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Kia ora and Happy New Year, We hope 2026 has begun kindly for you, and that the summer break offered moments of rest, laughter and time with whānau and friends. In this newsletter, we’re sharing a couple of important invitations and updates from across the Project Tongariro whānau. You’ll find details about our much-loved annual Thank You Volunteers BBQ Dinner at the Tongariro National Trout Centre - a chance to fill your cup, connect with the wider PT community, meet our newly elected governance board members and staff, and celebrate the phenomenal contribution our volunteers make each year. We’re also giving you a first heads-up about our June Project Tongariro Field Trip to Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain, with expressions of interest opening soon for this overnight experience. More details on both are shared below. This new year has also arrived with heartbreak. Our aroha is with the whānau affected by the devastating landslip at Mt Maunganui, and with communities across Northland, the East Cape and Tairāwhiti/Gisborne who have been hit hard by recent storms. We hold close in our thoughts those who have lost loved ones, and the rescue and recovery teams continuing this incredibly difficult work. Moments like these are a sobering reminder that our tamariki will grow up experiencing more extreme weather events than any generation before them. Removing carbon from our atmosphere and restoring healthy ecosystems is no longer optional - it is essential for future generations. Closer to home, we have made the difficult decision to pause our Waimarino Restoration Project in the southern Ruapehu region due to funding constraints. Alongside this has come the heavy task of farewelling Liz Brooker, who has so courageously led our community environmental education mahi in the Waimarino. Liz’s passion, integrity and fearlessness have left a lasting mark, and she will be deeply missed. Despite the challenges, our commitment to this kaupapa remains strong. Thank you for walking alongside us - your support continues to matter more than ever. Ngā mihi nui,
Kiri & The Project Tongariro Team
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