21 Kohitātea 2021
It has been heartening to see funding awarded to programmes that are restoring our waterways and protecting habitat for our taonga freshwater species.
Over the summer, a number of collaborative programmes across iwi, council and community groups received funding from the Ministry for the Environment, the government’s Jobs for Nature programme and Regional Councils. The funding will support waterway restoration projects through river bank fencing and planting, plant and pest control and community engagement and education.
In November, Waikanae ki Uta ki Tai, a partnership of Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Kāpiti Coast District Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and the Department of Conservation received 8.5million to restore the Waikanae river. It acknowledges the work undertaken to date and Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai’s Kaitiakitanga Plan that treats the river as a source of sustenance to their identity as mana whenua.
The Whangaehu Catchment also received support from Horizons Regional Council. It included the continuation of funding that will go toward the restoration of Taonui stream and a tuna reserve at Makaranui as well as projects that support the restoration of the catchment.
Another project, in Manawatu Whanganui focuses on removing barriers like culverts, dams, weirs, fords that interrupt the natural life cycle of many freshwater fish who migrate to feed and spawn. It aims to free up 1000km for migratory fish.
As a trust that also provides funding opportunities through the Wai Ora Fund and the Tiaki Wai fund for hapū and iwi projects that work to protect and enhance our taonga freshwater fish, it’s great to see the importance of this work recognised and resourced by councils and government agencies.
