About the Project
The Mangaotama stream is significant in that various agencies, community groups and independent landowners are already actively involved with restoration work on the lakes, wetlands and waterways in the catchment.
Several rare species have been recorded at the site, including:
Spotless crake (pūweto), long-tailed bat (pekapeka) and longfin eel (tuna).
Native fish recorded in the Mangaotama stream include:
Banded kōkopu, black mudfish, common bully (toitoi), Cran’s bully, freshwater crayfish (koura), longfin and shortfin eel (tuna), smelt (pōrohe/paraki) and torrentfish (panoko).
Photo Credit: Living Water
In 2020
Restoration in the Mangaotama Wetland has been undertaken for a number of years by the Mangaotama Stream and Wetland Restoration Trust. Living Water (a ten year partnership between Department of Conservation and Fonterra) gained visibility of this in 2020 and the partners recognised the efficiencies and greater overall environmental benefits that could be gained through an aligned approach to restoration work in the Mangaotama catchment.
An inaugural hui was held at Lake Ruatuna in December 2020 and attracted representatives from New Zealand Landcare Trust, Waikato Fish and Game, Mangaotama Stream and Wetland Trust, Fonterra, Waipā District Council, Waikato Regional Council, Te Runanganui O Ngati Hikairo, Ngārotoiti/ Wairotoiti hunter/ trapper, Ngāti Apakura, DOC / Living Water, National Wetland Trust and Better Biosecurity Solutions Ltd. There was a strong interest from all in attendance at the hui in the merits of a collaborative catchment restoration project.
An alliance was formed with Iwi partners, Territorial Local Authorities, community groups and stakeholders. A project proposal was developed alongside a commitment of funding through the Living Water Partnership. A funding application was successfully lodged with the Waikato River Clean Up Trust (WRCUT) - Waikato River Authority (WRA). Two years of funding has been granted.
The work underway by the project partners
Photo Credit: Mangaotama Stream and Wetland Restoration Trust
Mangaotama Stream and Wetland Restoration Trust
The Mangaotama Stream and Wetland Restoration Trust is a group of landowners/ farmers along the Mangaotama Stream and adjoining wetlands, passionate about restoring the stream (water quality) and wetlands and improving the habitat for native flora and fauna. So far, they have undertaken 14km of fencing, planted 48,000 native plants, retired farmland and fenced off several remnant Kahikatea stands. A trapping program has started along the length of the wetland, targeting rats and mustelids. Morepork/ Ruru and Bat/ Pekapeka nesting boxes and Wētā hotels have been installed.
Photo Credit: Living Water
Living Water: Department of Conservation and Fonterra
Living Water is a partnership between the Department of Conservation and Fonterra focused at five sites across Aotearoa. They’ve trialled tools, methods and approaches to enable farming, freshwater and healthy ecosystems to thrive side-by-side. They’ve been working with farmers, scientists, councils, mana whenua and communities to design and test solutions to improve freshwater quality, and then sharing the results of the trials and research on their website.
Photo Credit: Living Water
NZ Landcare Trust
As described on the NZ Landcare Trust website “NZ Landcare is a grassroots organisation providing educational support services to communities leading to beneficial land management practices. We partner with community catchment groups to make a tangible difference in the future of New Zealand’s waterways”
Photo Credit: Waikato Regional Council
Photo Credit: ngatiapakura.co.nz
