A project in which Tasman District Council is working with Te Tau Ihu iwi to restore a wetland just north of Lake Rotoiti has won the super steward award in this year’s Local Government New Zealand Super Local Awards.
Project manager Blair Reed says unsuccessful attempts from the 1800s through to the 1980s to turn parts of Mangatāwhai/Black Valley into farmland had left dried out areas scarred by drains which lowered the water table.
Soil contained in large harakeke baskets is being used to plug the drains, and are more cost effective than traditional engineering techniques using plastic-based geofabrics.
Relationship building and mutual respect between all parties has meant lower monitoring and supervision costs.
The project has been funded by the Ministry for the Environment’s Freshwater Improvement Fund.
