Crowdfunding project assists Ocean Beach stream planting

Te Kura o Pakipaki students Santana Aranui, left, and Thomas Knox, test the waters of the Waipuka Stream at Ocean Beach. Photo / Paul Taylor

A popular family swimming spot and haven for native fish is set to benefit from the retirement and planting of marginal land, courtesy of an innovative partnership between landowners, the estate of Pukepuke Tangiora, and the Million Metres crowdfunding project.

The lagoon formed by the Waipuka Stream at Ocean Beach was a popular swimming spot, but has recorded high E. coli and nutrient levels for some time.

In the latest stage of ongoing work to improve the stream, landowners have fenced and permanently retired a stretch of the stream identified as a spawning site for native fish, and the Million Metres crowdfunding project has raised enough money to fund its planting.

The Million Metres project aims to assist the planting of one million metres of New Zealand waterways by 2026. More than 20,000 metres have been planted so far.

Waipuka Stream at Ocean Beach is Million Metres' fifth fundraiser in Hawke's Bay, having successfully supported the Maraetōtara Tree Trust, Whangawehi Catchment Management Group and Mangarara Station.

Donations to Million Metres projects have been made by individuals and businesses such as the Body Shop.

The Body Shop gives 20c to Million Metres for each 200ml Body Butter sold, and this money was used to pay for 500 native trees planted at the Waipuka site.

Body Shop NZ owner Barrie Thomas said the company was pleased to be supporting Million Metres' efforts to address the problem of the degradation of waterways and was delighted to be starting at Waipuka.

Million Metres co-ordinator Alaina Pomeroy said it was great to see more businesses supporting the restoration of the country's waterways.

'It helps raise the profile of our projects. It gets more New Zealanders taking action."

The Million Metres project is also supported by the Sustainable Business Network, Alsco and the Department of Conservation.

This week a group of students from Te Kura o Pakipaki got involved with the action at the stream, water testing with Hawke's Bay Regional Council kits, assessing the suitability of the awa for whitebait spawning, playing a fishing game and hearing about the role of the kaitiaki of the stream.