In 2018, Pūniu River Care (PRC) initiated a five-year project which aims to improve water quality, the mauri of the awa as well as helping to restore tuna habitat and terrestrial biodiversity. Activities for this project include fencing 32kms of the bank length to exclude stock, erosion protection works, planting 160,000 native trees and the creation of a marae-based restoration guide to enable growth in the development of other new organisations undertaking similar activities.

This five-year project will bring together elements from existing Waikato Regional Council systems in partnership with Pūniu River Care to pilot a new implementation model for environmental enhancement work on a priority reach of the Pūniu River.

Currently the river is not classified as being of a swimmable standard, the tuna stocks have depleted in some areas, the banks of the rivers are eroding and over 10,000 tonnes of sediment discharges into the Waipā river from the Pūniu river every year.

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MANGATOATOA MARAE NURSERY EXPANSION - THE PROPAGATION BUILDING AND HARD STAND EXTENSION

With organisational growth, comes the need for expansions! In previous years including 2017, Pūniu River Care had the capacity to produce 40,000 trees per year in the Nursery at our Marae. Through this project, PRC were able to complete the first stage of the expansion and increase the capacity to produce 200,000 trees annually. The first stage of the propagation building enabled the team to be able to work more productively and efficiently.  This building was an old shop that many people In the area have some fond memories of, so it was great that we were able to re-purpose it!  

PLANTING ECO-SOURCED NATIVE TREES

A total of 32kms of the Pūniu Awa banks are now dominated by native trees, grown and planted by Pūniu River Care. With an initial estimated target to plant 160,000 trees, PRC has successfully grown and planted over 193,000 native trees along the Pūniu Awa.

On a number of properties throughout the project, there was opportunity to increase the riparian margin on areas such as hillsides which was fully utilised requiring more plants and an increase of the benefits achieved through re-vegetation.

Riparian planting will help to stabilise the river banks, improve water quality through reduced sediment inputs, and shade out weeds. In addition to the filtration benefits of riparian planting, the increased vegetation will act as a highway, later connecting larger areas of existing habitat for species. In their journey, the vegetation will provide increased shelter and food for native fish with co-benefits for terrestrial biodiversity from plant foliage.

A range of native species have been planted including many plants that provide rongoā (natural medicines) for te taiao and the people such as Koromiko, Mānuka, Harakeke and Kawakawa.

By propagating native trees through PRC nursery it has enabled the organisation to develop a good understanding of rongoā māori and the medicinal & healing properties of our native rākau. Kaimahi have gained experience in practical use of rongoā by being able to make Mānuka soap, Koromiko for upset stomach & Kawakawa panipani as a healing balm.

STAFF TRAINING

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Building the teams knowledge around our native plants has been top priority in order to grow the capability our staff to produce healthy, thriving plants. A range of training has been delivered including an extensive programme in horticulture which covered cultural seed harvest, collection and record keeping, harvest plant identification, nursery infrastructure, capacity building across production work place first aid certificate.

Through workplace training, PRC had the opportunity to work on better understanding each other through identifying our own, and each other’s personality type. The team from 3E Leader delivered a training session on personalities which produced positive communication benefits for all staff.

A number of staff have successfully completed horticulture Level 2 ,Level 3 qualifications & RCA applicator courses

Photos below shows the team with Charmaine Bailie during a session on seed banking

MEASURING AND MONITORING RESTORATION

Restoration of the Pūniu Awa is of significant spiritual value to Tangata whenua.

Karakia has been implemented at the beginning of each day, before planting began along the Pūniu river as well as for sites of cultural significance in planting areas. Kaimahi have become more culturally aware of significant cultural sites which has also created a sense of reconnecting for some, to their whenua, their tūrangawaewae. This is a priority as tangata whenua to not only acknowledge and help to restore the mauri of the awa but also to acknowledge the mauri of all the significant sites along the Pūniu and throughout the region.

As a way of measuring the health of the wai (water), PRC understand that freshwater kai such as kōura and freshwater mussels can also be used as a physical measure. This might look like an increased sighting of freshwater kai and also harvesting to evaluate the quality of the kai.

Making notes of the tuna stocks is also a way of understanding the health and state of the awa. Creating tuna habitat has been a focus for this project. Woody Debris from native vegetation will provide habitat for tuna.

A physical measure for monitoring is a GIS dataset which has been developed for the project and captures information about fencing and planting. The GIS data is available through an online web application which funders can view, download and share. GIS data will be updated monthly.

Line features are captured for fencing. This shapefile will include number of wires, post spacing, length and date of installation. Point features (grouped) are captured and include species of plant, pot size, spacing and date planted

Each feature will have a link to drone photo points and associated GPS flight path. The accuracy of GIS data will enable the stakeholders to monitor and assess fencing and native plant assets.

MARAE BASED RESTORATION GUIDE

A bilingual open source guide for marae-based restoration was developed as part of this project, to enable growth in the development of other new organisations.

HE WĀHI HAUMARU, HE WAI KOIORA, HE IWI HAUORA

SAFE PLACES, HEALTHY WATERS, HEALTHY PEOPLE

A guide to assist marae and hapū to build their capacity in restoration

Marae-based restoration guide can be downloaded in Te Reo Māori and/or English

TE REO MĀORI VERSION

ENGLISH VERSION

LANDOWNER ENGAGEMENT & OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH WAIKATO REGIONAL COUNCIL

The opportunity to work on the awa was heavily dependent on the cooperation of landowners that have properties which back on to the Pūniu. PRC have successfully worked alongside 31 landowners, with landowner agreements in place to ensure that the work to be completed on their property was clear and to provide a stable base where a relationship could be formed to work together to find a solution to a shared problem.

Landowners have again been positive towards the project and are being pro- active. External communication has enabled farmers outside of the project scope to contact us in regards to riparian planting on their property (creating future restoration and employment opportunities for PRC).

With the aim of bringing together elements of existing Waikato Regional Council (WRC) systems working in partnership with Pūniu River Care, this project has been a pilot for a new implementation model for environmental enhancement work on a priority reach of the Pūniu Awa.  

Substantiable works has been completed by WRC implementing erosion structures over the past 4 years minimising & mitigating erosion. WRC has carried out river erosion management and protection, including approximately five in- river erosion protection structures. Erosion structures are a mixture of rock revetment, rock groynes, vegetation groynes and tree layering per kilometre (at least 1 kilometre per year and over 8 kilometres over the 5-year period.

A great relationship has been formed with WRC throughout this project with a staff bbq at one of the firsts sites that was worked on and also a planting event held at the ag research site near Mangatoatoa Pā, below the bridge on State Highway 1.

FUNDERS, PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

Thanks to our funders, partners and supporters who have supported the Kaupapa to enable PRC to carry out mahi along the Pūniu Awa. These relationships are held close as we work towards enhancing the waters and replenishing the Taonga within the Pūniu Catchment.

Videos below show some of our funders and how they have supported the project; Ngā Kaitiaki o te Awa o Pūniu.

MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - FRESHWATER IMPROVEMENT FUND

WAIKATO RIVER AUTHORITY

MOMENTUM WAIKATO

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