Planting to stop nutrient run-off

A planting programme to stop sediment and nutrients running off Welcome Bay farmland and into Rangataua Bay began this week.

'Grazing stock were removed from the wetland about six months ago,” says Pirihima Whānau Trustee Colin Reeder.


Rob McGowan, Charlie McLeod, Colin Reeder (Pirihima Whānau Trustee), Chrissy McLeod, Matire Duncan (Ngā Potiki RMU) and Courtney Bell (Regional Council) at the beginning of planting near Waitao Stream mouth.

'Yesterday's planting was just the beginning of our work to protect and restore the harbour margin. We'll be putting about 10,000 native plants into the area in the next three years.

'The Ngā Potiki Resource Management Unit is co-ordinating that work for us.”

Pirihima Whānau Trustees, representatives from Ngā Potiki Resource Management Unit, and staff from Bay of Plenty Regional Council gathered near the Waitao Stream mouth to bless the site and make a start on planting a 3.5 hectare area of wetland adjacent to the Rangataua Estuary, near Welcome Bay.

'The Awa o Te Waitao/Waitao River is a cultural icon,” says Colin. 'It has served as a pataka kai/food store house that provided sustenance for generations of our Nga Potiki and Ngati Pukenga whanau.”

The stream is remembered for the shoals of mullet, herring, flounder, eels, kokopu and ducks that were once harvested from its waters in better times, says Colin. Generations of the trustees forebears who attended the then Papamoa Native School, later the Papamoa Maori School learnt how to swim at a bend in the river just below Tahuwhakatiki marae is called Te Hopua.

'Unfortunately, farm run off further upstream and other types of human activity over the past 70 years have taken a heavy toll on both the river and Te Tahuna o Rangataua,” says Colin.

'We want our mokopuna/grandchildren and all mokopuna to be able to enjoy a healthier harbour. We want these future generations to enjoy Te Awa o Waitao and Te Tahuna o Rangataua that are bursting with wildlife. With Regional Council's support we're able to lead by example and take the first step. It is an exercise of our kaitiakitanga/guardianship and doing the right thing on the land that we own.”

The regional council is providing planning and financial assistance for the project as part of its work to care for Tauranga Harbour and its catchment. Regional Council Tauranga Harbour Catchments Manager Sarah Omundsen says the project builds on waterway protection work already underway throughout the Waitao catchment.

'With our assistance, upstream landowners and Waitao Landcare Group volunteers have already fenced and planted many kilometres of Waitao stream margins. It's awesome to now be able to support Pirihima Whānau Trustees and Ngā Potiki in their work at the stream mouth,” says Sarah.

Regional Council offers practical advice and funding subsidies of up to 50 percent to any Bay of Plenty landowner that wants to reduce erosion and protect waterways on their land. Interested land owners should contact their local Land Management Officer by calling 0800 884 880 or visit www.boprc.govt.nz/landmanagement for further information.

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1 comment

nutrient run off

Posted on 23-06-2016 09:21 | By Jimchris

There should be more education on the building of very healthy soil . When the soil is healthy there is no leaching or run off . where there is "run off" problem it points to poor soil management .


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