$10,000 for ‘amazing work’

IMPRESSED: Eastern Whio Link co-founder Hamiora Gibson with Westpac ambassador, Richie McCaw.

Conservation project Eastern Whio Link is the first recipient of a $10,000 grant from a partnership between Westpac Bank and the New Zealand Landcare Trust.

The Westpac Watercare project will see five more $10,000 grants handed out to conservation projects across Aotearoa in the coming weeks.

Westpac and NZ Landcare Trust representatives visited last week to see the work the Eastern Whio Link is doing to improve the overall biodiversity and water quality for its catchment in the upper reaches of the Waioeka Gorge.

The hunter and fishermen-led project aims to restore whio (blue duck) populations to East Coast rivers through extensive stoat trapping.

“We are really grateful for getting all the support for the good work that our catchment group is doing locally,” project co-founder Hamiora Gibson said.

All Black great, and now Westpac ambassador Richie McCaw, was among the visitors checking out the work of the Eastern Whio Link.

Mr Gibson said it was cool to have him spend time with the conservation project.

Mr McCaw said he was impressed by their passion and dedication.

“It was great getting my hands dirty with some really committed locals and seeing their amazing work up close,” he said.

“For your average New Zealander, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to conservation and cleaning up our environment, so it's really cool to see Westpac working with local environmental groups to give everyone a chance to make a real difference.”

NZ Landcare Trust chief executive Dr Nick Edgar said the partnership will help local groups take action on key issues affecting the country's waterways.

“Many of our catchment areas are suffering from declining biodiversity, excess sediment buildup, or poor water quality.

“We have roughly 106 catchment groups, 11 catchment collectives, and 377 community Landcare groups, all of whom need varying degrees of support and funding to keep up their great work,” Dr Edgar said.

Westpac NZ head of agribusiness Tim Henshaw said the bank was committed to helping, protecting and enhancing the awa (waterways) for the benefit of all communities.

“We all want to do our bit to look after our backyard. By supporting the trust's important work at the grassroots level, we're helping everyday New Zealanders make a real difference in their area and contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment,” he said.

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