Biodiversity Week
at Hawke’s Bay Airport
23rd - 30th June
Create a home for biodiversity
Hawke’s Bay Airport is proud to support Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay, with a shared focus on restoring Te Taha (The Gap) – a unique shingle beach that forms part of our cross-runway area.
Biodiversity Week is about celebrating and protecting the natural life around us. Whether it’s in our backyards or on the coastline, we all have a part to play in helping biodiversity thrive.
Explore the ideas below and if you want to dig deeper, Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay has you covered with resources, events, and ways to get involved.
Plantingnatives
brings life.
Native plants aren’t just beautiful; they provide essential food, shelter, and nesting spaces for birds, insects and other local wildlife. Because they’ve evolved alongside other New Zealand species, they’re perfectly suited to support the species that make this place unique.
How you can help:
• Choose local natives. In Hawke’s Bay, look for species like kōwhai, tarata (lemonwood), and harakeke (flax).
• Plant a mix. Include flowering plants (like mānuka), fruiting shrubs (like makomako), and evergreens (like karamū).
• Layer it up. Aim for a mix of trees, shrubs, and ground cover — just like a mini forest in your backyard.
Keep nature safe from the stuff that
shouldn’t be here.
Weeds and pests are major threats to New Zealand’s biodiversity. While rats, stoats and possums destroy eggs, damage plants, and spread disease, weeds silently crowd out native species- stealing sunlight, water and nutrients that our ecosystems need to thrive.
How you can help:
• Check your patch. Spot and remove weeds by hand where you can.
• Suppress naturally. Use mulch or cut-up cardboard to block weed growth; it’s biodegradable and good for your soil.
• Set humane traps. Target pests like rats and possums to give native birds, insects and plants a fighting chance.
Small choices, big difference.
Biodiversity thrives in clean, balanced environments on land, in water, and everywhere in between. The decisions we make every day shape the health of our habitats, from what we throw away to how we care for our gardens.
How you can help:
• Compost food scraps. It keeps waste out of landfill and nourishes your soil.
• Use less water. Fix leaks, collect rainwater, and plant drought-tolerant natives.
• Choose better products. Go for biodegradable, wildlife-friendly options in your garden and home.
• Think before you bin. Reuse, repair or recycle — every little bit helps.
Communities are the heart of biodiversity.
From schools and workplaces to whānau and local groups, everyone has a part to play. Biodiversity is the reason we get to enjoy forests, beaches, rivers and hills and the more we do to protect those natural spaces now, the more future generations will be able to enjoy them too.
How you can help:
• Learn the names of native birds, bugs and plants; knowing them helps protect them.
• Volunteer or donate to a local restoration project.
• Share the love. Use your voice (and social media) to support biodiversity in your community.
• Get involved. Whether it’s a beach clean-up, planting day or classroom project! It all helps.
When lots of people do a little, it adds up
to a lot.
You don’t need to be an expert or part of a big group to make a difference. Biodiversity is protected by small, everyday actions — done by thousands of people, all over the country, in their own backyards and communities.
How you can help:
• Start small. Plant one native. Pull one weed. Pick up one piece of rubbish.
• Keep going. Turn that one action into a habit.
• Talk about it. Share what you’re doing — you might inspire someone else to do the same.
• Be part of the ripple. When we each take small steps, we move nature forward together.
Keep the
momentum going!
Biodiversity Week is just the beginning. You can support Hawke’s Bay’s natural environment all year round — from the bush to the backyard.