Project to enhance health of Rangitikei River launched

Neville Lomax, Ian McKelvie, Gordon McKellar plant cabbage trees beside the Porewa Stream.

A $700,000 project to preserve and enhance the mauri of the Rangitikei River was launched on Friday morning at Rata Marae.

The new initiative, Nga Puna Rau Rangitikei, aims to fence and plant the sides of waterways, add informative signs, monitor the health of waters, teach others about them and formulate a long-term management plan for the river and its tributaries.

About 50 people were at the marae for a powhiri, morning tea, speeches and tree planting. They included Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie, Horizons councillor Gordon McKellar and children from Hunterville School.

Nga Puna will have six site specific projects, manager Reece Martin said - the Porewa Stream, Moawhango, Paharakeke, Lake Oporoa, the Hautapu River and the Makowhai Stream. A total of 5kms of fence will be added, and 26,870 plants put in the ground.

There will be a special emphasis on sites important to the Nga Pae o Rangitikei collective of 11 iwi, hapu and marae. The 11 span the river's 185km and have been working together for 10 years already.

"We've realised it's a waste of time doing anything in isolation."

The initiative is not just for Maori, Mr Martin said. Planting days will be held and engage the whole community, reconnecting people to their waterways.

Money for the project comes from Government's Te Mana o Te Wai Fund, with $74,000 plus staff time from Horizons Regional Council.

The Government funding was announced that morning.

"We got a phone call at 9.30 this morning, to say "The world's your oyster. Go for it!" Nga Puna Rae Rangitikei chairman Robert Martin said.

Ngati Hauiti speaker Neville Lomax said the Rangitikei was in relatively good health.

"We have seen rivers in the wider district that have become quite polluted and we are quite keen to see that that doesn't happen to our awa."

Some wanted to thank Government for the money, but Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie wasn't a fan of that.

"It's our money they're spending."

He said the Rangitikei River was special to all its people, and he was excited about the way such small projects became big projects and got everyone involved.

"I would be surprised if you can't double the value, with people here contributing."

The treaty settlement process would make a big difference to regional economies, he said, and projects like Nga Puna Rau Rangitikei would make the region more attractive to tourists and benefit everyone.