Murihiku iwi project gets boosts from Jobs For Nature Fund

A new iwi-led environmental charity is set to take on large scale land and water restoration projects in Murihiku Southland.

Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan says Te Tapu o Tāne will receive $2.125 million of Jobs for Nature funding over three years to establish three native plant nurseries and undertake restoration projects.

The project is overseen by Papatipu Rūnanga o Murihiku (representing Hokonui, Waihōpai, Awarua, and Ōraka-Aparima Rūnanga).

Te Tapu o Tāne chief cxecutive, Jana Davis says the project has also received almost $2 million from the One Billion Trees programme.

He says it’s a full scale catchment rehabilitation from a te ao Māori perspective, including removing wilding pines, eco-sourcing, growing, and planting natives, controlling predators like rats, possums, and stoats, and eventually relocating taoka manu back to the restored whenua.

Up to 25 kaimahi will be trained as the project scales up.

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