Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

River award recognises the Waitao community’s hard work

River award recognises the Waitao community’s hard work

4 November 2016

Bay of Plenty Regional Council congratulates the Waitao community on winning the 2016 Morgan Foundation National River Story award.

The Waitao Stream story won the award on November 3 thanks to the community’s collective efforts to improve the health of the stream and estuary. This work involves planting stream banks and wetlands, clearing weeds and rubbish, and keeping stock away from the water.

The regional council has provided assistance for Nga Potiki, Ngāti Pūkenga and other landowners in the catchment to fence and plant along the river, helped by environment group members. It also monitors the water closely and works to ensure farmers upstream keep their stock out of the bush and away from waterways. Regional council Tauranga catchments manager Sarah Omundsen says it’s great to be able to offer practical advice and funding support that helps people to take care of their land and water.

“It’s a win-win; they’re securing the health of their stock, family and business and the environment is better for it.

“The success of this collaborative approach results in improvements in the health of Bay of Plenty waterways. What happens on the land affects the water, and the quality of water affects the whole community. We work collaboratively with iwi, community groups and landowners to manage land sustainably. The Waitao Stream, which runs into the harbour, is a great example of this collaboration,” Sarah says.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Work to improve water quality in the Waitao Stream began in 2003, when Ngati Pūkenga joined forces with NIWA and the NZ Landcare Trust to design and implement Te Awa o Waitao restoration project. This involved clearing weeds and rubbish from wetlands close to the marae on the estuary, and securing funding to fence and plant the land. A kaitiaki was appointed to help collect monthly water samples and 12 sites have since been monitored for temperature, clarity, pH and conductivity.

In 2008 upstream communities joined the fight to restore the Waitao. Volunteers from the Waitao Landcare Group now run three small nurseries, sourcing local seed and raising several thousand plants a year, which are then planted along the riverbank. They have working bees once a fortnight. All stock has also been moved from a wetland between the two marae on the estuary, and 10,000 plants will be planted in the next three years to bring the wetland back to health.

These activities have resulted in better water quality. Long-term monitoring shows clarity has improved, unhelpful nutrient levels have reduced, and NIWA monitoring has found 15 species of fish and invertebrates. There is still much to do, however. The swimming hole at Kaiate Falls remains closed due to e.coli contamination, and the community and council are working hard to turn this around.

Positive progress can only happen when everyone along a river works together, Sarah says.

The annual National River Story award recognises inspirational river stories – examples of a community or an individual working hard to restore the health of their local river.

ENDS


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.