On 26th June 2025 we were delighted to attend Northland Regional Council's Whakamānawa ā Taiao – Environmental Awards evening at Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

Project Island Song was nominated for the award for Environmental Action to Protect Native Life. With such a strong field of incredible conservation initiatives across our region, we were extremely proud to be announced as the winners of this award.

Given the partnership-based nature of Project Island Song, it was fantastic to have representatives of all partners present to accept the award, with William Fuller representing the Guardians of the Bay of Islands, Rana Rewha for Ngāti Kuta, Marara (Binnie) O'Neill for Patukeha, and Laura Meyer of DOC (all pictured above). The Project's achievements to date are built on the strength and resilience of this partnership.

We were further honoured to be Highly Commended for the Kiwi Coast Outstanding Group or Project Award, which recognises high-achieving groups that are collaborative, results-focused, and forward-thinking.

This award recognises the vision and hard mahi of the many, many people (thousands in fact!) who have contributed their time, effort and money to the Project over the past two decades. If that includes you, then please give yourself a pat on the back!

A beautiful Sunday 8th June saw another 575 native plants find new homes on the islands, with help from fantastic volunteers from around the bay.

This is the third year of planting in this Urupukapuka Bay site, creating more habitat for the island's wildlife, as well as reintroducing greater diversity of future seed sources to support the natural regeneration of the bush.

Big thanks to Tom Lindesay for sourcing and caring for our plants, as well as everyone who came out to help get them planted, to Trees That Count for funding them, and to Explore Group who generously transported volunteers free of charge to Urupukapuka.

Please join us in saying a fond farewell to Kirstie as she finishes her role as Education/Volunteer Lead Coordinator.

Over the last year Kirstie has made wonderful developments in the volunteer space, increasing engagement with our volunteers, researching and implementing our weed management software which has made planning and recording weeding sites across the islands more effective.

Within the education programme Kirstie has updated and developed our Floating Classroom programme, worked alongside the R. Tucker Thompson Youth Voyages engaging the rangatahi in looking after our environment, planting trees, monitoring rare and endangered species and in addition has developed tools and resources for events.

Please join us in saying ka pai and whakawhetai koe for her mahi over the last year and we wish Kirstie well in her all next endeavours!

We're thrilled to welcome Abby O'Neill to the team as our new Education/Volunteer Lead Coordinator.

Many of you will know Abby as a Kororāreka/Russell local and uri of Ngāti Kuta, Patukeha and Ngāti Manu hapū. Abby has been in Australia over the past 15 years but spent two years back in Aotearoa during Covid, volunteering with us during that time. She continued to join weedbusting when she was back in Kororāreka/Russell over the holidays.

Abby's studies in botany, horticulture and recent mahi in plant installations and maintenance will come in very useful in her new role with us. She is excited to share more of her passion for Ipipiri and its history and ecology.

For Education and Volunteer-based activities Abby is your contact going forward, you can get hold of her on the following email addresses:

For education enquiries: learn@projectislandsong.co.nz

For volunteering enquiries: volunteer@projectislandsong.co.nz

This autumn and winter has seen hundreds more tamariki from around the Bay of Islands venture out to the islands of Ipipiri, as part of our Floating Classroom educational programme.

Over the season, Year 5 and 6 students from 10 schools have had the chance to experience the regenerating ecosystems of Ipipiri, spot rare birdlife, and have a hands on introduction to protecting our native flora and fauna.

Read more and check out the photos from this year's Floating Classrooms here, including some fantastic work produced by students inspired by their experience.

Our 2025 raffle was drawn in May, with Eveleen winning our first prize stay at Eagles Nest, David enjoying a sunset cruise on Cool Change, and Mandy receiving the David Trubridge light pendant.

Beyond those lucky ticketholders, there were many other winners from our raffle, including the wildlife of Ipipiri and everyone in our community who is invested in the future of this project.

We are delighted that this year's raffle topped even our first effort, raising an incredible $25,000 for our mahi. Thank you to all who took part, and especially our hugely generous prize donors.

We have added three new weedbusting sessions this July and August and are looking for volunteers to get involved.

Join us for a beautiful day out with the opportunity to spot some of our spectacular birdlife while removing invasive weeds and supporting natural regeneration on the islands.

Upcoming dates (all 8.30am to 2.30pm):

- Wednesday 23 July 2025
- Wednesday 13 August 2025
- Saturday 16 August 2025

Head over to Better Impact, our volunteer hub, where you can login or register, and sign up to help out.