Neighbours turning a river into a community heart
From a vision to local action
When Drinkable Rivers began its mahi in Ōtautahi five years ago the dream was simple but ambitious: to restore rivers as the healthy heart of our ecosystems. At the head of the Ōtākaro Avon Stream, that vision has taken root in the most local of ways. What started with a 50 metre stretch of clearance and planting has now grown into a thriving community project, led by neighbours like David Anderson and Wendy McLintock and supported by locals who care about their place.
People power at Corfe Reserve
Each week in summer, locals gather for just an hour to care for the riparian zone. Everyone is welcome, and neighours show up regularly and consistently, using the time not only to work but also to connect and have a yarn. The short time commitment has helped keep things manageable and welcoming, drawing in people who may never have seen themselves as “environmentalists” but are now proud to be part of it.
Scouts, tamariki from Avonhead Primary and other community groups join planting days, building pride across generations. An informal men’s group has also emerged - it turns out connecting whilst doing is a powerful formula. What started with a few neighbours is now a wider movement of families, schools and locals who care.
Dave plays a key role. With care and local knowledge, he sets rat traps at sunset and unsets them at daybreak so wax-eyes stay safe. Each winter, around 30 rats are removed from the canopy, a small action with a big ripple effect for the reserve.
Building a community, not just a reserve
Before this mahi, there was opportunity for connection in the neighbourhood. Dave and Wendy embraced that. They knocked on doors, pulled together a phone list and invited everyone to a bring-a-plate dinner. From there, momentum built. Now, people stop to chat at Corfe Reserve, noticing how the area has changed. The restoration has become a spark for conversation, pride and belonging.
Of course, challenges pop up. Different ideas can clash, but teamwork is the key. Each person brings a passion, whether it’s birds, insects, fish, plants or butterflies, and together those passions weave a stronger whole.
Nature returning
Five years on, the change is clear. The stream and reserve are alive again:
Eels are back: Around 30 to 40 eels now live in the stream, a healthy sign for the waterway.
Bellbirds nesting: Their calls ring out at the top of the reserve, sometimes so loud they fill the whole space.
Rare fungi found: Species rarely seen in urban areas are now part of the landscape.
Monarch butterflies: Each winter, hundreds cluster in the reserve, turning it into a sanctuary of colour.
Rats reduced: Fewer pests mean neighbours no longer hear them in their roofs. Careful trapping has made a real difference.
Weeds tackled: Neighbours have worked hard to clear tradescantia, helping improve water quality further downstream.
This is not just restoration, it is regeneration. The stream is becoming whole again.
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A legacy of Drinkable Rivers
This project traces back to Drinkable Rivers’ early partnership with Villa Maria College from 2019 to 2021, which cleared the way and created links with Christchurch City Council. Since then, the community has built on that start and carried the work further downstream.
Next steps will focus on extending the mahi between Corfe Reserve and the University of Canterbury’s restoration site. The hope is to carry lessons learned at Corfe, alongside the knowledge and commitment of locals like Dave and Wendy, into the next stretch of the Avon.
The Avon Stream story shows what happens when vision meets community. Drinkable Rivers planted the seed, and neighbours grew it into a project that restores nature and strengthens human connections. The result is healthier water, more birds and insects, and a community that feels proud of its place.
Keen to help? Join a working bee at Corfe Reserve or nearby Peer Reserve. Together we can keep restoring our rivers as the living heart of our communities.
