World Wetlands Day 2026
01 February 2026 - 02 February 2026
Region(s): Nationwide
Type(s): promotion, national Events
World Wetlands Day is held on 2 February each year to celebrate the 1971 adoption of the International Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian City of Ramsar.
Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.
Wetlands in Aotearoa
Wetlands, known as repo in te reo Māori, are threatened ecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand. Repo experts provide an introduction to the value of wetlands.
Select here to view video transcript and copyright information.
Each year there is a new theme for World Wetlands Day and events are held throughout the country and this year the theme is Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage.
World Wetlands Day is the ideal time to increase people’s understanding of these critically important ecosystems.
Show you care by getting involved in World Wetlands Day. You could:
organise a community walk, bike or run for wetlands
join a guided walk by an expert on wetland plants or birds
attend a workshop or talk, for example, on flax weaving
have a family picnic beside a lake or river and see how many different species you can identify and their special habitats
explore the waterway by kayak – what species you can spot.
On social media, share what you are planning on doing using these hashtags:
#Celebrating Wetlands
#WetlandsandCulturalHeritage
Below are some events from around the motu celebrating this special day. Please get in touch: enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz if you know of any other World Wetland Day events we have missed.
World Wetlands Day – Matuku Link
1 February, 10 am–3 pm
With free family activities every hour, including guided tours on bugs, birds, eels, and plants, a VR kauri dieback game, and local conservation groups to chat to, you will have plenty to do all day. While you are there, look for our local pāteke (brown teal), spot a secretive spotless crake (pūweto), and keep an eye out for the matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern). See how much Matuku Link has changed since its beginnings in 2016, with over 8,000 volunteer hours spent annually improving the place, building accessible boardwalks, and a Wetland Education Centre. Enjoy homemade treats, BBQ (vegan and non-vegan), drinks including fresh coffee, all available for purchase.
Location: Matuku Link, 111 Bethells Road, Te Henga, Auckland
Find out more: https://matukulink.org.nz/world-wetland-day-2026
World Wetlands Day – Rotopiko
1 February, 10:30 am–2:30 pm
Come along to a family fun day at Rotopiko and celebrate World Wetlands Day! There will be
games, give-a-ways, sausage sizzle and ice cream! In addition there will also be rongoā and weaving demonstrations, predator control and much more!
Location: Rotopiko Wetland Reserve, SH3 Ohaupo, Ohaupo
Find out more: www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/world-wetlands-day-2026/ohaupo
Related content
Te whakamahi i ngā rauemi o Tuihonoa Te Reo o Te Repo hei whakarite ara whakaako curates our collection of te reo Māori resources drawn from Te Reo o Te Repo – The Voice of the Wetland. He kōrero hei āwhina i te kaiako is a mātauranga pūtaiao framework for kaiako with suggestions on how to use the repo resources.
Repo (wetlands) – a context for learning curates our collection of English-medium resources, along with pedagogical and curriculum information. The interactive Wetlands – inquiry and action learning process supports educators who are interested in local wetland connections and restoration. We’ve also created Te repo/wetlands – a public collection for you to copy and use.
Explore the importance of wetlands alongside the Waikato River here.
Useful links
Visit the New Zealand Wetland Trust website, their goal it to increase the appreciation of wetlands and their values by all New Zealanders.
Go here and use the 'Waimāori | Freshwater, Wetlands Context' filter to discover a range of resources on the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education (NZAEE) website.
Find out more about the wetlands of Aotearoa on the Department of Conservation (DOC)'s website.