Tukituki Land Care NewsletterHe Pānui Tautiaki Tukituki Whenua |
|
|
November 2023
In this issue, read about funding for sub-catchment initiatives, a remarkable 40,000 native tree planting endeavor, local events and inspiring stories from your community.
|
|
|
A message from our chair. He kōrero mai te turu matua. I looked back at my report from this time last year and a lot has happened since. Heaps and heaps. If you’re in the land and water space, Cyclone Gabrielle certainly took centre stage in 2023. While Gabrielle hammered our region, with disastrous outcomes pretty much everywhere, she has forced a re-think on much of how we approach rivers, river management and what we do on the land. In the days and weeks after the cyclone, I had numerous phone calls from locals, clearly expecting that this event would force some change into the manner in which we plan for our waterways, and that regulations might actually be trumped by common sense and a more holistic approach. Whether or not the “Powers That Be” have the collective wisdom to do that re-think in a pragmatic manner remains to be seen and we hope that Tukituki Land Care can be part of the discussion – there is much water to go under the bridge, if you will excuse the pun. Tukituki Land Care has made good progress and is now a very visible entity in the catchment, as well as the wider region. From late 2021, when we had done a huge amount of the administration required in getting funding and setting ourselves up to operate, now TLC is on the ground and making real headway. We have great lines of communication to key funders and organisations, as well as iwi interests and community groups. It is interesting to watch how a common concern such as water quality (and in all honesty, a far deeper concern regarding rules and regulations, alongside the risk of wasted money and effort) can pull together like-minded people when there is an opportunity and some leadership exhibited. There are twelve sub-catchment groups now operating, with catchment coordinators Pixie Seligman and Kahlia Fryer directly involved, Holly Ormond on the TLC communication, and our highly efficient catchment lead, Michelle Goodman. There are varied projects on the go, all around our water and the land adjacent. As we pull those activities and stories together, we will make a difference. Those twelve sub-catchments, of the seventeen in the 216000 hectares of the Tukituki, have a variety of projects being supported by grants from TLC. But we are only able to be a conduit to change, not effect the physical change itself, as we are not funded anywhere near the level required to get plants and posts and machinery into the ground, unfortunately.
Clearly a lot of money flowed into HB this year, for the clean-up in the aftermath of the cyclone, but even that has dried up. To put some numbers around that, TLC has just under a million dollars to achieve its goals – and you are part of a (largely) farming community that operates valuable tax-paying businesses on land in the Tukituki worth maybe $4 billion.
What next for TLC? We have a great team, from our team on the ground and our executive team and Board. We have made good headway in opening up communication with individuals and organisations likely to be part of that re-think, and we will continue to facilitate good outcomes for the waterways and communities of the Tukituki. We will also keep an eye on the Big Picture, which is to be part of a wider national conversation around the wellbeing of those communities that are being directly affected by policy out of central government – bureaucracy is blind to the pressure they are putting on grass roots NZ when they try to impose one-size-fits-all rules, driven by aspirational notions delivered to them by their buddies. So much to do and so little time! Richard Hilson |
|
|
$120,000 awarded to Tukituki sub-catchment groups. Kua takoto te manuka, ka kawea ake. The challenge has been set, pick it up. In September, TLC awarded $10,000 to twelve Tukituki sub-catchment groups to fund projects with demonstration value. These grants offer sub-catchments an opportunity to trial something new whilst gaining valuable knowledge which can be shared and replicated across the region. The chosen projects encompassed a range of initiatives, from land management practices and weed control to water quality improvement and community engagement strategies. Head to our website to find out more about the demonstration grants and chosen projects or keep up to date with their progress on our Facebook page. Are you in one of the five sub-catchments which did not put in an application for a Demonstration Grant? Scroll down to find out how you can apply. |
|
|
This map shows the 12 sub-catchments awarded a TLC Demonstration Grant in 2023. |
|
|
A welcome break after a tough year. He wā ano, ka whakakotahi ai te hāpori. There will be times we will need to come together in unity. In recognition of the tough year that many farmers have had, TLC partnered with MSFT Productions to bring a ‘Fuel Your Stoke’’ event to Central Hawke’s Bay. The event, held at the Onga-Tiko Rugby Club, aimed to get rural folk off-farm for a fun afternoon with live music, food and beverages and all aged family-friendly activities. The event, which was free of charge, also offered farmers access to essential mental health resources and support. Over 300 locals from Western Central Hawke’s Bay enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with their local community and were delighted to head home with a native plant donated by the Department of Conservation. Disappointed you missed out? Scroll down to find out about the next local Fuel Your Stoke event on later this month. |
|
|
40,000 Mānuka seedlings planted. Ka whakato i te rākau, whakato i te tūmanako. To plant a Tree is to plant hope.
When Comvita announced that they were offering free mānuka seedlings to catchment groups and landowners in the East Coast and surrounding areas, TLC jumped on board to support the initiative. We were able to identify over 19 farmers and six schools to take on and plant a whopping 40,000 seedlings across the catchment. The planting projects included a gully retirement, erosion control and slip revegetation, riparian as well as a number of plantings in schools across Central Hawke’s Bay. TLC also supported farmers in accessing planting contractors, including Mauri Oho (Jobs for Nature), to help get the plants in the ground.
Read about the plantings on our website including 8,000 seedlings planted by Conon Kynoch as part of a gully retirement project and 10,000 planted by BEL Group for erosion control, bush regeneration and to boost riparian zones. |
|
|
In Hatuma seedlings were planted in slips from Cyclone Gabrielle and in Ashley Clinton BEL Group planted over 10,000 plants. |
|
|
Testing the Water. Ki te kore waiora, kore tāngata, me manaaki i te wai. Without water there is no life, cherish the water.
Sixteen farmers in the Māharakeke and Pōrangahau catchments recently completed a fortnightly water testing programme run by Massey University’s Catchment Solutions Team and facilitated by TLC. The project, funded by the Ministry for the Environment and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, aims to co-develop and demonstrate edge-of-field technologies to minimise contaminant losses and inform the development of resources and educational materials for farmers. Farmers in the catchment were invited to take part in the programme which involved taking fortnightly samples from two sites on their farm over a two month period and having them tested by Massey University for nutrients and suspended solids. In September, the results were shared with landowners during a workshop run by Massey University who are now using the data to help identify two sites to build edge of field mitigation structures. This project offers knowledge gain for the Tukituki catchment and beyond so keep an eye on our Facebook page for developments. As well as helping to identify mitigation sites, the results confirmed something that many farmers already suspected - many of the hill country springs in the area have elevated nitrogen levels, which appear to have been largely mitigated by downstream riparian management on the same land. “We are aware that many of the hill country springs within the district naturally supply water with elevated levels of nitrogen”, says Richard Hilson. “But the downstream effects of on-farm water systems and riparian management has a marked positive effect in lowering these levels. We want to see this investigated and understood so farmers and landowners make changes that work, not just change for change’s sake.” |
|
|
A brilliant effort by farmers in the Māharakeke and Pōrangahau catchments |
|
|
Community engagement in Upper Tukituki. Tūhonotia ki te hāpori, tūhono ki te pai. Engaging with our communities, for the better. The Upper Tukituki Catchment Group is using a $10,000 grant from Tukituki Land Care to undertake a showcase project on a short stretch of the Upper Tukituki River. The project aims to work with the river and address willow and shingle islands which are redirecting flow, leading to significant erosion and increased silt loads. The group is keen to involve the wider community in the project and, supported by TLC, they hosted a community day in July and a site visit in October to discuss the key issues and the plan going forward. The group plans to spray the invasive willows using an agricultural drone as demonstrated at the October site visit. A big issue for this project is the consenting process to spray the willows. Upper Tukituki local, Paul Stuitje, has been employed as a project manager and is keen to get some answers around consent for this type of work. TLC is really excited to be involved with this project, especially given these issues are experienced in other sub-catchment and learnings from this project will be shared across the wider Tukituki catchment and beyond. |
|
|
Tukituki Farmer Focus. Ko ngā kōrero tino pai ko ērā e tukuna ana ki te iwi.
The best stories are those shared with the people. TLC has been sharing stories about the great environmental work happening on farms across the Tukituki catchment. If you missed these articles online or in the local paper, here is your chance to catch up… |
|
|
Ross and Claire McCormick Hatuma sheep and beef farmers discuss their battle with hillside erosion and the creation of a poplar pole nursery - here
|
|
|
Grant and Sally Charteris Tikokino deer farmers with a passion for on-farm environmental enhancement - here
|
|
|
Miles and Megan McBain Papanui cropping and livestock farmers on replanting thousands of natives lost during Cyclone Gabrielle - here
|
|
|
Upcoming… Tirohia whakamua ki ngā mahi o TLC
Round Two TLC Demonstration Grants Did your catchment not receive a TLC Demonstration Grant in our first round of funding? Now is your chance. Contact Kahlia on 0273426071 or tukitukicoordinator@gmail.com today and get in before the 31 March 2024 deadline. Stoke Your Fuel event coming to the Patangata Tavern - 26th November 2023
After the success of the first Central Hawke’s Bay ‘Stoke Your Fuel’ event, TLC has again partnered with MSFT Productions and will now bring the event to the Patangata Tavern. Put Sunday 26 November from 2pm till 8pm in your diary and we will see you there!
|
|
|
Don’t miss out…
Like what you have read? Keep up to date with catchment specific information including media releases, funding, events, farmer profiles, inspiration and some awesome giveaways. Follow Tukituki Land Care on social media now.
|
|
|
|
|
