Plan initiated for Makoura Stream

A plan to restore Makoura Stream in Masterton hit the ground running at a meeting of about 70 people at Douglas Park School on Sunday.
Spokesman and Masterton district councillor Chris Petersen said the Sustainable Wairarapa project will focus at first on the Makoura Stream, which is the largest waterway of three or more streams running through Masterton.
"Long-term, the hope is that all will be improved but the focus will be on the Makoura in the first place," he said.
Mr Petersen said the opening phase of the meeting broke participants into working groups, who centred on particular sections of the stream in its present state.
"The consensus was that while it was very degraded in parts there were other sections still relatively pristine and eels and trout were still present.
"We then went on to vision the stream as we'd like to see it in 10 to 20 years time."
Mr Petersen said a higher and more regular flow was considered desirable with a gravel bed rather than silt, native plants along the riparian banks to give shade and encourage native birds back into town, removal of willows, the reduction of nutrients to improve the quality of the water, and "of course the absence of rubbish and contaminating discharges".
"In short, what was seen as need is a purer, higher quality water-flow and a more natural form," he said.
He said a committee was formed at the meeting to plan the first "on-the-ground action" proposed for World Environment Week from June 2 to 8.
"There has already been a commitment from most of the five schools that have the stream running through their grounds, and iwi, youth and community groups will also be involved.
Mr Petersen said other Masterton residents would also have an opportunity to help through one or more planting days.
Native seedlings will be bought from Trees For Wairarapa run by the Stars Trust and funding for the plants would come from the Ministry for the Environment in recognition of the prestigious UN Environment Programme Conference to be held that week in Wellington.
Greater Wellington Regional Council and Masterton District Council are also very supportive of the project, he said, which "in part recognises that the stream is a crucial component of the town's storm-water system".
Three key speakers addressed the meeting on Sunday, including Rangitane O Wairarapa chairman Jason Kerehi, who traced tangata whenua occupation and use of the area back to around 1500, and Wairarapa archivist Gareth Winter, who showed photos from the early years of pakeha settlement in the area and related stories of flourmills, breweries and even a small hydro scheme in the vicinity of the stream which he said was only known as the "Makoura" in its lower stretches.
Alton Perie, from Greater Wellington Regional Council, also discussed the presence and absence of key "indicator" species in the Makoura Stream of native plants and animals, including kokopu, the adult of whitebait, and invertebrates that demonstrate the level of water quality.
"It was a very successful day that augurs well for the long journey ahead on this community project," Mr Petersen said.