Whiria te Waitaki Project Timeline
βYes, theyβre learning the technical skills of the job, but theyβre also learning the whakapapa, the karakia, the reo. Theyβre not just rangers β these are people that will be our mΔtanga mahinga kai, our mahinga kai experts.β
January 2021Agreement
Whiria te Waitaki fundng agreement between Te Runanga o Moeraki and LINZ β Toitu te Whenua signed. Agreement between Te Runanga o Moerak and Aukaha (1997) Ltd for project management and support.
February 2021Kaimahi
First Whiria te Waitaki project employees commence work
may 2021Project Manager & new works
Project Manager (Kelly Governor) commences work
Establishing nursery including tunnel houses at Moeraki commenced
Local seed collection underway
july 2021Inaugural hui
Inaugural meeting of the Project Steering Committee
September 2021Predator Control
First predator control traps are set
October 2021Caught!
First catch recorded in the predator control trap
Stage One restoration plans for Te Puna a Maru and Korotuakeka completed
November 2021Native Planting Begins
First native plants planted (800) at Korotuakekat
December 2021Te Karaka article
Te Karaka article published describing the project
February 2022Seed Collection Commences
Local seed collection commenses
Whiria te Waitaki team assist NIWA with eel and fish survey in North Otago Irrigation Scheme
March 2022Pest Control
Professional shooter contracted to assist with pest control measures
April 2022Large scale weed control
Vegetation clearance works (large scale weed removal) commences at Te Puna a Maru
Drone footage of cleared areas (before) collected
May 2022Stage 2 restoration plans
Stage 2 restoration plans prepared
Planting in areas cleared of vegetation at Te Puna a Maru commences
June 202210,000 plants achieved!
Planting in areas cleared of vegetation at Korotuaheka and Te Puna a Maru continues β achieve first 10,000 plants in the ground
July 2022High flows down Waitaki
High flows down Waitaki River flood portions of the Korotuaheka and Te Puna a Maru sites
August 2022Planting, Flooding & Biodiversity Symposium
Further 5,000 plants in the ground at Te Puna a Maru
Flooding continues to impact site at Korotuaheka
Team presented at the Environmental institute of Australia and New Zealand Biodiversity Symposium on the aims and objectives of the Whiria te Waitaki project with a focus on biodiversity restoration from a mana whenua perspective
september 2022Te Puna a Maru planting
Further 7,000 plants in the ground at Te Puna a Maru
October 2022Successful Planting Season completed
2022 planting season completed with total of 46,000 plants in the ground
Drone imagery of planted areas captured
November 2022Kararo Bird survey
Team assist Department of Conservation with Karoro bird survey and control project
January 2023Moeraki Takiwa Cultural Health
Whiria te Waitaki team assist with the Moeraki Takiwa Cultural Health Index waterway monitoring
May 2023Planting season underway
30,000 plants planted at Te Puna a Maru
June 2023Planting season complete
2023 planting season complete with total of 48,000 plants in the ground
Stage 2 Restoration plans completed
April 2024Te Runanga o Moeraki partnership
Te Runanga o Moeraki agree to provide funding to continue the Whiria te Waitaki project for the next threee years
November 2023Bird Surveying
Team assist Department of Conservation with bird survey and control project
may 202430,000 plants in the ground!
2024 planting season complete with over 30,000 plants in the ground
june 2024Whiria te Waitaki Ltd established
Whiria te Waitaki Ltd established as a subsidiary of Te Runanga o Moeraki to continue the project