“The planting day will be an awesome celebration of two months of hard work by two employment teams of five that planted over 10,000 natives at wahi tapu and on retired lands in Mangatu and Waiapu, Ruatoria.
“The work included fencing, removing invasive weeds, monitoring/trapping pest animals and planting erosion-prone land with natives,” Mr Lloyd said.
“The pilot has improved the wellbeing of some of our unemployed whanau, helped them gain new skills and increased their knowledge in other areas. The work also enabled them to express their kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and connect with the whenua (land).”
DoC senior capability development adviser Charles Barrie said it had been a privilege to represent Te Papa Atawhai and work with whanau in the development of the project.
“TARP has the potential for enormous restoration activity across Tairawhiti.”
A funding proposal has been submitted for phase two to continue, which would create 45-plus jobs for 12 months, from Mahia to Wharekahika.
The work will build on the pilot and also include water quality monitoring, wahi tapu restoration, cultural awareness and community activities.
There is provision for online training and support provided by whanau, hapu/iwi, EIT Tairawhiti, Tairawhiti Environment Centre, DoC, and other groups.
This type of catchment restoration can be scaled across the region and country to support the capacity development of local rural Maori communities.
“It is hoped that continued funding in phase two will see these workers return along with many others, giving nature a helping hand,” Mr Lloyd said.
