Uawanui project attracts $1.3m

Uawanui

Uawanui Restoration Project will receive $1.3 million over three years that will unlock more employment opportunities and pump up the local economies, Forestry Minister Shane Jones says.

This will create 12 jobs a year for three years, planting 504,000 seedlings on 500ha of riparian area with 30km of fencing.

The money is part of a $7.5 million injection into environmental projects in Otago-Southland, Manawatu-Whanganui, Tairawhiti and Hawke's Bay. It is in the Jobs for Nature $1.3 billion programme announced as part of the Covid-19 recovery package.

“We are delivering more jobs and investing in our regional economies to help improve our environment,” Mr Jones said.

“Jobs for Nature is doing exactly what it says on the tin,” he said.

Uawanui Restoration Project chairman Maui Tangohau says all funding and support for Uawanui is a privilege.

“We are very grateful for the support from Minister Jones and his officials in the Provincial Development Unit and Te Uru Rakau for working diligently with us to co-design and develop the project,” Mr Tangohau said.

The Uawanui Environmental Sustainability Project was born in 2009 with the vision and strategy, He Manawa Whenua He Oranga Tangata — Healthy Environments, Healthy People.

“It is essentially a 100-year practical vision for the long term economic, environmental, cultural and social sustainability across the entire Uawa catchment,” Mr Tangohau said.

“True sustainability is ensuring that generations to follow will be passionate and proactive about sustaining the wellness of our manawa or heart of our taiao/environment.

“In this respect the focus on our eco-warriors and eco-cadets from kohanga to our schools and marae is huge and the training and work they are doing to ensure the health of our whenua and waterways is amazing, as well as looking after the tuturiwhatu, the New Zealand dotterel.

“Our cadets have already helped plant more than 36,000 trees over the last couple of years so we have grown amazing capability in this area already,” he said.

Uawanui won the National Biodiversity award in 2016.

Uawanui Restoration Project has extended thanks to the Allan Wilson Centre — “there at the beginning” — and acknowledged the “great relationships” that continue with Massey University, the late Sir Paul Callaghan, NZ Plant and Food Research, SCION, MBIE, Trust Tairawhiti, The Department of Internal Affairs, Te Puni Kokiri, the Department of Conservation, The Gisborne District Council and local nurseries, farms and the forestry industry.

All of the projects are set to begin within six months.

The projects are being jointly funded by the One Billion Trees fund and the Provincial Growth Fund.