On Monday the 14th of September 2020, the WCMG was officially made the recipient of a government scheme initiated to stimulate the economy post COVID 19. The Plant for Nature scheme was leverage by the Sustainable Business Network, an Auckland based organisation, earlier in the month. After several days of work on Health and Safety, the WCMG was allowed to start inducting 6 FTE. Through the scheme, 6 FTE will be funded for a duration of 8 weeks and will carry out environmental work in Mahia with a focus on the Whangawehi catchment. 10 000 trees will be planted very shortly by the new environmental warriors. They will also follow a series of training to be able to carry out safety new tasks in the very near future.

Well done to the Sustainable Business Network team and a special thank you to Georgi and Alaina for their ongoing support.

We will keep you up to date on this exciting community project.

On Saturday the 12th of September, a small group of volunteers gathered on Pah nui Farm, despite the bad weather to plant 400 natives around the main wetland by the cow shed. Arthur William and his wife Allison came to bless the group and wish them courage for the work ahead of them.

A big thank you to John Mathias Farm Manager for Whangara B5, Arthur William and Allison as well as all the volunteers and the Million Meter Project who have helped us fund raise for the event.

Despite COVID, we have manage to keep the community spirit alive!

On Wednesday the 9th of September 2020, Wairoa District Council gave the WCMG the go ahead in regards to the construction of a waharoa at the entrance of the Whangawehi walkway. A big thank you to Jared and Tamara who have assisted the group during the building consent (exemption) process.

On Tuesday the 11th of August 2020, Alex Mayhead from LDE Gisborne came to Whangawehi to assess the ground conditions around the proposed suspension bridge site. Despite the bad weather, Alex managed to carry out his field work. A full geo tech report will be prepared in the next few weeks. Site conditions are good on the whare side of the river but ground conditions are more challenging on the forestry side. We will work with Alex and bridge engineers to build a long lasting structure.

A big thank you to Alex who made time for this project.

On Thursday the 6th of August 2020, the WCMG lodged the resource consent for the Whangawehi walkway. A big thank you goes to our landowners, Iwi and Marae for their support during this process. Wairoa District Council -Resource Senior Planner Hinetaakoha Viriaere  and her team have been extremely helpful, thank you for your guidance and support.