The local community of Whangawehi is proud to make public the Historical document produced by Mana Cracknel as part of the Whangawehi Catchment restoration programme. This unique and invaluable document has became the WCMGs’ cultural management plan that the organisation will follow over time.
Enjoy the reading.
Pat and Sue O’Brien celebrated on Saturday evening the end of their first conservation planting project along the Whangawehi Stream. It has been a real battle for the O’Briens who have faced over the winter terrible weather conditions. The track slipped, the main crossings over the river disapperead … site access has been really challenging. The last time the owners were able to undertake a planting was in late June! A big thank you to Impact Forestry who have established in a short time frame the remaining trees (8000).
With a year of hardship, the owners and project coordinator have learnt a lot and feel confident for next years plantings.
Our apologies to our funders who would have loved to see this first project completed earlier on but mother nature dictates what we can or can’t do along the Whangawehi stream.
The bird life is already flourishing along the retired area with large numbers of King Fishers and ducks (with ducklings) already observed.
Congratulations to you all for this years achievements
The Wairoa Star published an article to celebrate the National Award received by Kathleen Mato and the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group : PrideofNZWairoaStarSeptember2014
Have a good read and celebrate the victory !
What a fantastic recognition !
After hundreds of nominations and months of judging and voting, some of the country’s top unsung heroes have been named winners of the inaugural Pride of New Zealand Awards last Thursday.Seven people from around New Zealand received the gongs – honouring bravery and heroism, community spirit, lifetime achievement, environmental ambassadorship, emergency services and fundraiser of the year – at a glitzy event at Auckland Museum last night.
The Whangawehi Catchment Management Group represented by Kathleen Mato and Rae Te Nahu won the National Environmental Award. This Award recognises at National level the work done by all the volunteers of the Whangawehi Community since 2010 in order to improve the water quality in the Whangawehi catchment.
Well done and congratulations to you all.
Te Mahia School students initiated the restoration of the Whangawehi stream on Pongaroa Station. They established, with a lot of skills and expertise, the first 200 trees on the true right side of the river. These trees will be spectacular in the years to come and will contribute to enhance our sacred Awa.
Thanks to Shane Mildenhall, Manager of the Station and all the Whangawehi community who came to support this initiative.
All the best to Kathleen and Rae for the Pride of New Zealand Award.
Last week, students of Te Mahia school learnt how to prepare a planting project as they will be in charge of the establishment of 150 trees on the 4th of September. With the guidance of whanau and teachers, students talked about, ground preparation, weed and pest control, tree selection, planting design, budget, communication etc.
Te Mahia students and Whanau are active members of the Whangawehi Catchment restoration project and it was good to see their enthusiasm and interest.
Kia ora koutou,
If you want to know more about what has been happening over the past few months, please read our new Newsletter
August newsletter 2014 and check out the posts broadcasted on the blog. Congratulations to you all for all the remarkable milestones reached so far. The Pride of NZ Award is certainly an outstanding recognition of the work the Mahia community is doing..well done. If you haven’t voted yet, please follow the link http://prideofnzawards.co.nz/peopleschoice and vote for Kathleen Mato.
Nga mihi nui
Also attached a couple of press releases covering the award.
Enjoy the reading
Press release :
The short film covering our latest workshop is now available on you tube, you can check it out on http://youtu.be/sVl1ybLqC3U or hit our communication tab.
A big thank you to Te Mahia school teachers, Enviro School Coordinator and the Mahia Community for their help and creativity during this busy day.
Enjoy the viewing.
Te Mahia school students had the unique opportunity to learn how to carve and weave flax during a workshop held at Te Mahia school by local kaumatua and Kuia.
A big thank you to all the whanau who came to share their knowledge around Maori art in general. This initiative is part of the curriculum developped with Te Mahia school, the enviroschool network and the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group in order to transfer local knowledge around Matauranga Maori activities.
All students really enjoyed the day and took home their precious Taonga (carved pumice, Maori Flute, flax flowers and little kete).
In a couple of weeks, the next workshop will focus on how to prepare a planting programme. The students will be asked to think about all the steps and questions that need to be answered before planting a tree in the ground. The 6 house groups will work around : what tree to plant, ground preparation pre planting, weed control post planting, animal pest control,properties of the trees to establish (Rongoa, customary, bees etc.), health and safety and communication
Once the students have presented a clear and comprehensive planting design, they will implement it on the 4th of September with a planting day on Pongaroa Station.
If you are interested and want to be involved, come along!
Te Mahia School students are competing for an environmental competition as part of the curriculum developed with the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group. The winners will be announced during the Award ceremony on the 20th of November.
Two students and one adult will have the unique opportunity to spend 4 days with Helen Jonas (DOC) on Waikawa Island and assist her in her conservation work including bird watching, banding, trapping et.
Waikawa Island
North of Waikawa
Whangawehi Catchment Management Group 