Aerial image of Papahikahawai creek and reconnected upper Maketu estuary. The tide can now flow under the new bridge which has replaced a causeway. Photo/supplied
Aerial image of Papahikahawai creek and reconnected upper Maketu estuary. The tide can now flow under the new bridge which has replaced a causeway. Photo/supplied
For the first time in 54 years two causeways have been removed allowing natural tidal flows into 13 hectares of Maketu Estuary.
The two causeways were removed from Papahikahawai Creek this week to restore Papahikahawai Island as a safe-haven for native birds and fish.
Local iwi and community members gathered with staff and councillors from Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council today to celebrate.
A new bridge would maintain access between Papahikahwai Island and Maketu Spit.
Papahikahawai Island had been used for grazing but it had been a dream for Te Arawa and the Maketu community for the past 40-50 years to revitalise it as a wetlands and estuary.
Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor Arapeta Tahana said he looked forward to see the area in 20 years when it was fully revitalised.
Waitaha kaumatua and Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority member Maru Tapsell said that the Papahikahawai estuary used to be a breeding ground for fish.
"But that doesn't happen anymore. By opening this channel up again, we're opening the pathway for those fish to come back to this breeding ground. It can become the food bowl for Te Arawa once again," he said.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Kaituna Catchments manager Pim de Monchy said that since their installation in 1963, the causeways had been blocking tidal flows from getting into Papahikahawai Lagoon and made it unhealthy.
"Fifty-four years of algae build-up will now gradually flush out of the lagoon and we expect fish such as mullet, inanga, kahawai and flounder to return to this part of the estuary in the coming days, weeks and months," Mr de Monchy said.
Members of the public who would like to help with restoration work were invited to join working bees to plant 7700 native plants on the island.
L-R Councillor Tahana (BOPRC), Pim de Monchy (BOPRC), Wharekonehu Te Moni (Papahikahawai No.1 and No.2 Trustee and Ngati Rangiwewehi), Maru Tapsell (Waitaha) beside the new bridge. Photo/supplied
The working bees would be held at 10am on Sunday 11 and Sunday 18.
Planters should bring sturdy shoes or boots, a spade or trowel, lunch, a drink and dress for cool conditions.
The meeting place was Papahikahawai Island accessed from Ford Rd in Maketu.
The Papahikahawai restoration project is a preparatory step towards a major works being led by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, to re-divert twenty percent of the Kaituna River's freshwater flow back into Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi/Maketuū Estuary and create 20 hectares of new wetlands.