The WCMG Committee met in July 2024 to discuss matters arising around the Whangawehi project. The group paid tribute to the late Pera Edwards who was a staunch supporter of the Catchment Group with his wife Janice. Pera will always be remembered for his ongoing support both at Governance and grass roots levels.

The main discussion evolved around the state of the walkway after the last rain events and the need to deal with the most urgent repairs in order to keep the track safe.

The Eco Counters have proven to be very insightful. The frequentation of the Whangawehi track has been well above expectations. From May 2023 to July 2024, the track saw 10 000 visitors. The pick period was between December 2023 and March 2024 with 6 000 visitors.

This is very encouraging news for the Committee who created this walkway on private land to share the benefits of the conservation work delivered through hard work and challenges with the wider community. With this level of frequentation, come the challenges of keeping the walkway to a good and safe standard. Funding challenges are a reality that the group is facing but we are always on the look for opportunities.