Estuary clean-up shows LaserCon’s heart

Continuing a tradition of community service, 50 tradies and team members from New Zealand’s Laser® Group came together to put in the hard yards at the cherished Avon-Heathcote Estuary.

Laser® plumbers and electricians continued their commitment to ‘leave place better than they found it’ prior to the opening of their annual conference in the early morning of 21 August.

Each year, Laser® teams from all of Aotearoa gather together at ‘LaserCon’ to recognise the work of businesses around the country.

The group engages a not-for-profit organisation to support by rolling up their sleeves as koha for their host city’s warm welcome.

Internationally recognised, the Avon-Heathcote Estuary is Canterbury’s largest semi-enclosed shallow estuary and one of New Zealand’s most ecologically significant coastal wetlands.

The estuary is a vital piece of ecology in Christchurch, home to nearly 400 animal species, including 144 bird species and 34 fish species. It plays a key role in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, supporting migratory birds like the bar-tailed godwit.

It’s a treasured natural space for recreation, education, and conservation, though it faces environmental pressures from urban runoff, sedimentation, and pollution.

Together with the Estuary Ihutai Trust and Christchurch’s Park Rangers, the group got stuck into planting native vegetation to create safer nesting areas and create ecological resilience. They also set traps to control pests and removed invasive lupins to allow native species to thrive.

“Having the opportunity to give back a little during our annual gathering is really important,” said Kyle Weir, General Manager of Laser® Group NZ.

“We always look to make an impact in our host community, and deliver a mass effort to support the amazing work of the Estuary Ihutai Trust and Park Rangers.”

For the Trust, the people-power provided by the team of tradies and sparkies makes all the difference. “The Southshore Spit Reserve spans 40 hectares, which presents challenges for our small team.

With the Laser® team’s help, we achieved some vital planting and clean up that sets us up for a successful spring,” said Tanya Jenkins, manager of the Estuary Trust.

Departing the morning recharged for the start of their annual conference, Laser were also able to donate 12 traps, cutting tools and trail cams to assist with the Trust’s ongoing efforts at the estuary.