Sod turned on $16m Kaituna River project

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Kaituna Catchments Manager Pim de Monchy watches as Aroha Wilkinson turns the first sod, supported by Pete Wilkinson, Aubrey Wilkinson, and Kahi Hanara at the Kaituna re-diversion sod-turning. Photo/Supplied

More than 100 people, including representatives from six Te Arawa iwi, gathered to celebrate the start of construction works that will return freshwater flows from Kaituna River into Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi Maketū Estuary.

Ngāti Whakaue kaumatua Liam Tapsell started the celebration at Tukotahi Marae yesterday by thanking Bay of Plenty Regional Council project manager Pim de Monchy and his team for their collaboration with Te Arawa whanui and the local community in bringing the project to fruition.

"Let us celebrate and honour the spiritual essence of the Kaituna and the estuary Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi," he said.

Pim de Monchy, Aroha Wilkinson and Pete Wilkinson lead other attendees from Tukotahi marae to turn the first sod on the Kaituna River bank. Photo/Supplied

Bay of Plenty Regional councillor and Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority member, Arapeta Tahana, acknowledged the work of Aroha Wilkinson, the Maketū Action Group, and the wider community in their work since the late 1970s to get the river re-diverted back into the estuary.

"I'm really pleased that as a community and as a nation we're realising the impacts of some of the things we've done to the land and the waterways in the past. We're now making a commitment to turning the tide and making a change for the better.

"Everyone who lives in this community has been really dedicated to this kaupapa (work) and I want to acknowledge and thank everyone that has played a part in getting the project this far," he said.

Overview of planned work to re-divert Kaituna River and enhance Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi/Maketu Estuary. Photo/Supplied

Tahana said it was only right that they did the best they could to leave the whenua and the environment in a better condition for their children and grandchildren.

As the last surviving member of the original Maketū Action Group, Aroha Wilkinson finished the ceremony by turning the first sod while Ngāti Whakaue Minister Kahi Hanara gave a karakia.

Wilkinson used a spade that belonged to her late husband Barrie Wilkinson and was supported by her sons Pete and Aubrey Wilkinson.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder presented Wilkinson with a kahikatea tree which will be planted in the first sod at nearby Whakaue Marae.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council is funding and co-ordinating the $13m construction works which are due for completion by June 2020. $3.6m has already been invested in the planning and land acquisition work completed to date.