200,000 Plants In The Ground And Growing
Small it may have been but the 200,000th plant placed in the ground near Havelock in Marlborough recently as part of Te Hoiere Project had a huge significance for all involved.
Te Hoiere Project Catchment Care Coordinator Aubrey Tai said the special planting milestone celebrated in May at the Havelock Causeway symbolised the massive amount of effort that had gone into making Te Hoiere Project a huge success.
'This small miro tree represents all of that initial mahi, the many challenges that have been overcome, the learnings in those early stages which helped set the standard, the engagement, the passion and the direction for what has been achieved,' Aubrey said.
Te Hoiere is a collaborative catchment restoration project to protect the interconnected land and waters of Te Hoiere/Pelorus from the mountains into the sea. It seeks long-term environmental, cultural, social, and economic outcomes to benefit present and future generations to come.
'Te Hoiere Project is a highly visual restoration effort that many people have commented positively about and, more importantly, has continued conversations locally about the need to build on this effort,' Aubrey said. 'This milestone is a measure of how successful the project has been. This is something I'll look back on with immense personal satisfaction, and gratitude, to all those involved in making something like this achievable.'
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Several plant suppliers have been used during the duration of the Project including Morgans Road - Blenheim, Titoki Nursery – Nelson, Rolleston Prison – Christchurch, Landscape Marlborough and Riverside Nursery – Rangiora.
Two people who have been involved with plantings since the outset are Shannon and Jasen Mears of Mears Contracting. They and their team have put approximately 160,000 plants in the ground for the Project.
'We planted Stage 1 of the Havelock Causeway in spring 2022 and it was so much of a swamp we planted it wearing dive booties. Stage 2 required getting goats out of the area before we could start, and Stage 3 needed some kiwi ingenuity and bridge building just to access the site,' Shannon said.
'During this project two of our crew have welcomed their first sons and it's been a standing joke that in years to come they will take their boys hunting in the native forests they planted. I really hope this becomes a reality.'
Shannon said Te Hoiere Project had enabled the company to offer employment to local youth, giving them an opportunity they may not have otherwise had.
'This is one of the few projects we have seen 'real' collaboration. We have planted alongside Iwi, farmers, school children, councillors, senior citizens from 8-80 years old and every one of them has given it a heartfelt effort. The people in this project have been outstanding.'
'Conservation is about making a choice to do something to better the future, to better the land, to better our people. We hope Te Hoiere Project continues to flourish.'
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Scoop
13-06-2025
- Scoop
200,000 Plants In The Ground And Growing
Small it may have been but the 200,000th plant placed in the ground near Havelock in Marlborough recently as part of Te Hoiere Project had a huge significance for all involved. Te Hoiere Project Catchment Care Coordinator Aubrey Tai said the special planting milestone celebrated in May at the Havelock Causeway symbolised the massive amount of effort that had gone into making Te Hoiere Project a huge success. 'This small miro tree represents all of that initial mahi, the many challenges that have been overcome, the learnings in those early stages which helped set the standard, the engagement, the passion and the direction for what has been achieved,' Aubrey said. Te Hoiere is a collaborative catchment restoration project to protect the interconnected land and waters of Te Hoiere/Pelorus from the mountains into the sea. It seeks long-term environmental, cultural, social, and economic outcomes to benefit present and future generations to come. 'Te Hoiere Project is a highly visual restoration effort that many people have commented positively about and, more importantly, has continued conversations locally about the need to build on this effort,' Aubrey said. 'This milestone is a measure of how successful the project has been. This is something I'll look back on with immense personal satisfaction, and gratitude, to all those involved in making something like this achievable.' Advertisement - scroll to continue reading Several plant suppliers have been used during the duration of the Project including Morgans Road - Blenheim, Titoki Nursery – Nelson, Rolleston Prison – Christchurch, Landscape Marlborough and Riverside Nursery – Rangiora. Two people who have been involved with plantings since the outset are Shannon and Jasen Mears of Mears Contracting. They and their team have put approximately 160,000 plants in the ground for the Project. 'We planted Stage 1 of the Havelock Causeway in spring 2022 and it was so much of a swamp we planted it wearing dive booties. Stage 2 required getting goats out of the area before we could start, and Stage 3 needed some kiwi ingenuity and bridge building just to access the site,' Shannon said. 'During this project two of our crew have welcomed their first sons and it's been a standing joke that in years to come they will take their boys hunting in the native forests they planted. I really hope this becomes a reality.' Shannon said Te Hoiere Project had enabled the company to offer employment to local youth, giving them an opportunity they may not have otherwise had. 'This is one of the few projects we have seen 'real' collaboration. We have planted alongside Iwi, farmers, school children, councillors, senior citizens from 8-80 years old and every one of them has given it a heartfelt effort. The people in this project have been outstanding.' 'Conservation is about making a choice to do something to better the future, to better the land, to better our people. We hope Te Hoiere Project continues to flourish.'
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- RNZ News
Hawke's Bay iwi Ngāti Kahungunu protest sale of ancestral mountain
Members of Ngāti Kahungunu protest the sale of Kahurānaki Station which includes the mountain of the same name. Photo: Supplied/Myra Lynn Barber Members of Hawke's Bay iwi Ngāti Kahungunu have gathered on Monday at Kahurānaki Station to protest the recent sale of the station which includes the ancestral mountain of the same name. Kahurānaki Station - a 1156 hectare sheep and beef farm south of Havelock North - came up for sale earlier this year, the first time the station had been on the market for over 100 years. The iwi launched a fundraising campaign to buy it, including the 'He Maunga Ka Taea' horse trek from Māhia to the summit of Kahurānaki over 10 days, but were unsuccessful in their bid. Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Chair and Waimārama Marae spokesperson, Bayden Barber said they didn't advertise the protest but the 'kūmara vine' did its work and about 70 whānau turned up. "From our point of view it's unacceptable that we're not the ones being negotiated with to buy back Kahurānaki Station, simple as that," he said. Barber said the station owner unexpectedly met the protest at the driveway and shared some information with the whānau who joined. It's been a month since the iwi bid was unsuccessful and the preferred purchasers had yet to engage with the iwi, he said. "We want to have an engagement, a conversation, so that they understand the importance of Kahurānaki to us. We'd love to buy it off them, we'd actually love for the settlement not to happen." Ngāti Kahungunu Chair Bayden Barber (center) at a protest against the sale of Kahurānaki Station. Photo: Supplied/Myra Lynn Barber Barber said the iwi is hopeful that the purchasers will engage in open dialogue about how the aspirations of marae and hapū can be met, but the iwi can't do anything if they don't know who they are talking to. Tamatea Pōkai Whenua Trust tendered the bid on behalf of the iwi, chair Pohatu Paku said both the trust and wider community were disappointed by the sale of the station to an undisclosed buyer. "We undertook an exhaustive due diligence process engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and conducting thorough investigations in our bid to repatriate this taonga for our people. The overwhelming support from Kahungunu whānau, marae and hapū was a powerful testament to the collective desire to see Kahurānaki returned. Initiatives like He Maunga Ka Taea for example, along with various other fundraising efforts were expressions of that shared commitment. "We are however deeply disappointed that the tender process itself did not allow for the kind of open and transparent dialogue that is essential to honouring the true significance of this whenua. The process was inherently limited, leaving little room for meaningful negotiation or the type of engagement we believe is necessary to safeguard the interests of our people." Paku hoped the preferred purchasers of Kahurānaki Station would engage with Tamatea Pōkai Whenua in good faith. "This is not just about reclaiming land, it is about restoring a deep cultural connection, and we believe there is a real opportunity to work together, honouring the mana of this maunga. By engaging with us, the preferred purchasers will not only acknowledge the ancestral significance of this whenua, but also contribute to a positive and lasting relationship, built on respect and collaboration. We would value the opportunity to share our history and outline our aspirations and expectations as a Trust and explore how we can move forward together in a way that again, honours the true significance of this whenua." He Maunga Ka Taea fundraising campaign organiser, Kelly Aroha Huata said this is not a normal land acquisition. "This is not a straight land and sale purchase. This is whakapapa. Do the right thing. Return the whenua to those who have a deep spiritual, cultural & emotional connection to the land. Come forward and let us buy Kahurānaki back." Kahurānaki Marae and Ngāti Kahungunu kaumātua Jerry Hāpuku said "my ancestor Te Hapuku's dying wish in 1878 was to be placed so that his eyes could close watching the sacred Kahurānaki mountain. To us this is not about the money, but the mana or prestige that Kahurānaki gives our people." Barber said this is the first time in a century that there has been a chance to buy back the mountain. There are 23 marae and over 50 hapū that have a direct connection to Kahurānaki and they won't give up on it, he said. "At the end of the day our final outcome, the only outcome, is for that mountain to be back in Māori hands, Māori ownership." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Scoop
Funding For Marlborough's Te Hoiere Project Extended
Press Release – Marlborough District Council Te Hoiere Projects vision is to work together to restore the mauri of Te Hoiere land, waters, and coast which flourish, along with peoples wellbeing and livelihoods. A project to revitalise Marlborough's Te Hoiere/Pelorus river catchment from the mountains into the sea has had its funding extended to June 2026. Te Hoiere/Pelorus is one of twelve priority river catchments in the Department of Conservation's Ngā Awa River Restoration Programme and an 'exemplar catchment' in the Ministry for the Environment's At Risk Catchments Programme. Initiated in 2019 and regarded as a leading example of community-driven environmental restoration, Te Hoiere Project's vision is 'to work together to restore the mauri of Te Hoiere land, waters, and coast which flourish, along with peoples' wellbeing and livelihoods'. Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor welcomed the news saying it was excellent to have this funding extension confirmed and to know that the Te Hoiere/Pelorus team could get on and deliver a fourth year of restoration and freshwater improvements. 'This project, and many of the farmers involved with it, were hit hard by the same weather events that did so much damage to our Sounds roads. I'm grateful to the Ministry for the Environment for recognising the impact of that weather event on the project and for agreeing to extend the funding,' she said. Te Hoiere Kaitiaki Charitable Trust co-chairs Waihaere Mason and Barbara Faulls say there has been an incredible amount of work by the Trust, Mayor Nadine Taylor and the Project team with significant support from the Ministry for the Environment to get the one-year funding extension 'over the line.' 'The Government's At-Risk Catchment Programme was initially a $12 million four-year fund to improve freshwater health nationwide. Our funding was reduced to three years when the deed was signed in 2022 so it's fantastic we now have certainty for this important fourth year. It is not additional funding; just a time extension to spend the money that was originally earmarked for Te Hoiere. It will give us an opportunity to continue work within the catchment while focusing in on strategic planning and investigation of other funding opportunities for when this source of funding ultimately ends,' Co-chairs Mason and Faulls said. Te Hoiere Programme Manager Rachel Russell said the Project's achievements spoke for themselves with more than 74km of riparian margins/wetland now fenced in the catchment and more than 200,000 plants in the ground over a restoration area of 60ha. 'There have also been several significant and meaningful work streams supported by the Project including the development of geospatial layers to understand erosion risk, geomorphological modelling to understand river processes which have been used to develop a Riverbank Erosion Plan due out soon as well as monitoring work,' she said. 'Te Hoiere Project could not achieve all of this without the combined effort, help and support of Te Hoiere/Pelorus community, iwi, funders and stakeholders and we thank them for their continued partnership and support.' Testament to the excellent work and ongoing achievements of Project Partners was the number of entrants in the recent Port Marlborough – Marlborough Environment Awards with several associated with Te Hoiere Project. Top of the South Wood Council (TOTSWC) – Te Hoiere Forestry Projects won the Forestry section on the night. All involved with Te Hoiere Project will have an opportunity to celebrate the great news about the funding at the Te Hoiere Project Celebration on 19 June beginning at the Havelock Hall where work on the initiative began several years ago. The day will include key speakers and stakeholders involved with the Project and an 'expo-style' set up allowing invited guests and members of the public to circulate and chat informally with organisations involved in Te Hoiere Project. There will also be a field trip to two project sites. 'This will be a great chance to consider how far we have come – to both reflect on the past and look to the future,' Rachel said.
