Predator free NZ put up the Whangawehi story on their website. If you want to know more about the article, please follow the links :
http://predatorfreenz.org/local-marae-community-inspires-environmental-change/
or facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PFNewZealand/
Enjoy the reading
On Thursday the 19th of May, Patricia Taumata-Albert and Hineira Hooper-Kawana, students at Te Mahia School, gave their pepeha and introduced themselves to the members of the catchment committee. Both students displayed their completed logo’s and explained their perspective of how the logo should look and the process that it took to achieve their end result. A clear file of some of the children’s attempts at the logo was left for the members to peruse.
We thank you Te Mahia School for their help and support. It is great to have the students involved in all the different aspects of our work including the design of our logo.
Nga mihi nui kia koutou
Please click on the different sketches : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Hi all,
The Whangawehi community has been given the opportunity to compete as a finalist (for the third time) at the Green Ribbon Award. This nomination recognises the outstanding effort of the WCMG to protecting the environment. Congratulations to you to you all for this National recognition.
Newsletter 7 is now available, follow the link and enjoy the reading :
On Tuesday, Arthur Bowen undertook his water monitoring run as part of the Whangawehi Catchment water monitoring plan. This month, Arthur carried out the Macro Community Invertebrate Index which is a way of assessing the health of a stream by studying and following the communities (or bugs) that live in it. This study is carried out every year and we hope that over time our ” bugs” will tell us how healthy is our Awa.
Arthur observed some very low water levels for the season with some algae growth in places. White baits and native fish were observed in small numbers.
Rangimarkus Heke, Fund Manager for Nga Whenua Rahui, came to visit the site yesterday. He was impressed by the work achieved so far and full of compliments. Trees have grown a lot over the summer due to a reasonably moist climate and a good tree maintenance policy. Rangi got the opportunity to visit Pat’s wetlands and understood how all these ecosystems interact. With a significant increase in frog numbers this year, he was confident that the rare Bittern wouldn’t be long to come. Rangimarkus will be assisting the group with a new funding package via the MTK fund. Nga mihi Rangi.
On the 15th of April, Ross Mear and Kelvin Hale (co owners of Moemotu Station) signed the Whangawehi Catchment Managament Group’s Memorandum of Understanding. Both owners are extremely supportive of the group’s vision and it is great to have them on board. The owners’ vision is to gradually retire the station and let it revert to native trees.
We welcome Kelvin and Ross and are looking forward to working with them.
Photos on the way to Moemotu Station :
Arthur Bowen carried out his first water monitoring run for 2016. Water quality is quite good at the moment due to the lack of regular rain. Algaes are present in the lower reaches but are not as developed as last year. The vegetation is overgrowing in the fenced off areas with the first flaxes and toe toes already shading the stream. White Bait are present in the stream but in smaller numbers. The next water monitoring run will be carried out in April.
The restoration programme is well underway. Yesterday, Graham Douglas (Forest Manager for Grandy Lake Forest), John Syme (Leasee of Homestead farm) and Nic Caviale Delzescaux (Project Coordinator) went for a field visit along the Whangawehi stream. The last piles of willows are burning after a long await for a rural fire permit. The remaining logs will be buried early next week just before the fencing contractor starts erecting a 3 km fence. The lay out of the fence line was discussed at length ! between the three parties. The field trip gave the opportunity to finalise the plans for the extension of the farm water supply to provide water for stock. Weather permitting the work should start soon.
Thank you to Burgis contracting and HBRC for assisting the group with their expertise and knowledge around tree extraction.
The first ever Whangawehi mountain bike ride held in conjuction with Adventure Wairoa in Mahia last Saturday was deemed a real success with 67 people participating. Participants were a mixture of locals with others coming from Hawkes Bay and Gisborne to support the event.Mark Lewis who has biked numerous off road rides throughout New Zealand commented that “the ride was enjoyable, challenging in sections but accessible to all ages”.
The event was part of a series of summer community engagement activities organised by the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group to share their restoration story with the wider community. Activities included guided walks, displays at both the Mahia Market and Wairoa A & P show and the mountain bike ride to finish of their summer activities.
This free event was an opportunity to promote and invite all bikers to the groups community planting days planned for the 9th and 16th of July 2016.
Nic Caviale-Delzescaux, Project Coordinator for the WCMG said “when you live in remote areas, it is critical to be able to offer a wide range of activities to attract and engage with the wider community and sustain support over time. It was also great to involve local clubs and organisations this time round to leverage more support.”
Graham Douglas, Forest Manager for Grandy Lake Forest is extremely supportive of this event and said that “Grandy Lake Forest is proud to be able to demonstrate the additional benefits of having forestry within the Wairoa District and being able to share it with the public. It also helps lift the profile of the District with potentially some long term economic outcomes if the walk/cycleway goes ahead”.
The WCMG acknowledges the support received from all landowners, the Whangawehi community, volunteers, DOC, Adventure, GO BUS, QRS and the Wairoa District Council.
Whangawehi Catchment Management Group 