From Streams to Wetlands: How Parishes Are Answering the Call to Be Kaitiaki of God's Earth

As the Season of Creation draws to a close on October 4, we are reminded that the work of caring for God’s creation continues every day.

This season, we celebrated the inspiring efforts of several parishes across our Diocese, each playing a unique role in caring for our planet and embodying the call to be wise and caring kaitiaki of God's creation.

Lower Hutt Anglican’s journey to becoming an Eco Church marked an exciting new chapter. They hosted a community open day with Mountains to Sea, raising awareness about the Opahu Stream. Locals joined in activities like species identification, sun photography, and stream history exploration, igniting a deeper connection with the awa and encouraging conservation efforts.

Further north, the Ruapehu Anglican Parish took part in a significant environmental restoration project, transforming a wetland area next to St. Mary’s Hall in Raetihi. This community working bee brought together 20 volunteers, including students from the William Pike Challenge, to plant native species, remove invasive plants, and clear rubbish. Their hard work reflects the interconnectedness of life and the importance of stewarding the earth wisely.

Meanwhile, Lyall Bay Community Church continued its monthly beach clean-ups, using resources from Strandz to create a “Beach Treasure Liturgy,” blending prayer, Bible stories, and practical creation care activities. These efforts are a small but meaningful way to bless God's creation and engage the community in environmental stewardship.

We recognize that there are many more parishes faithfully caring for creation, often in ways that may go unnoticed. If we’ve missed your story, please accept our apologies—your work is amazing, even if it hasn’t been highlighted here. We warmly invite all parishes to share their creation care activities with our Communications team. Whether it’s a long-standing project or a new initiative, we’d love to hear and celebrate how your parish is answering the call to care for God's earth.

As the Season of Creation comes to an end, let’s remember that our mission to be kaitiaki of the earth doesn’t stop. Together, we can continue to make a lasting impact, inspired by the many ways our parishes are leading the way.