Project Stories Archive
On the foothills of Maungatautari in the Horahora district, the Williams family has run a dairy farm for 100 years. In 2014, with the help of the Waikato River Authority, Gina Williams along with her parents Neville and Louise embarked on a restoration journey that has seen them plant over 30,000 native plants to help restore a once-thriving wetland.
Dairy Farmer and environmentalist Stu Muir started with a digger, a chainsaw and a vision. "People thought I was completely pōrangi for trying to do something like this on this scale," says Stu. "But once you create current, once you regenerate what was here in the beginning, then it will keep itself alive".
The Waipā River is the largest tributary to the Waikato River, and the Waipā River catchment covers 306,000 hectares, with 4,852km of mapped stream and river channels. Sadly, water quality in the main stem and tributaries of the Waipā river recently tested at a level showing drastic need for improvement.
A Port Waikato man and his family are starting to see an environmental transformation on their block of steep hill country with the help of Waikato River Authority funding.
The Waikato River Authority is a major sponsor for a new event that takes place on the Waikato River. The Waikato 100 has a number of different person-powered watercraft taking part in the event which leaves from Hamilton, heading north, and finished at Elbow Landing just south of Pukekohe.
RESTORING THE HEALTH OF LAKE WAIKARE
The restoration of Lake Waikare is arguably one of the most challenging environmental projects in the Waikato. Kaitiaki of the lake north of Huntly Tawera Nikau tells about their project and how funding from the Waikato River Authority is helping his hapū towards their vision of a healthy lake.
WHITEBAIT RESTORATION, PUKETIRINI STREAM
Funded by the Waikato River Authority, a multi-year project to help restore and protect whitebait populations in the lower Waikato River is nearing completion.
MANIAPOTO CULTURAL ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
A multi-year project undertaken by Maniapoto Maori Trust Board and NIWA to create better understanding of environmental issues for Maniapoto marae and whanau has been completed.
RESTORING MOTUKAKAHO ISLAND
Physical works have been completed on Motukakaho Island in the Waikato River near Port Waikato aimed at improving the biodiversity and whitebait habitat. The island, also known as Potter’s Island, is privately owned by the Potter...
GROWING WELL AT PŪNIU RIVER CARE
Iwi environmental organisation Pūniu River Care is seeing positive outcomes for its people and for conservation following its establishment near Te Awamutu. The group has been involved in a number of environmental projects in the region...
RESTORING KUKUTĀRUHE GULLY
Kukutāruhe Gully lies in the heart of Hamilton City. The restoration of the gully has been heavily supported by the Waikato River Authority.
KERR FAMILY RESTORATION PROJECT
Lance Kerr and his family have been involved in work to improve the margins of both Rotongaro and Rotongaroiti lakes while also farming 229 hectares of dairy and dry stock.
THE MEADOW WALK - CAMBRIDGE TREE TRUST
The Cambridge Tree Trust (CTT) an organisation which prides itself on looking after the environment and the community took the challenge to create something that could benefit both.
IINANGA REVIVAL : STU MUIR FAMILY, MANGATI STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT
Mangati stream located south-west of Pukekohe has been the backyard of the Muir family farm for more than five generations. A stream which flows from the Waikato River was once thriving and flourishing in an abundance of native fish and bird life.
WAIKATO AND WAIPA RIVER RESTORATION STRATEGY
The Restoration Strategy is a non-statutory and non-regulatory framework to help with future ‘on the ground’ activities for restoration around the Waikato River and Waipā River. The document provides a foundation to guide organisations that fund or undertake restoration through identification of specific, technically achievable and prioritised actions.
WHAREKORINO WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT
The Wharekorino Wetland was once covered in willow and privet, but Pūniu River Care Incorporated (PRC), an environmental kaitiaki organisation in the upper Waipā, took on the job of restoration.
FAGAN FAMILY PARTNERSHIP - MANGARAPA CATCHMENT RESTORATION PROJECT
He might have made his name as a world champion shearer but now Sir David Fagan has his sights set on sustainable dairy farming. As a farm owner through the Wolverstone Farm Partnership just outside Te Kuiti, Sir David has found himself involved in an additional partnership with the Waikato Regional Council and the Waikato River Authority.
PLANS IN MOTION: MANIAPOTO ENVIRONMENTAL AND UPPER WAIPĀ RIVER FISHERY AND MANAGEMENT PLANS
The Waipā River is the largest tributary that feeds the Waikato River, by restoring the health and wellbeing of the Waipā River, it will help to restore the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River. With support and approved funding from the Waikato River Authority, the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board (MMTB) was able to update and create their current Environmental & Upper Waipā River Fishery Management Plans.
THE WAIKATO 100
The inaugural Waikato 100 river event was held on the 25th November 2017 with 140 athletes taking to the water either by rowing, kayaking, paddle boarding or in waka ama.
BALDWIN DAIRY FARM WETLAND
Back in the day, Gray Baldwin's grandfather drained what was a swampy area on the family farm near Putāruru. Five years ago the area was turned back into a wetland.