The farmer-led Tukituki catchment group recently organised 120 volunteers to plant 3,000 natives along the Pōrangahau Stream and raised funds for Takapau School.
The volunteers included farmers, school parents, teachers, local businesses, and regional council members.
This event, spearheaded by the Watch Our Water Maharakeke and Pōrangahau Catchment Group (WOWMAP), “Is a testament to what we can achieve when we all come together,” said Matt Wade, Takapau dairy farmer and WOWMAP committee member.
The project was made possible by a Tukituki Land Care Demonstration grant, with additional support from Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay, Silver Fern Farms, and Centralines.
Holly Ormond, Tukituki Land Care Communications Manager says beyond environmental conservation, the goal was to raise awareness and foster a sense of environmental responsibility within the community.
“We were thrilled to have 15 Year 8 students from Takapau School join us. They not only helped plant but also participated in an educational session led by Enviroschools Te Matau ā Māui. The session focused on stream health and biodiversity, providing the students with valuable knowledge about the environment and conservation efforts.”
“We were overwhelmed by the incredible turnout! It was such a great collaboration across our community and our partners played crucial roles in this project. Central Natives provided the plants and designed the planting plan, while Floating Peaks supplied wool weed mats, Wool Life NZ provided the biodegradable pegs and Advance Landscape Systems provided plant guards,” she said.
“Thanks to the awesome work of so many volunteers, we finished the planting by 12:15 and enjoyed a fantastic lunch courtesy of Silver Fern Farms and Takapau School.”
To commemorate this effort, a sign funded by Centralines will be erected at the site, highlighting the work local farmers are doing to improve our waterways. It will feature information and photos from the planting day, serving as a lasting reminder of the community’s dedication.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is supportive of farmer-led groups and encourages their efforts to improve environmental outcomes and build thriving farming communities. B+LNZ has a range of online resources available that provide guidance to groups to help them achieve their vision and goals.
Tom Orchiston, B+LNZ’s Environment Engagement Lead says, “We’re really proud of farmers taking a leadership role in this space. They are achieving great things in enhancing water quality, biodiversity, and overall environmental health.
“These groups are crucial platforms for community collaboration, sharing knowledge, and driving positive change.”
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