Incorporation takes lead in Tai Poutini river restoration

Eight landowners along the Arahura River are teaming up to fence off riparian margins and plant some 195,000 plants along the catchment.

The Arahura Strategic Waterway Restoration project, led by Māwhera Incorporation, is one a number of West Coast projects to be founded by the Jobs for Nature Fund.

Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan says it’s an intergenerational initiative which offers training towards formal horticulture and farm fencing certificates, both of which teach skills that can be applied to a wide range of jobs and careers in conservation and beyond

The project extends on the $2.8 million investment already made by the Provincial Growth Fund into planting and fencing within the lower catchment.

Another $1.28 million will extend the Kaimahi for Nature project for two years.

The project, which involves Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae, Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, West Coast Regional Council, the Department of Conservation and Development West Coast, was set up last year in response to Covid and allows tourism businesses in the region to employ their staff to deliver conservation work tasks when there is not enough tourism work to support full time employment.

West Coast Regional Council get $1.3 million for a project to improve whitebait spawning habitat by removing weeds from 25 streams, and Development West Coast will get $3.3 million for Weed Free Te Tai Poutini, which aims to stop weeds from spreading and taking hold within the western alpine areas of Arthurs Pass National Park.

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