, and these groups have created many environmental and social benefits over the years.
Environmental contributions:
Over 55,900 trees planted
Over 29,000 m2 of weeds cleared
Over 15,000 trees released
Over 37,000 seedlings potted on:
18 estuaries indicator species monitored
Over 4,930 m of tracks created/completed through natiive bush and forest
Over 10,000 m of DOC tracks maintained
Social contributions:
1210 School children interacted with and taught how to plant
33 visits (over 61 hours) spent with the disabled trainees at Avalon
Over 48,000 volunteer hours
Community groups interacted with:
Avalon trainees (plant propagation), Waikaraka Estuary Managers (assisting with revegetation work), Pirirakau Incorporated Society, Merivale Community Centre,
Marae work/visits:
3 Marae and 75 visits. Riparian plantings, several specimen gardens created, painting of wharekai, new plants released and land cleared of weeds.
Other Achievements:
Building relationships between the Maori community, local people, and other local businesses. We provide Maori interpretation in our education to prepare visitors for effective cultural experiences in partnership with specific Marae.
Assisting schools to learn skills in re-vegetation to apply to their own school reserve areas and fragile environments and in doing so, educate hundreds of New Zealand school children about the environment every year.
Assisting Avalon (a centre that provides work, training, and support to people with disabilities) to build a nursery and the creation of another income stream for this organization providing training and work assistance to people with disability, and providing interaction with people from another culture for the disabled trainees.