A northern Hawke's Bay lake considered a taonga by local marae is to be revitalised thanks to a $3 million grant from the government's Freshwater Improvement Fund.
Lake Whakakī north-east of Wairoa is one of the six areas identified as an environmental hotspot in Hawke's Bay Regional Council's Annual Plan.
Council Māori partnerships manager Pieri Munro, who is from the Whakakī community, says the aim is to restore the health of the lake so tuna, morihana or carp and traditional kaiare are fit for consumption and people can swim safely.
The council, iwi and farmers have started fencing and planting trees around parts of the lake.
The bulk of the funding will be used to build a weir stop the lake dropping too low in summer and to put in a recirculating wetland that will take out some of the silt from the water.
Whakakī Lake Trust chair, Richard Brooking, says the grant will be a catalyst for further development including research, science and technology, increased visitor and tourism activity as well as student and adult education opportunities.
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