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April 20, 2022
Koura coming back as whāriki suppress lake weed
Adam Gifford
Posted On April 20, 2022
Download AudioTe Arawa Lakes Trust is reporting positive early signs from a trial to use woven flax mats to suppress weed growth in lakes and waterways
Environment manager Nicki Douglas says traditional weavers have created four different whāriki/mat types, which went into sites on Rotomā, Rotoiti and Tarawera in spring.
Some weave patterns are proving more effective than others, and there’s a bonus in the form of freshwater crayfish.
“We’re seeing weed suppression and we’re seeing the return of koura te tau, our ability to access koura as a result of not having weeds at the same level, so we’re seeing some positive results early on – the first mats went in last October – so super exciting,” Douglas says.
She says restoring biodiversity is a role hapū and iwi are keen to take a lead on.
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