BECOME A FRIEND OF OUR RIVERS
If, like us, you care about the health of our local environment, please join Friends of Awa Matakanakana (FOAM). We are seeking to increase membership because we know that the more people who support us and know about what we are trying to achieve, the better chance we will have of protecting and improving the health of the streams, rivers and estuary, and our overall environment.
You can become a member of FOAM by emailing us at matakanakana2@gmail.com or download a membership form and email it to us.
We will send you a membership form – the current subscription rates are:
Individual membership $20
Household membership $30
Organisation membership $30
Want to get involved in specific, one off or regular activities?
The majority of FOAM’s activities are fieldwork based in the beautiful, natural surroundings of our streams, rivers and the estuary. Contact FOAM and have a friendly chat with one of our members before committing yourself to lend a hand with any of the activities shown below. Our blog and newsletters give insights into the range of activities we are involved in.
WATER QUALITY SAMPLING. Full training is provided. A sampling session takes place at each of our eleven sites every three months and takes approximately four hours to complete.
MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT. Our sediment sensors, for example, require cleaning once a fortnight. This task takes about one hour to complete.
COMMUNICATION. We have a blog and use social media for which additional IT expertise would be welcome. Help preparing and reviewing material for the submissions FOAM makes to local and national Government groups is also needed. We are keen to continue to develop our relationship with our local iwi, Ngāti Manuhiri, through regular communication and discussion.
SHELLFISH MONITORING. We monitor shellfish at Sandspit once a year. The session takes between two and three hours to complete.
DATA MANIPULATION. If you have Excel or GIS skills we need help with a variety of tasks related to this.
WETLAND CREATION. Come along for part of or a whole day and help transform an area into a wetland. Wetlands are vital in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Current vacancy on the FOAM committee
We have a small, dedicated group of people serving as committee members. They have a range of expertise and experience. Currently, we have one important role to fill:
SECRETARY. FOAM’s secretary prepares the agenda for and attends our monthly meetings (usually about two hours long). As well as contributing to the discussion at those meetings you would take minutes and subsequently distribute those. You would be FOAM’s point of contact with members and others and would receive and send correspondence. In addition there are one or two other events in the year, such as our AGM, that would require your secretarial skills. You would not necessarily get involved with activities such as water quality testing or riparian planting, unless you want. However, you would be a very important link between our committee, our members and the wider public.
Friends of Awa Matakanakana 