A newly formed catchment group scored significant investment, alongside four other progressive environmental initiatives, at the recommendation of the Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee for the 2023/2024 financial year.

Funding comes from the annual budget allocated to Waitaha/Canterbury water zone committees to support local projects that meet Canterbury Water Management Strategy objectives.

The chosen initiatives meet one or more goals outlined in the committee’s Action Plan for 2021-24:

• consider mahinga kai, mātauranga Māori and climate change in all our deliberations and decision making
• engage with the community and partner with other organisations to encourage future-proofing/resilience
• collaborate on practical projects with other community groups, and
• advocate for and be engaged in regional and local planning reforms concerning freshwater management, climate change and water quality issues.

Catchment group wins significant financial award

Te Rūnanga o Wairewa, on behalf of the Wairewa Mahinga Kai Catchment Group, is to receive a total of $58,000 to support the formation of a new catchment group.

Partnering with mana whenua and neighbouring landowners, the new catchment group is a community-led initiative focused on sustainable land use solutions, improving water quality and restoring mahinga kai values.

“The Wairewa Mahinga Kai Catchment Group is a consolidated effort between mana whenua, principal landowners with support from statutory agencies all working towards a common vision for improved water quality and mahinga kai outcomes,” said Gina Waibl, Chairperson of the Banks Peninsula water zone committee.

“It’s been encouraging to see the community come together to build on previous progress made to remediate Te Roto o Wairewa/Lake Forsyth water quality and mahinga kai.”