Environmental Award

The Whangawehi Cathment Management Group has been selected for the Green Ribbon finals that will be held on the 16^th of June at Parliament in Wellington. The Green Ribbon Awards is a National Environmental Award (developed by the Ministry for the Environment) that recognises the outstanding contributions of individuals, organisations, businesses and communities to protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s environment. So well done to you all ! It is a wonderful achievement.

Branding project

Pat and Sue O’Brien invited Mike and Sharon Barton to share their journey with the “Taupo Beef” a successful branding initiative developed around the Lake Taupo. Mike and Sharon demonstrated how nutrient caps impact on rural communities and how it was possible to farm within nutrients limits. Nathan Heath from HBRC talked about the New Policy Statement on fresh water and the implications for Wairoa farmers.

The event was very well supported by the local community of Mahia, thank you for this great support. Thank you to John Ross for facilitating the evening and HBRC and Beef and Lamb for supporting financially this gathering.

Tree delivery

The first trees have arrived today on the Taharoa Trust. Thanks to Nga Whenua Rahui for their ongoing support.

The first restoration project undertaken on Pat and Sue O’Brien and Grandy Lake Forest is progressing. The new fence will be finished by mid May and the first compartiment will secured by the end of May. Contractors have done a great job and we are looking forward to our first plantings mid July.

Cultural survey : the field assessment was done early this month and a report will be provided by our Matakite Mana Cracknell.
Reef monitoring workshop : our next school workshop will take place on the 15 th of May with a reef workshop run by local kaitiaki and marine experts
Branding project : Mike Barton will share his journey with the “Taupo Beef” on the 22d of May at the Mahia Golf Club Hall at 3.3 pm.