Progress
Prioritising mitigations to improve water quality
Element Environmental contracted to complete the Mangaotama Risk Mapping Project - a desktop exercise followed by ground-truthing on farms.
20 high priority sites identified for mitigating effects on water quality. Planning for the mitigation implementation, including negotiations with landowners, is underway.
Section of the Mangaotama catchment showing on farm wetlands (Photo credit: Living Water)
Baseline aerial photography
Natural Solutions/ Flightworks was engaged to undertake baseline photography of restoration sites. One round has been completed, to be repeated.
Photo credit: Living Water
Farm Environmental Plans (FEPs)
92% of FEPs have been completed - 35 of 38 Fonterra farms in the catchment now have FEPs.
Photo credit: Living Water
Cultural values, wellbeing & heritage values assessment
A Hui with Bill Harris (Ngāti Apakura) and Thomas Lord (Ngāti Mahanga) determined resources will focus on managing pest fish and improving tuna habitat and migration pathways.
Ngāti Apakura has contracted a consultant to undertake the Lake Ngāroto/ Wairoto Matauranga Restoration scoping work.
On farm school planting day 2022 (Photo credit: Living Water)
Planting
10, 543 plants successfully planted in prioritised areas on five farms in the lower Mangaotama catchment. Contractors were used to undertake the site prep, planting and plant maintenance.
Ōhaupō, Ngāhinapōurii, Pāterangi and Puahue schools were engaged in environmental education planting days at 4 of the sites. The programme involved 300 students who under supervision planted 4000 plants.
Photo Credit: Living Water
Water quality monitoring
Routine manual water quality monitoring already occurs at Lakes Ruatuna, Mangakaware and Ngāroto/Wairoto
A water quality monitoring regime was set up using Adroit real time monitoring technology. Fonterra invested in two Adroit monitoring stations within the catchment at specific points of the Mangaotama Stream.
Photo Credit: Living Water
Pest plant control
Aotearoa Restoration and Green Streams have been contracted to oversee the consents, planning and delivery of the weed control programme in the catchment. Privet and Willow control planned along the Mangaotama Stream and wetland and tributaries that flow directly into these water-bodies. Weed/tree work will occur across seven farms in the lower catchment. Delays have been caused by weather.
Weed control has been undertaken in newly fenced areas, for planting site preparation and as part of planting site maintenance.
Photo Credit: Living Water
Pest fish management options
Preliminary meetings held with NZ Landcare Trust, Waikato Regional Council, Department of Conservation and an Engineering Consultant around a potential koi barrier in the Lake Ngārotoiti/ Wairotoiti diversion channel.
Waipā District Council is undertaking preliminary scoping for pest fish management options at Lake Ngāroto/ Wairoto.
Photo credit: Living Water
Fencing
Better Biosecurity Solutions contracted to carry out initial ground truthing of fencing work.
Fully Fenced contracted to complete eight fencing projects across five farms - 3.23km of five wire fencing around waterways flowing directly into the Mangaotama Stream, Mangaotama Wetland and tributaries.
Photo credit: Living Water
Mana Enhancing Agreement
The Mangaotama project has adopted the use of a Mana Enhancement Agreement (MEA) similar to a Memorandum of Understanding. The MEA is not legally binding for partners but places the principle of mana at the centre of a living relationship to manage expectations, roles and responsibilities of the partners working together on achieving their purpose. Mana-ā-rōpū places obligation upon all the partners to uphold with integrity their responsibilities as detailed in this agreement.