COMMUNITY UPDATE | DECEMBER 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa
Welcome to the December issue of the Toitū Te Hakapupu newsletter.
We have more updates to share with you on the work happening in Te Hakapupu/Pleasant River, including upcoming events, improvements to fish passage, and a nature-based solutions engagement study.
For our new subscribers and those who would like to know more about the project, you can learn more on our dedicated project webpage. You’ll also find past newsletters to catch you up on the journey so far.
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with us. You’ll find the project partners and their contact details at the end of this newsletter.
From the Toitū Te Hakapupu Project Team ... have a safe and happy holiday season!
Progress to date
Planting
68,000 plants completed.
25,000 more will be planted before June 2025.
Fencing
29.5 km completed.
3.3 km in progress, 6 km proposed.
Fish passage
Two barriers improved.
Three more to be completed.
Important dates
Water quality monitoring — summer 2024/25
Community science day — Feb/March 2025
End-of-project celebration — June 2025
Forestry collaboration — ongoing
Term 3 planting day for local schools
In September, Waikouaiti School and Macraes Moonlight School were invited to participate in a planting day.
The day, organised by ORC and supported by Enviroschools, brought students into the catchment to plant, learn, and explore.
Students also decorated their plant guards.
Before planting, students decorated plant guards.
Life in Te Hakapupu — īnaka
Īnaka are the most common whitebait species in Otago.
A transforming juvenile īnaka.
They migrate between freshwater and the sea in an amphidromous lifecycle.
Īnaka eggs in grass.
- exclude grazing
- maintain fish passage
- provide shade
Whitebait numbers soar after fish passage improvements
Fish passage improvements at Brooklands Road ford increased whitebait numbers from 12 to 600.
Rocks being placed during works.
This is an amazing success!
Willows — helpful or hindrance?
Willows can both stabilise banks and cause flooding if unmanaged.
Rules on willow removal | Examples
Nature-based solutions engagement study
ORC is exploring nature-based solutions to reduce flooding and improve biodiversity.
Email Melanie.White@orc.govt.nz to get involved.
How can you get involved?
Email: tth@orc.govt.nz
Follow updates: ORC, Puketeraki, EOCG
Contacts
Melanie White
melanie.white@orc.govt.nz
Soraya Engelken
soraya.engelken@orc.govt.nz
Katharina Ruckstuhl
katharina.ruckstuhl@otago.ac.nz
Steph Scott
eocatchmentgroup@gmail.com
Disclaimer
The Ministry for the Environment does not necessarily endorse the content.
Copyright
This work is copyright. Non-profit reuse is permitted.
