National Wetland Trust Homepage

National Wetland Centre

The National Wetland Trust plans to build a state-of-the-art interpretation centre, with research and educational facilities, wetland gardens and heritage trails.

An invitation by the Waipa District Council to build the proposed centre on reserve land adjacent to Lake Serpentine (above) is being seriously considered by the Trust, pending highway access permission and formal agreement with the Department of Conservation.

Lake Serpentine is near Ohaupo, between Hamilton and Te Awamutu. Close to Hamilton Airport, Mystery Creek (home of Field Days), Karapiro world class rowing facility, Otorohanga Bird House, Waitomo Caves and Maungatautari Ecological Island.

An exciting visitor concept plan (600 kb), interpretation plan (1 mb), business plan (4 mb), re-vegetation plan (2.7 mb) and landscape plan (6 mb) have been developed for the site. These were funded by grants from Transpower, Trust Waikato, Community Conservation Fund and Waikato Regional Council (Environmental Initiatives Fund), and supported by Waipa District Council.

We have also commissioned an analysis of the best way to restore wildlife, including assessing the feasibility of a predator exclusion fence (3 mb). This was funded by grant from the Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust (WCEET).

See a series of posters outlining our plans for the Wetland Centre.

1. Wai Ora - overview of proposed Wetland Centre for NZ (713 kb)

2. The place - describes Serpentine Lakes complex (369 kb)

3. A Wildlife Haven - about pest exclusion and re-introductions (483 kb)

4. Why wetlands - general poster about wetland values and needs (527 kb)

5. National Wetland Trust - promotional poster about NWT (609 kb)

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Design Brief

The architects will design a building with the following qualities:

A distinctive New Zealand character.
Eco-friendly and energy efficient.
Integrated with the surrounding landscape design.
Visually appealing and creative - to draw people in and hold their attention.

The landscapers will design a landscape that:

is part of the educational package, creative, innovative, inspiring
is integrated with the building design
has a totally indigenous character
demonstrates as many wetland types as feasible
exhibits wetland flora (and fauna if feasible)
is disability-friendly
is a lead-in to the walkway to Lake Serpentine
caters for the needs of children
has areas where groups can congregate at places of special interest
makes allowance for a possible future plant nursery.

The Kopuera land for the Wetland Centre was bought with a generous grant from the WEL Energy Trust.

Last updated 5 July 2011

Address: c/o Box 177, Pukekohe 2340, Te Kauwhata, New Zealand; Email