Farmers back wetland project set to benefit community

The former dairy farmers say their long-term vision is to create a recreational space the community can enjoy. Their Parahamuti project - named after the original name for the stream that borders the wetland site - is based around the Te Horo farm Eileen and Shane lease to local dairy farmers Andrew and Stacey Faith and aims to improve water quality and increase biodiversity. Stage one saw a 1.5ha area planted in 2023, with stage two now underway and involving building fish ladders and restoring a 5ha-plus area containing native species.

DairyNZ is lending its scientific expertise to the project, which is also supported by Fonterra, the Greater Wellington Regional and Kapiti Coast District Councils, and Nga Hapu of Otaki. DairyNZ will offer support through water quality monitoring advice once stage three, which will involve constructing a wetland, begins.

"We work alongside farmers to improve waterway health, and this project has similar goals," DairyNZ senior science manager Aslan Wrightstow says. "We encourage farmers to invest in restoring and protecting wetlands and, where appropriate, constructing new ones because of their environmental benefits. Wetlands can boost biodiversity, provide habitat for birds and fish and reduce contaminants such as nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment – and they look great.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Eileen and Shane, council and iwi to help accelerate positive change.”

Fish count underway at the wetland.

Eileen and Shane’s interest in wetlands was sparked after attending a 2014 Rabobank seminar, where the presenter spoke about how effective wetlands can be in removing sediment and improving water quality. That led to a collaboration with Christine Finnigan of the Nguturoa Catchment Group to create a wetland near Gore on land the three co-owned.

“Our drivers were to improve water quality and create a nice space for recreational activities – kayaking, picnics etc,” Eileen says. “We wanted to do something positive.”

Off the back of that Gore project, Eileen and Shane realised a wetland could also suit the low-lying fields of Kapiti Coast, which flood regularly.

“A big part of this work for us is showing you can do good things alongside operating a dairy farm,” Eileen says.

The former dairy farmers now live in Arrowtown and say managing the project remotely is no easy feat.

But the Faiths support the project by allowing those working within it plenty of access, and Eileen and Shane work closely with Jamie Peryer from GWRC, who they say has been great at organising things.

“Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki has also been excited about the project and very encouraging.”

Shane grew up in Kapiti Coast and his siblings still live in the community. His brother Kerry, who lives opposite the original home farm, has worked with GWRC on his own planting projects. The opportunity to help improve the environment he grew up in is another driver of the work for Shane.

Stage two now underway involves building fish ladders.

“The home farm next to where we’re doing the wetland has been in our family for 100 years,” he says.

“It’s been a great little dairy farm and it seems like the time is right to restore the land, to return it to how it was before it was drained.”

The planned planting aims to reflect the native species that would have been on the land originally.

“Largely kahikatea,” Eileen says. “There would have been big forests there.

“Kerry has noticed with his planting there is a lot more natural spread of other native species,” Eileen says. “The more natives that go in, the more birds are attracted – and they spread seedlings. Once you’re on the right side of it, it becomes a very positive cycle.

“We hope the wetland will become home to endangered birds such as the spotless crake and the bittern.”

In keeping with their long-term vision, Eileen says she and Shane hope the wetland area will eventually include cycle, walking and bridle trails.

“We’d really like to have that.”