A spirit of joy and connection flows through Linwood’s waterway, thanks to a grassroots movement bringing nature and community together. The Linwood Waterway Group brings together local organisations, residents, and Christchurch City Council to reconnect Greater Linwood with the Linwood Drain and its surrounding environment. Through hands-on projects and community-led action, the group champions ecological restoration, community connection, belonging, and a sense of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) for the native species that call the waterway home.

In early 2025, the group kicked off the year with a vibrant community event in Linwood Park, celebrating the waterway and inviting Te Huarahi Linwood Avenue School students to explore its hidden life. Children learned about the tuna (shortfin eels) living in the drain and shared ideas for improving the park and pathway. Locals joined in too, voicing their hopes for the area’s future and some signed up to be part of the group.

Momentum grew quickly. The group now hosts regular working bees, where volunteers plant native species, maintain the pathway, and take action to improve water quality. These gatherings not only enhance the environment but also strengthen community bonds.

At one such working bee in August, the Play Preservation Trust hosted a pop-up play event to support University of Canterbury geography students researching the path and adjacent greenspaces. The students gathered community feedback on how the pathway is used, what people enjoy, concerns, and ideas for improvement. They also shared a survey on local Facebook pages, receiving over 60 responses. People appreciated the pathway as a traffic-free shortcut and for its wildlife. Some raised concerns about safety, rubbish and dog waste. Suggestions to encourage more people to use the path and stay longer in the area included benches, picnic tables, planting, play elements, murals, and educational signage celebrating the tuna.

In response, the Linwood Waterway Group is teaming up with local artist Nick Lowry and Te Aratai College to create an informative mural in November 2025, celebrating the drain and surrounding area. The group is also exploring a play and walk loop that could extend into surrounding neighbourhoods; an initiative designed to deepen connection, encourage outdoor activity, and support the wellbeing of both people and place.

As the Linwood Waterway Group continues to grow, its vision remains clear: to support a safe, welcoming space where locals of all backgrounds and abilities can connect with nature, enjoy the outdoors, and contribute to the wellbeing of their community. By harnessing the strengths, creativity, and care within the community, the group is helping to shape a thriving Linwood; where people and place flourish together.

The Linwood Waterway Group includes Linwood residents and representatives from: Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust, Christchurch City Council, Linwood Avenue Community Corner Trust, Linwood Avenue Union Church, National Public Health Service Waitaha, Smith Street Farm, Trees for Canterbury, and Woodland Escape.

To connect with the Linwood Waterway Group, please email: jacqui.miller@ccc.govt.nz