In 2021 Rivercare began a project to transform a weedy and underutilised reserve into a thriving ecosystem that can be enjoyed by the community as well as providing a haven for wildlife. We chose Tawa Esplanade because it is a special spot that borders Te Wai o Pareira and has a freshwater stream that feeds the awa.  We felt that if we can restore this ecosystem then there is hope for the rest of Te Wai o Pareira.

We have poured so much into this place and our work is paying off. It is looking good and we are seeing many birds starting to use this as a nesting site and corridor. We are now into the fourth stage of planting here and have now made our way to the top of the hill. The whole of the Matipo Road side of the Esplanade is almost unrecognisable from what it was three years ago. Take a look at these before and after pictures to see what we mean!

We recently had a small planting day to get the seedlings left over from our Matariki Planting into the ground before the weather heats up. On that day we did a bit of infill planting and tackled some of the difficult areas down the bank which was a bit of a challenge but everyone worked hard and we managed to get most of the trees planted. We were annoyed to see that someone has been using this area as a dumping ground for rubbish and garden waste. They had also flattened some of the seedlings we planted at the Matariki event with piles of soil which was disappointing. But despite these minor setbacks our work at Tawa has been a huge success.  

We want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has given time and resources to our work at Tawa. You are making a difference. And of course we are incredibly thankful to our sponsors, Ecomatters, Henderson-Massey Local Board and Central Landscaping  who have supported us to make our vision a reality. 

 You can read more about our restoration work on our newly updated website

If you regularly read our newsletter you will be aware of our advocacy in regards to the Peninsula Stormwater project. The project managed by Healthy Waters (Auckland Council) is an upgrade of the stormwater system in Te Atatū Peninsula. The Peninsula has had a population boom and the ageing infrastructure is not coping well, leading to stormwater flooding. These upgrades are sorely needed and if done well should reduce the amount of sewage overflows into Te Wai o Pareira as well. However… Rivercare Group has serious concerns about the way that this project has been planned mostly related to a lack of environmental consideration. For example in the current plan the storm water outlets have no form of filtration to prevent silt and heavy metals and toxins entering delicate ecosystems (including Harbourview where the Godwits/kuaka and other native shorebirds feed). 

For over a year we have been requesting information and meetings with healthy waters with mixed results but we are now pleased to report that after escalating our concerns 

to the Auckland Council Director Barry Potter we have been assigned a senior manager who will meet with us over the coming weeks to hear our concerns. As far as we are aware the Peninsula Stormwater Project is currently on hold pending an assessment of environmental effects. 

 We want to reiterate that we are supportive of this project but are asking for the following ·         

• A commitment that the mana of local iwi and hapu is upheld during this process

• An acknowledgement that, without mitigation, that the proposed upgrade will likely have negative impacts on our sensitive marine receiving environments

• A long-term commitment to improving the quality of stormwater discharges generated by this project, and that all impacts are monitored

• To understand the portion of the project budget committed to stormwater quality improvement beyond gross litter control.

 We hope that a solution can be reached which will meet the ecological, people and financial needs at play and that this project will be one that we can be proud of for years to come. We will keep you updated on any developments.