Monday, 6 March

Explore your regional parks this Parks Week

Have you ever explored the Waimakariri River or Ashley Rakahuri Regional Parks? How about the beaches of Northern Pegasus Bay or the shores of Lake Tekapo Regional Park? Parks Week could be your chance to get out and explore our Regional Parks and what they have to offer.

Environment Canterbury is one of many organisations taking part in the week-long event from 4 – 12 March and have scheduled free BBQs at the Waimakariri River Regional Park and Northern Pegasus Bay.

Environment Canterbury Parks and Forests Team Leader, David Owen, said the annual Parks Week reinforced the importance of our natural spaces, and helped raise awareness of the parks.

“There are many benefits that come from our parks. They are a safe place for people to explore the outdoors, it gives the community a space to take ownership of, there are important biodiversity projects taking place in them and so much more.”

“These spaces are meant for the community to enjoy and we urge people to go use them. We hope to see new faces checking out our parks as well as the regular users at our BBQ events scheduled over Parks Week. The events will be staffed by Park Rangers who are happy to have a chat about the parks we look after.”

Environment Canterbury looks after three parks in the region (Ashley Rakahuri, Waimakariri and Lake Tekapo Regional Parks) and also patrols along Northern Pegasus Bay.

There are a variety of different outdoor activities catered to including horse riding, mountain biking, motocross, bird watching, picnicking and fishing.

The New Zealand Recreation Association and Parks and Leisure Australia have come together to get organisations on both sides of the Tasman to raise awareness of their parks in this annual event.

Further information on our parks can be found on our website; www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/living-here/regional-parks.

Information on Parks Week and other events taking place for Parks Week can be found at www.parks-week.org.

Environment Canterbury BBQ event details

Saturday 11th March

10am – Noon - McIntoshs fishing area, Waimakariri River Regional Park.

1 – 3pm - Kairaki Beach entrance, Northern Pegasus Bay.

Sunday 12th March

11am– 1pm – Kaiapoi Island, Waimakariri River Regional Park (exact location to be confirmed via Facebook on the day).

If you would like to attend one of the BBQs, visit the regional parks Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Ecan.Parks) and register your interest (so there are enough sausages to go around!).

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