Friends of Rangitane Stream (Kapiro Conservation Trust)

Friends of Rangitane Stream is a community-led conservation group in a rural area in the Far North District. They are planting native trees, controlling predators, creating ecological corridors along waterways and wetlands, and other practical work to protect kiwi and at-risk species such as longfin eel/tuna and wetland birds (eg. bittern/matuku, dabchick/weweia, fernbird/mātātā and crake/pūweto) in the Kapiro area.

The group focuses on the catchment of Rangitane Stream. They have a Community Agreement with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to plant trees and create ecological/wildlife corridors on 27 hectares of DOC land on the margins of Rangitane Stream and its tributary, the Kapiro Stream. This is a long-term project run exclusively by volunteers.

Funding was provided for freshwater test kits to compare water quality in the two main branches of the stream, as a community activity: The group plans to use e-DNA and conventional water quality tests as tools to involve additional local landowners/residents, to increase their awareness and understanding of water quality issues, and inspire them to work together with the Friends group to implement solutions (eg. fencing off more waterways, planting, addressing sources of silt/runoff, etc).

Photo: Dabchick in Rangitane Stream

Silverstream Reserve Volunteer Group

This planting project is part of a larger ongoing project to restore native vegetation and protect surviving remnant native habitats and wildlife at a 52 hectare public, recreational reserve in the Waimakariri District - North Canterbury.

The planting was carried out by the Silverstream Volunteer Group, Clarkville Primary School students, and the wider volunteer community. Clarkville Primary School has a strong relationship with Silverstream Reserve and received its silver Enviro School status through the students' involvement in volunteer planting days, native wildlife monitoring and water quality testing at the reserve. 

Te Kakano Educate for Nature

Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust is a Wanaka community-based that works with local community groups, schools, organisations and businesses promoting hands-on community land care. They have a native plant-nursery specialising in propagating plants for native habitat restoration. The DBE Trust contributes to their Educate for Nature Programme which creates learning opportunities for young people to gain skills and knowledge about land restoration using local native plants. Trustees Richard Morgan and Di Buchan have visited the organisers and joined in on two planting projects, together with Water Action Initiative (WAI) and the local DOC staff. 

Di and Loran Verpillot, Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust Manager 

The Socio-Ecological Learning Environment Project

The Socio-Ecological Learning Environment Project comprises an emerging education centre based on a regenerating farm. It is located on the banks of the Whanganui River. It is focused on teaching land-based regenerative practice skills mixed with social skills that support personal wellbeing through the development of a market garden located on a regenerative agriculture farm. Everyone involved in the enterprise is a trained permaculture practitioner. One is the chair of Permaculture New Zealand.

The project intends to use permaculture and regenerative agriculture techniques in all aspects of  its growing including crop rotation, conservation, un-tillage, cover crops, mulching and composting, beginning with soil restoration to strengthen the entire ecosystem.

The market garden will be used as a model of sustainable business, and will offer instruction for schools as well as running workshops on permaculture and regenerative agriculture practices. 

Trustees Chris Cosslett and Di Buchan visited this project to discuss pest management and learn about permaculture from the experts.

Common Property Farm Native Forest Restoration Project: Te Horo, Kapiti Coast

This project aims to provide a refuge site and habitat for native birds and wildlife, and indigenous plant species linking to other refuge sites in the area to present an additional stepping-stone for birds traveling from Kapiti Island to the Tararua Range.

The project also aims to provide a local restoration demonstration site for the community (especially Te Horo School) and provide a site for community education on native forest ecology, restoration practices, and local history.

The planting project will grow into a closed-canopy forest that will become its own seed source as well as a seed source for other sites in the area and become self-sustaining through the action of an on-going pest control program.

The completed project will include access paths and information plaques showing plant identification, significant project dates and historical information.

Visiting the site a year after the planting to see the well established native plants

Manuka Trees for Rivers project

The aim of this model project is to enhance understanding of how Manuka can be used to aid restoration of marginal lands and protect waterways primarily from sedimentation. The Trust has provided funding to support the extension of this group’s planting programme in riparian zones and erosion-prone areas with eco-sourced Manuka trees. The project is engaged in sharing expertise and knowledge with a wide range of participants including Massey University students, Ngati Kahungunu, local farmers, schools and environmental NGOs

Some of the Trust members spent a day planting Manuka on a flood-prone paddock in the Wairarapa. The Manuka will help hold the land thus reducing the amount of silt going into the river while also providing a food source for the local bee industry and a field of eco-sourced seeds for local farmers to use for the same purpose. 

"The trees are now over my head. Thank you for your support it has allowed Manuka Farms to gather significant IP on eco sourcing and propagation of Manuka."  Grant Muir, applicant 

Morena Di - Wow!  Fantastic!  Thank you so much for your visit yesterday.  And all of your hard work.  We are very appreciative that you all took the time and effort to help us at the farm.  I had a lovely day and really enjoyed your company.  We will keep you updated with our progress. Ngā mihi, Joanne

Water Action Initiative (WAI)

River Watch has developed a cost-effective and robust water sensor to test freshwater quality. The senor is WI-Fi enabled for extracting data on pH levels, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and temperature and sending this information to an application on a mobile phone or computer. Planned developments are to further refine the sensor to measure nitrates and E. coli pathogens and to expand the use of the app across the country to create a pool of knowledge that will help land users, students and citizen scientists to protect and enhance water quality. The project is currently testing and evaluating the equipment with Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils, Mauaupoko Tribal Authority and several environmental groups.

The Trust has provided funding to extend the reach of the phone app to enable students, researchers and landowners to use it as part of their daily environmental practice in conjunction with the River Watch water sensor.

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Stream Restoration Project: Te Kura-iwi a  Whatupuranga Rua Mano, Otaki

The kura has a fresh water spring creek on its boundary which it wished to restore to good health as an environmental education project for the students and to create a habitat for the propagation of eels.  The Trust provided a $1,500 grant in 2015/16 to assist with this work. To date the gorse, poplars and blackberry on the banks have been cleared, animals have been fenced out of the stream and a riparian planting plan has been prepared by a local expert.

Two years later the students involved in the project reported what they had achieved and learned back to their community in Otaki.

Three years later the flaxes and Manuka plants are now taller than Merle, the project manager, and all the sedge grasses are doing very well.