Monday, 27 November 2023 15:55

Waipā ecological corridor helps native wildlife thrive

Written by  Staff Reporters
4.	Taiea te Taiao ecological corridor project coordinator Bexie Towle and schoolchildren plant for future generations as part of the project. 4. Taiea te Taiao ecological corridor project coordinator Bexie Towle and schoolchildren plant for future generations as part of the project.

Farmers, iwi and other community members are celebrating the second anniversary of a large-scale initiative to create an ecological corridor in the Waipā district.

The Taiea te Taiao project is set to link Maungatautari and Mt Pirongia by planting along the Mangapiko Stream and its tributaries, on farms and other projects.

A wide range of other environmental work is also underway, including the restoration of wetlands and predator control.

Project coordinator Bexie Towle says a key goal of the project is to create stepping stones along the corridor that provide stopping points for native birds and bats to rest and feed, mostly by planting trees.

“This will help increase wildlife numbers and biodiversity,” Towle says.

The two mountains are more than 40km apart, so the whole community is involved.

Dairy farmer Bush Macky says it’s a ‘fabulous’ project at the heart of the community.

“It’s so rewarding working with the hundreds of people and more than 20 organisations involved, including DairyNZ and dairy companies, to help native wildlife thrive and enhance local waterways,” Macky says.

At the Mt Pirongia end of the corridor, on their farm Macky and his family have planted more than 15,000 trees and plants.

They created a duck pond surrounded by planting and retired some land from farming.

He says there’s been no loss in farm production and no impact on business viability.

“It’s a win-win,” he explains. “We’ve added value to the community and our property. We’re seeing more native birds on our farm than ever before.”

So far, more than 200,000 plants have been added to the corridor. Nine kilometres of waterways have been fenced to protect them and native trees planted alongside.

Erosion control and willow removal is also underway on the Mangapiko Stream. The corridor planting is regularly maintained, with weed control across 22 hectares. A comprehensive pest management programme includes trap lines and bait station networks on both maunga, and traps on private property.

More than 20 organisations are involved in the Taiea te Taiao project including funders, sponsors and supporters. The Ministry for the Environment provides funding through the Freshwater Initiatives Fund for two employees, and NZ Landcare Trust coordinates the project.

The project is celebrating its two-year anniversary on 28 November on Bill Garland’s farm, next to the Maungatautari native wildlife sanctuary (Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari).

The evening celebration will include a barbecue and storytelling. Pekapeka/bats may be seen, and kiwi calls may be heard. The Mangapiko Stream is visible here, where it first comes off Maungatautari.

More like this

Musical chairs

OPINION: DairyNZ's director elections has seen scientist Jacqueline Rowarth re-elected for another three-year term.

DairyNZ levy to increase?

Retiring chair Jim van der Poel has used his final AGM to announce the intention to increase the DairyNZ farmer levy for the first time in the industry-good body's 17-year history.

Tributes to retiring 'Jim the farmer'

Doing what is right, not what is easy, has been the hallmark of Jim van der Poel's leadership of, and advocacy for, the dairy industry, attendees at the DairyNZ annual general meeting heard last week.

Featured

New ag degrees at Massey

Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree course and add a significant major into another in 2025.

The show is on!

It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee, that has ensured that Christchurch will have a show this year, says CAPA general committee president Bryce Murray.

National

Food charity to hold online auction

Meat the Need, New Zealand’s dedicated charity delivering locally sourced protein meals to food-insecure communities, is launching an online National…

Machinery & Products

An ideal solution for larger farms

Designed specifically for large farms that want to drill with maximum flexibility, efficiency and power, the new Lemken Solitair ST…

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Leaky waka

OPINION: Was the ASB Economic Weekly throwing shade on Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr when reporting on his speech in…

Know-it-alls

OPINION: A reader recently had a shot at the various armchair critics that she judged to be more than a…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter