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Funded: $3.52m by Kānoa Regional Economic Development and Investment (COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund); $1.35m by Waikato River Authority
Total project cost: $7.21m
Project duration: 3 years

This project is expected to be completed by October 2024 and supports delivery of river and catchment management projects in the Lower Waikato River catchment with a specific focus on those that flow into significant lakes and wetlands. This includes the catchments of Lakes Waikare, Waahi and Whangape and the Whangamarino and Opuatia wetlands as identified in the Waikato and Waipā River Restoration Strategy.

The regional council has worked with eligible landowners to undertake retirement of steep hill country, afforestation, pole planting, riparian fencing and planting, and actions to reduce and prevent stream bank erosion.

The project has provided job opportunities and contract work for local nurseries, fencers, planters, weed contractors and others.

 

Benefits

  • 270,000 mixed native plants planted on retired land.
  • 59ha retired from grazing and planted in native plants.
  • 91km of stream, lake and wetland margins fenced.
  • 88km of new fencing constructed around areas of retired land with high erosion risk and to exclude stock from existing indigenous forest.
  • 58,170 native and exotic afforestation species and poplar/willow poles planted to stabilise land with high erosion risk.
  • 110 erosion control structures constructed to stabilise streams/rivers with erodible banks.

Progress

  • 158,520 mixed native plants planted on retired land.
  • 665ha retired from grazing and planted in native plants.
  • 129km new fencing constructed retiring riparian areas and land with high erosion risk or indigenous forest.
  • 413,183 native and exotic afforestation species and poplar/willow poles planted to stabilise land with high erosion risk.
  • 181 erosion control structures constructed to stabilise streams/rivers with erodible banks.

Next steps

  • Complete final planting and retirement works by 30 October 2023.
  • Complete final project reporting.
Erosion control structure to stabilise an erodible bank of the Taniwha Stream.
New fencing along the Opuatia Stream.
Planting along Matahura Stream.
Native afforestation planting.
Riparian planting along the Matahuru Stream.
Hill country retirement fencing at Matahuru.
[1/6] Erosion control structure to stabilise an erodible bank of the Taniwha Stream.
Matahuru planting.
Naike pole planting.
Opuatia planting.
Waerenga afforestation planting.
[1/4] Matahuru planting.
find out about the other projects we received funding for