Wetland project first for Taiao

Katikati Taiao Trust members from left Janet Price, Martina Bieda, Tiki Bluegum, Jenny Hobbs, Kaye Robinson and Peter Maddison, by The Pioneers sculpture.

The wetland by Katikati's striking 3m-high sculpture of The Pioneers in Talisman Drive has become the flagship and launch project for Katikati Taiao.

The $60,000 Pioneer Wetland Project is to be partly funded by $19,000 from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council's Community Matching Fund, with support and input from the Uretara Estuary Managers, Katikati Open-Air Art, Katikati Community Board and Katikati Taiao, partnering with Council Utilities department.

Councillor Peter Mackay says the purpose of the Community Matching Fund is to offer committed community groups a hand up with projects that already have a good measure of "sweat equity" built into the planning stage.

"The aim from a Council perspective is to see a win-win community outcome for each grant made. This proposed Katikati project met the criteria for the environmental enhancement section of the Matching Fund and demonstrated that it included a well planned community driven programme, the results of which will see our citizens enjoying a much more attractive, environmentally enhanced piece of land that is close to the Katikati town centre."

Some weed trees have been removed followed by a cleanup and replanting to make way for a new board-walk with bench seat that will lead through the wetland to a crossing on Beach Road. This will link the Birdwalk to the town centre.

Katikati Taiao (EnviroKatikati Charitable Trust Registered Charity) was officially formed in April. Co-chairing the Trust are Peter Maddison and Tiki Bluegum with members Jenny Hobbs (Community Board Chair and initial instigator), Janet Price (Environmental Scientist) and Martina Beida (teacher). Kaye Robinson volunteers as minute taker and acting treasurer.

The Katikati Taiao group has spent thousands of voluntary hours working on a request for a five-year partnership with the Department of Internal Affairs Community-Led Development Programme (CLDP). Jenny Steadman from the DIA in Rotorua has been working with the group.

Last month the group learnt they had been successful. The programme uses a community-led approach to support communities, hapu and iwi to achieve their goals by working together, building on their strengths, encouraging wider participation, developing local leaders and action plans to slowly build a more connected, sustainable and resilient community.

Jenny Hobbs sees the CLDP as an exceptional opportunity for the Katikati community to partner with government and it fits with Katikati Taiao's strategic plan to promote long-term environmental, social and cultural wellbeing and sustainability in and around Katikati. Jenny says the CLDP focusses on communities as a whole, rather than on specific programmes, activities or organisations, and works alongside communities to extend help and resources as needed.

"It's aimed at empowering communities to better help themselves."

If you think of each individual and group in the community as a separate patch then the role of Katikati Taiao will be the quilter, bringing the patches together creating a vibrant and colourful patchwork quilt."

The wetland project is the first one.