Harataunga BioBlitz
Description
A weekend of biodiversity exploration! Come along and join our community event where scientists, students, and everyday people will be working together to find and count as many plant, animal, and fungus species as possible!
Based out of Harataunga marae and with accommodation and food available this is an awesome opportunity to explore an isolated and incredibly special slice of the Coromandel. Use your skills to log species onto iNaturalist and help build the first ever snapshot of biodiversity at Harataunga. The site spans remnant forests, wetlands, rivers, saltmarsh and the coastal marine area, so we need all types of keen conservationists involved.
Register now - more info to come!!!
Schedule
Harataunga BioBlitz October 31st – November 1st 2026
Location: Harataunga (Rakairoa) Marae, 1254 Kennedy Bay Road, Kennedy Bay, Coromandel
Information to be gathered about: birds, native freshwater fish, insects, geckos, vegetation (wetland, forest, saltmarsh), marine species, native frogs, moths… anything really!
Come for as long or short as you like, drop in or stay for the weekend. If arriving on Friday night the Marae will be open from 4pm. If staying on the Marae bring a pillow and bedding (e.g. sleeping bag).
Saturday Oct 31st
Time | Activity | Notes |
9am | Welcome and intro to the event (including H&S and registration, access to iNaturalist page) | Maps and guides provided |
10am | Morning tea | provided |
10.30am | Organise into groups and enter the field | Group leaders for different sites |
11am | Boats to cross the river to bush block | Lunch in the field Provided as packed lunch (or BYO) |
~2pm | Boats return across river Groups return to Marae for afternoon tea | |
3pm | Everyone back to check-in and choose another site or area to explore if desired (register if just arriving) | Relax if not wanting to return to field. Short walk to the beach for swimming |
5pm | Dinner and presentation/korero about Te Ranga Wairua | |
6.30pm | Night surveys for those who want to look for weta, geckos etc. | Sunset at 7.32pm |
10pm | Everyone back at Marae | Accommodation available for 30 people (camping area available as well) |
Sunday November 1st
Breakfast provided. Clean-up and tidy the Marae. Groups or individuals carry on with field work if they want to explore further.
Event ends and all to sign out at the Marae at 12 Noon.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
