August 2020
Early signs of estuary recovery
The health of Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi Maketu Estuary is showing early signs of improvement according to our latest ecological monitoring results. Our Coastal Scientist has recently compiled a report on our monitoring work.
Key findings are that:
- 45 hectares of shallow water and saltmarsh habitats have been re-established since 2017 when we first began physical works to restore natural flows and marshlands in the upper estuary,
- almost all of the algae mats that were clogging and removing oxygen from the estuary sediments are now gone,
- there’s been a reduction in mud cover in the upper estuary, which is being replaced by sandy areas that are more suitable for shellfish, crabs and titiko (mud snails) to live in,
- the number, size and variety of kaimoana species such as tuangi (cockles), and titiko (mud snails), has increased at many monitoring locations, especially the areas that have been cleared of mud and algae cover,
- the number and variety of shellfish, and other marine life such as worms, crabs and sand hoppers seen throughout the estuary has increased, and
- salinity and oxygen levels in some parts of the upper estuary are improving.
More fish and bird life has also been seen around Papahikahawai Island recently, including unconfirmed sightings of moho pererū (banded rail) and matuku (Australasian bittern) which are classified as threatened species.
Jobs for Nature funding for Waihī Estuary catchment
The community-led Waihī Estuary Catchment project has been announced as a recipient of $1m funding from Government’s investment in catchment restoration projects.
The funding will be a huge boost for the Waihī Estuary Catchment Steering Group who have recently come together with funding and other support from Bay of Plenty Regional Council, NZ Landcare Trust and NEXT Foundation, to improve local estuary and waterway health.
The Steering Group are now working through their next steps and will be engaging with tangata whenua and local landowners to develop a catchment action plan later this year. Find out more at www.boprc.govt.nz/waihiestuary
Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaw review
Hearings on the Bay of Plenty Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws are scheduled for 26 August, following public consultation that was carried out earlier this year.
The Bylaws guide the management and maintenance of flood protection and land drainage assets such as stop banks, drains and spillways. Proposed changes include a requirement for stock to be excluded from drains in accordance with industry best practice. See details here
Care for canal
Hands big and small joined together this month to plant the grassy banks of Wharere Canal, at an event hosted by Sustainable Coastlines, Maketu Ōngātoro Wetlands Society, and Department of Conservation.
More than 100 people, including students from Fairhaven School and staff from ANZ Bank, along with local volunteers, helped plant more than 2000 native plants that were donated by Regional Council. Read more>>
Rubbish risk to taonga
Regular finds of fish hooks, nylon line, food wrappers and other litter around the Ford Road area beside the Kaituna Awa (River) are causing concern for locals.
Please remind your fishing friends or others that are using the area to take their litter home. They'll be making the awa and estuary a healthier place for kaimoana, wildlife and local people to thrive.
Kids pitch in at Te Pourepo o Kaituna wetland
Maketu Ōngātoro Wetland Society and eight local schools have been helping us out with planting at Te Pourepo o Kaituna wetland this month. Students have been learning about wetlands, water quality, and helping us to restore the Tumu Kawa block in partnership with Ngāti Whakaue and Tapuika.
Check out the video above from our day with Paengaroa School and find out more about the project at www.boprc.govt.nz/kaitunawetland.
More plants for Te Pā Ika
Restoration work is continuing at the new Te Pā Ika wetland that was created beside Ford Road as part of the Kaituna River re-diversion project. Weed and predator control is ongoing and the area has been re-vegetated with 65,000 native plants so far.
A big thank you to all our community planters that had to dig through deep mulch to get the plants in. Your efforts have paid off! We've had great plant survival rates mainly due to the mulch layer that protected the seedlings through drought conditions this year.
New to Maketu
Two of our local Land Management Officers; Anna Dawson and Michael Tyler are hoping to meet more Maketu landowners in the coming months.
Both have been working on projects nearby, including a floating wetland trial and establishment of the Little Waihī Community Care Group who are controlling pests and restoring saltmarsh in the Waihī Estuary.
They’re now offering funding grants to rural landowners who’d like to work with them to help make Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi/Maketu estuary healthier. Their initial focus is on properties in the Waitepuia catchment - between Maketu Rd, Wilson Rd Nth and Paengaroa. Grants can help to cover the cost of works such as fencing, planting, erosion control and wetland construction that can reduce or treat run-off from the land.
To find out more, please visit www.boprc.govt.nz/focuscatchments, call 0800 884 880 or Michael on 027 298 9534, Anna on 027 537 1621.
Action for healthy waterways
New national policy direction and regulations for freshwater management have now become law. These include updated new:
- National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-FW)
- National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM),
- stock exclusion regulations, and
- regulations in the measurement and reporting of water takes.
The regulatory reforms are intended to to stop further degradation of New Zealand’s freshwater resources, reverse past damage, improve water quality within five years and bring New Zealand’s freshwater resources, waterways and ecosystems to a healthy state within a generation.
Among other requirements, the revised NPS-FM directs councils to give effect to Te Mana o te Wai by prioritising the health and wellbeing of water over the needs of people and other uses. See Government’s media statement and Ministry for the Environment's web page for further details.
Our staff and Councillors are now reviewing the newly released Government documents and developing an implementation plan for our region. Current work programmes will have to change and staff have begun conversations with iwi about how best to work them on this. Future editions of this newsletter will provide updates on opportunities for public involvement in local plan change development.
In the meantime, the most immediate national changes which take effect from 3 September 2020 are that consents will now be required in some circumstances for:
- intensification of land use
- winter grazing on forage crops beyond defined limits,
- stock-holding areas and feedlots,
- structures or other works in waterways that restrict fish movement, and
- activities that have more than a minor impact on wetlands and streams.
Anyone involved in or planning to undertake those activities in the Bay of Plenty should contact our Duty Consents Officer on 0800 884 881 extn. 9090 or email consents.queries@boprc.govt.nz to discuss the likely implications for them.
