Planting days ahead at Hiwarau wetland
- May 27
- 2 min read
The Hiwarau Wetland Restoration & Inanga Spawning Area Project is set to receive another boost of plants this June. Everyone is welcome to join the Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care Group to plant 600-700 plants on 4 June and 11 June.
The collaborative project of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Hiwarau C Trustees and adjacent landowners was started last year to restore a wetland in the Nukuhou River tidal area. The project site is below Hiwarau where the Nukuhou forms an oxbow, not far from the Cheddar Valley pottery in Wainui. Most of the over 300 plants that went into the ground last June are growing well, although some fell victim to some hungry Pūkeko! This year’s planting days will provide an important back-up for the wetland habitat.
In January the fish passage team at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council installed an additional culvert to connect the river channel to the oxbow. An eel made its way into the oxbow channel straight away (see image below)! A water level control bund has also been fitted to enable flushing through the oxbow channel at mid tide and above. Detention bunds are barriers placed across waterways to slow fast-flowing floodwater laden with contaminants from damaging freshwater ecosystems. Openings in the bunds allow for normal water flows year-round but hold back excess water during heavy rainfall. By holding back and slowing down the floodwater, sediment and contaminants drop out of the water, preventing it from flowing downstream.
The planting days are held on Thursday, 4 June and Thursday 11 June, at 10 am. Meet onsite at 10am. Bring gloves, gumboots, spade and water.
