• Restoring the Oruanui Wetland
• River protection a community effort

Restoring the Oruanui Wetland

In June 1997, the Taupo branch of Forest and Bird learnt about an extensive wetland area in need of protection.

Located on the northwest outskirts of Taupo, the area is known as the Oruanui wetland.

At the time, the wetland was part-owned by freshwater scientist, Dr George Coulter. Dr Coulter was anxious to protect the area. He had recorded 27 bird species at the wetland. He was also aware that its largely unmodified flax swamp was unique in the district.

First steps
After learning of the importance of the wetland, Taupo Forest and Bird set out to ensure its conservation.

“We began by approaching the neighbouring farmer”, explains Taupo Forest and Bird’s Bett Davies. With the farmer’s cooperation, the branch started looking at what was needed to protect the site.

“Several members walked the length of the six-hectare block, looking at fencing and assessing the weed problem”, says Bett. During the next year, a fence line was stepped out and marker battens placed.

Next steps
Many visits to the wetland later, the branch had collected enough information to put together a funding application to help carry out the work needed.

An application was made to Environment Waikato’s Environmental Initiatives Fund. “At the same time, we applied to the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust for an open-space covenant”, says Bett.

Both applications were successful. Several years of hard work followed. The result of these efforts is the preservation of a significant wetland area, home to a wide range of bird species.

Bett says Taupo Forest and Bird will continue its work to enhance this special conservation area.

River protection a community effort

Tasman District Council has joined forces with local environment, farming and recreation groups to look after local rivers.

A working party, made up of representatives from community groups, has been helping the council plan what to do. Poor water quality, loss of habitat and threats to native fish are all issues the working party says need to be addressed.

To date, the Onekaka and Puremahaia catchments in Golden Bay have been the focus of efforts to improve water quality and protect biodiversity. The catchments are a stronghold of the rare short-jawed kokopu. A large variety of other native fish and birds can also be found.

Working together
A local community group, Keep Golden Bay Beautiful, has been a driving force. The group has helped to set up meetings and encourage landowners to fence, plant and covenant river-side areas.

“We need to care for our waterways”, says the group’s Kathy Hindmarsh. “If our rivers are polluted, our coastlines will be and the coastline is very important to us here in Golden Bay.”

Keep Golden Bay Beautiful has been growing over 4000 plants for riverside planting. The council has assisted by supplying fencing material to help landowners fence streams.

As an added spin-off, five landowners of a valuable wetland area have joined together to covenant their properties.

The council is also working with local iwi to develop a wetland restoration project.

With the success of work to date, the council wants to use a similar approach to promote biodiversity protection throughout the district. The same working party is now developing a regional biodiversity strategy and will oversee its implementation.

Source: Ministry for the Environment (2002) Protecting our native plants and animals: communities in action.