Lake Horowhenua, or Punahau, is slowly recovering thanks to an unusual weed-cutting machine and the dedication of Muaūpoko iwi.
A US-made harvester, worth $300,000, removes ten tonnes of invasive weed daily, helping to restore the lake’s mauri.
Muaūpoko leaders say Punahau has long been a taonga, but pollution from farming and sewage has left it among Aotearoa’s most degraded lakes.
Dean Wilson from the Lake Horowhenua Trust says the lake’s poor condition directly affects the spiritual well-being of his people.
With native fish and plant life returning, iwi and the Horizons Regional Council believe this mahi is making a difference.
Last summer, a record 400 tonnes of weed was removed, with even more expected this year.
For Muaūpoko, this is more than just cleaning a lake—it’s about restoring whakapapa and the mana of their wai.
