For the first time in more than 50 years, the Waingongoro Stream by Waimarama Marae is flowing once again.
"We are elated as an iwi and hapu to witness the Waingongoro restored back to its original path, it's going to provide much needed sustenance for us in this area," says Waimarama Marae chairman Bayden Barber.
The stream had slowly dried up over decades after a culvert was put in place by the Catchment Board (now the Hawke's Bay Regional Council) to protect the marae from being flooded. However, the culvert that was put in became blocked after a flood in the area, causing the river flow to cut out a new channel to sea.
"When the river did actually stop flowing, it affected all the people who had lived with it all their lives," explains Robert MacDonald.
Waimarama locals had petitioned the council for decades to redivert the stream back along its original path but to no avail.