World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day History

World Wetlands Day is dedicated to bringing awareness about the importance of wetlands, their rich biodiversity and the critical role they play in climate change adaptation and mitigation. The focus is to generate awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet. The observance underscores the need for global cooperation in safeguarding these unique ecosystems, which provide essential services such as water filtration, storm buffering, and biodiversity support.

World Wetlands Day was established by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971, and has been internationally observed ever since. New Zealand, famously characterized by a variety of stunning wetland dependencies from ecologically important marshes to estuarine systems, has been part of the Convention since 1976. For New Zealanders, the observance holds specific importance as the nation is home to numerous wetland sites that are of international significance. It also serves as a reminder of the continued efforts required to protect and conserve these ecosystems, bearing additional weight in light of the fact that over 90% of the original wetland areas in New Zealand have been lost to drainage and development.

Every year in New Zealand, World Wetlands Day is observed through a variety of activities including educational events, environmental clean-ups, and community involvement initiatives. These activities aim at highlighting the importance of wetlands and encouraging their conservation. Despite the global date of 2nd February, the specific New Zealand observance of World Wetlands Day may often take place on the weekend closest to this date to accommodate community participation. Despite these challenges, New Zealand continues to strive for the protection and restoration of these vital ecosystems.

Top 10 Facts for 2026 World Wetlands Day in NZ

• The global theme for the 2026 observance is Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage, which emphasizes the vital role of indigenous wisdom and Māori mātauranga in the sustainable management of these fragile ecosystems.
• New Zealand has lost approximately 90 percent of its original wetlands since the 1840s, a rate of decline that is significantly higher than the global average.
• Despite covering only about 2 percent of the country’s total land area, our wetlands provide essential habitat for 22 percent of all native bird species, including the critically endangered matuku-hūrepo or Australasian bittern.
• Often referred to as the kidneys of the land, these ecosystems act as natural filters that capture sediment and excess nutrients before they can enter our coastal waters and harbors.
• Peatlands are remarkably efficient at carbon sequestration, with New Zealand’s peat bogs storing significantly more carbon per hectare than many types of native forest.
• The Wairarapa Moana wetland complex is the seventh and most recent New Zealand site to be designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• Significant restoration efforts are currently underway through the Arawai Kākāriki program, which targets high-priority areas like the Whangamarino Wetland and the Awarua-Waituna wetlands in Southland to improve water quality and biodiversity.
• Wetlands are the primary spawning grounds for īnanga, the most common species of whitebait, making their health critical to the future of this iconic New Zealand fishery.
• Residents in West Auckland can attend the World Wetland Day Festival at the Matuku Link reserve to see first-hand how volunteer-led restoration has transformed former farmland back into a thriving habitat for native eels and birds.
• The National Wetland Trust of New Zealand provides educational resources like the publication Magical Places: 40 Wetlands to Visit in New Zealand to encourage the public to explore and value these often-overlooked landscapes.

In the News and Trending in NZ for World Wetlands Day

Top things to do in NZ for World Wetlands Day

• Go outdoors and participate in events and activities such as tree planting, bird watching.
• Spread awareness on social media by using hashtags such as #WorldWetlandsDay or #WetlandsMatter
• Read a book to learn more about Wetlands in New Zealand:
  Wetlands of New Zealand: A Bitter-Sweet Story - by Janet Hunt
  New Zealand's Indigenous Forests and Wetlands - by Geoff Park
• Visit the Firth of Thames: This is one of the most significant wetland sites in New Zealand. It is home to a wide variety of bird species. The site is particularly important for waders, with up to 40,000 birds present in the summer.