Location: Whangapoua
GPS Coordinates: -36.751908, 175.600518
Project Cost: NZD $21166
Cost per Metre: NZD $26
Metres to be planted: 814m
Field Partner: Waikato Regional Council
Project ID: NI35
Project Description:
The Denize Family are 4th generation family farmers whose land is on the steep foothills of the Waitekuri Catchment at the gateway to the Whangapoua Harbour. Part of the land is in pines, and the pasture is used for beef grazing. The landowners are excited to see innovative wetland restoration methods piloted on their land. The landowner, Mat Denize says “it’s great to be involved in this project, especially in such a sensitive catchment”.
Working with Waikato Regional Council, the landowners want to re-establish 13,600 m2 of wetland plants to provide habitat for native birds, fish and insects. An area at the base of the hills which floods in winter is an ideal place for the project site. Already pied stilt, New Zealand pipit and white faced heron use the area for foraging and we want to enhance this area so they have a year round wetland haven. As well as planting we will also be piloting the use of a constructed sediment trap. The project will be a showcase for other landowners.
Only a fraction of New Zealand’s wetlands are left and these are often fragmented. We want to do our bit to reverse wetland loss in our local Whangapoua Harbour area. Wetlands are habitat for birds to live, feed and breed. Wetlands at the bottom of a catchment and close to natural harbours, like this one, are the last stop in helping keep harbours from silting up and ensuring kai moana such as scallop beds remain healthy.
Wetlands also absorb high water flows during floods and hold that water, releasing it slowly back into the catchment. This makes them a great buffer against the effects of major flood events, which the Coromandel is prone to with its high rainfall and steep catchments.
We want to demonstrate how to successfully turn wet areas of often unproductive farmland into healthy wetland habitat. And we want to show how water quality and sediment issues can be addressed at the same time. We will invite other landowners to see the results of our project and hopefully inspire them to undertake similar work. Over time we can measure the changes at these sites to see what benefits they bring to wildlife. This area is habitat for the rare Australasian bittern. Over the years, people have seen them feeding here. These freshwater wetlands are within 700 metres of the harbour salt marsh wetlands and are helping to provide a fresh water wildlife corridor from the mountains to the sea.
By involving local students we will be giving them a place where they can monitor the changes these enhancement works have created from the very start. This is an intergenerational project that will foster the connection that we all have with these important habitats.
We have already fenced the area to keep out stock. This improves the integrity of the soil, and protects nests and planting. Site preparation is already well underway and we want to start planting native plants as soon as we can.
We are raising $21,164 through Million Metres to pay for 5,000 plants to go into the ground this winter. This also includes the 15% Million Metres admin costs. All plants will be eco-sourced from Te Whangai Trust or Colville Harbour Care. The plants will be planted along 814m of stream and wetland, which will cover an area of 13,600 m2.
All other costs of the project such as site preparation, planting, sediment trap and 3 years of site maintenance will be covered by other sources. We hope to involve the local schools with planting too.
Any donation big or small is really appreciated. It will go towards restoring this important area and showcase what can be done to bring back vital wetland habitats.
Donor | Amount | Distance | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Rebecca Keen | $2,002.00 | 77.00m | 12 Feb 2020 |
Sustainable Business Network | $994.82 | 38.26m | 10 Feb 2020 |
Jacqueline Mitcalfe | $26.00 | 1.00m | 10 Feb 2020 |
Hannah Smith | $30.00 | 1.15m | 06 Feb 2020 |
Craig Prescott | $52.00 | 2.00m | 05 Feb 2020 |
Lesley Gardner | $50.00 | 1.92m | 05 Feb 2020 |
Million Metres Christmas Fundraiser 2019 | $1,180.00 | 45.38m | 28 Jan 2020 |
Gillian Rutherford | $150.00 | 5.77m | 22 Jan 2020 |
Anonymous | $50.00 | 1.92m | 22 Jan 2020 |
Apex Insurance | $109.53 | 4.21m | 06 Jan 2020 |
Jo Falloon | $52.00 | 2.00m | 20 Dec 2019 |
Anonymous | $40.00 | 1.54m | 18 Dec 2019 |
Anonymous | $75.00 | 2.88m | 13 Dec 2019 |
Anonymous | $50.00 | 1.92m | 12 Dec 2019 |
Sustainable Business Network | $1,000.00 | 38.46m | 04 Dec 2019 |
Anonymous | $78.00 | 3.00m | 04 Dec 2019 |
Anonymous | $100.00 | 3.85m | 26 Nov 2019 |
Donations Via The Good Registry | $76.50 | 2.94m | 25 Nov 2019 |
Chow Hill Architects | $466.13 | 17.93m | 15 Nov 2019 |
James Hosking | $150.00 | 5.77m | 07 Nov 2019 |
Sustainable Business Network | $1,000.00 | 38.46m | 06 Nov 2019 |
NZMCA | $3,000.00 | 115.38m | 06 Nov 2019 |
Anonymous | $65.00 | 2.50m | 31 Oct 2019 |
Renee Geelen | $260.00 | 10.00m | 30 Oct 2019 |
Jan Linklater | $200.00 | 7.69m | 21 Oct 2019 |
Fiona Stephenson | $39.00 | 1.50m | 19 Oct 2019 |
Jonathan Newton | $208.00 | 8.00m | 18 Oct 2019 |
Generosity Coffee Special Fundraiser | $174.00 | 6.69m | 15 Oct 2019 |
Anonymous | $1,300.00 | 50.00m | 08 Oct 2019 |
Sustainable Business Network | $46.02 | 1.77m | 02 Oct 2019 |
Anthony Rowe | $50.00 | 1.92m | 02 Sep 2019 |
Henry Christian-Slane | $52.00 | 2.00m | 01 Sep 2019 |
Anonymous | $45.00 | 1.73m | 27 Aug 2019 |
Tim Maurice | $100.00 | 3.85m | 31 Jul 2019 |
Megan Smith | $26.00 | 1.00m | 19 Jul 2019 |
Sustainable Business Network | $1,725.00 | 66.35m | 17 Jul 2019 |
James Stephens | $211.00 | 8.12m | 17 Jul 2019 |
Susan St Lawrence | $52.00 | 2.00m | 16 Jul 2019 |
Chris Judd | $26.00 | 1.00m | 14 Jul 2019 |
Anonymous | $5,000.00 | 192.31m | 13 Jul 2019 |
Michael John Bracegirdle | $26.00 | 1.00m | 13 Jul 2019 |
Nick Calogaras | $52.00 | 2.00m | 13 Jul 2019 |
Josh Borthwick | $75.00 | 2.88m | 04 Jul 2019 |
Anna Horne | $26.00 | 1.00m | 03 Jul 2019 |
Anthony Rowe | $50.00 | 1.92m | 01 Jul 2019 |
Kate Birch | $25.00 | 0.96m | 01 Jul 2019 |
Reece Baker | $52.00 | 2.00m | 01 Jul 2019 |
Tim Maurice | $80.00 | 3.08m | 28 Jun 2019 |
Amy & Craig Hodge | $26.00 | 1.00m | 20 Jun 2019 |
Valerie Pollard | $260.00 | 10.00m | 21 May 2019 |
Anonymous | $50.00 | 1.92m | 20 May 2019 |
Cassandra Herbert | $26.00 | 1.00m | 17 May 2019 |
Lynne Butler | $26.00 | 1.00m | 13 May 2019 |
Ricky Goodlet | $26.00 | 1.00m | 13 May 2019 |
Margo Baars | $50.00 | 1.92m | 11 May 2019 |
$5.00 | 0.19m | 10 May 2019 |