Watch NZH Local Focus: Katikati community focused on clean water

Water care is a hot topic of discussion for locals at Ongare Point.

Just north of Katikati, it's home to several orchards and farms, many of which border a polluted stream, that runs directly into Tauranga Harbour.

Local orchardist Phillipa Wright set up the Ongare Point Waterway Restoration Group to make positive change to the sections and the stream in the area.

"We felt there was a real opportunity here, to see if we could engage the rest of the neighbours, to see if we could improve our stream, in terms of providing habitat."

The group has already planted 2000 natives along the stream and the next job is to build fences to keep stock clear of the water.

Braden Rowson from Bay of Plenty Regional Council says projects like this are vitally important for the environment we all share.

"It's just about protecting our water resources, because we are clearly having an impact in one way, shape, or another. And this is just something we can do to ensure that what makes it into the harbour is of cleaner standards for swimming."

Mr Rowson says it's also about wildlife. Streams like the one at Ongare Point are crucial for whitebait habitat.

Locals are swinging in behind the project. Neighbouring orchardist, Charlie Cowan has committed to preventing runoff from entering the harbour.

"At the end of the day, as an orchardist or anybody that's on the land, that's where we make our living, so if we look after that it'll look after us."

Meanwhile pussy willows are being sprayed and other trees trimmed back, all of which requires sustenance, provided by Seeka Industries Client-Relationship Manager Jenni Wilson.

"We're just helping out where we can. At the moment, we're doing the early stages of the development and later on when we get to planting we'll have some labour units that will be able to come in and help."

Ms Wilson says the project sits well with the core values of Seeka Industries and with their support, the group hopes to have a pristine waterway within the next three years.

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