Funding boost for Hohepa Wetlands project

Hawke's Bay Regional Council senior scientist coastal quality Anna Madarasz-Smith and Hohepa business manager Neil Kirton were happy about the Hohepa Wetlands funding boost. Photo/ Paul Taylor.

Hohepa has been given the chance to take another giant leap towards protecting the Bay's waterways after a grant from the Ministry for Environment.

Yesterday nearly $175,000 was given towards the Hohepa Wetlands so work towards increasing the amount of wetlands at Poraiti could continue.

Hohepa wetland project manager, Neil Kirton said this would go a long way towards their aim of completing a buffer zone between the Poraiti Hills and the Ahuriri Estuary.

"We can continue to grow and plant the eco-sourced native plants, which have been produced by our Hohepa residents at our Haumoana nursery."

Mr Kirton said the Ahuriri Estuary had been under great stress from sedimentation due to run-off from the Poraiti Hills, and planting in the wetlands would act as a filter, reducing the pollution of the Bay's waterways and making for a cleaner estuary.

The wetlands is maintained by 12 Hohepa residents, who work permanently on ensuring the environment is better protected, as well as contracts with the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

"It is important for us that residents engage in meaningful work and this certainly is."

Mr Kirton said they had also received funding from the Department of Conservation and the Lottery Commission.

"It is great as we have people backing the project from the start to the finish."