Project Description:

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou, e tautoko ana te mahi o ngā kaitiaki o tātou nei taiāo, o tātou nei wai māori, hei whakapai ake te oranga mo tātou mokopuna. 

This is a crowdfunding appeal to raise funds for the Maraetōtara Tree Trust 2018 Maraetōtara River riparian plantings. 

Thank you for taking the time to consider our crowdfunding appeal.

THE MARAETŌTARA RIVER

The Maraetōtara River is in Te Matau a Māui/Hawke’s Bay on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The river flows from its source on the Maraetōtara Plateau through farmland to its outlet at Te Awanga (16 km east of Hastings). 

Despite being primarily a spring fed river, prior to 2002 the Maraetōtara suffered from water quality issues common to many lowland rivers. These issues included high nutrient levels, water temperatures of up to 28 degrees, willow tree infestation, and a general lack of care and protection of the riverbanks.

MARAETŌTARA TREE TRUST

In 2002, concerned community members formed the Maraetōtara Tree Trust with the aim of protecting, enhancing, and restoring the entire length of the river (all 43 kilometres!). 

The Trust hit the ground running and was soon working with landowners and the Hawkes Bay Regional Council to remove invasive willow trees and permanently fence covenanted riverbanks.

The Trust planted 4,500 trees annually, increasing to 9,500 in 2015, and a whopping 16,000 in 2016. 

Generous assistance from Trubridge Lighting, the Department of Conservation and many others has been pivotal to the success of our work to date. 

OUR PROJECT 

In 2018, we will plant 1000 metres of the riverbanks of Okahu Station and Tuahu Farm with native plants and trees ecosourced from the Hawke’s Bay.  

The project area extends approximately 10 metres from the river for a total area of 9,800 square metres. This is enough space for 4,500 plants and trees! 

The plantings will provide a good buffer between farmland and the river, and will help to improve water quality. The trees will provide food and shelter for native birds such as tui and kereru, and the pāteke (brown teal) and red crowned kakariki that are beginning to disperse from Cape Sanctuary.

This project is located in a very visible spot. It will increase community awareness of, and engagement in the Trust’s work. It will also fill a gap in the existing plantings to provide habitat connectivity and riparian protection over a greater stretch of the river. 

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT 

Please donate today and help us improve the health of the Maraetōtara River! 

Your donation will go towards the planting costs of the project. This includes: 4,500 plants and trees, preparation of the site and post-care to ensure the plants continue to thrive. 

Donate today and know that your contribution will be part of a much larger effort to restore this special place. 

Your support of any level is greatly appreciated.

LEARN MORE

Check out the Maraetōtara Tree Trust website to learn more about our work. 

The Maraetōtara River is located within the 26,000 hectare Cape to City ecological restoration project and close to the Cape Sanctuary. 

Our planting project will provide important habitat for many native species, including the pāteke, red-crowned kakariki and kaka that are entering the area due to the efforts of these projects.