Waiau Rivercare

Waiau-Uwha River Restoration

An experimental restoration project is underway on Kereone 758 Mouse Point Road, on the south bank of the Waiau Uwha River. It is on the property of local farmer John Faulkner, who hopes it will become a blueprint for additional projects along the 18 km stretch of river between Twin Bridges and Waiau township. John’s vision is a restored Waiau Uwha cleared of predators and weeds, providing a biodiversity corridor that will allow native flora and fauna and local communities to flourish. The Waiau Uwha is one of seven braided alpine rivers that provide 88% of the Canterbury flow. It is home to endangered and rare native birds, the black-fronted tern, wrybill, banded dotterel and black-billed gull.

John’s restoration site is located on 2.5 hectares of previously wasted river boundary land, which has been cleared of gorse, blackberry, broom and other obstructions. Planting began in September 2020, under the guidance of botany expert Sue McGaw who identified 43 species of native plants that would naturally grow in the area and are most likely to survive the harsh dryland environment. The plants (many of which are unavailable in nurseries) have also been selected to provide a year-round smorgasbord of bird food. Over 7,000 natives have been planted in ‘biodiversity nodes’ – groupings of plants that are often found together in nature. The plants include Totara, Mahoe, Five Finger, Fuchsia, Golden Cottonwood, Māori Jasmine and more.

From 2016 to 2022, the ECAN Braided River Restoration fund contributed to the establishment of two river-bird nesting islands adjacent to the restoration site at Kereone, where weeding and trapping was carried out. The funding has ended, so volunteers are helping with weeding on one of the islands a nearby farmer is trapping along the bank. The main target is feral cats.

A joint project by Fonterra and ECAN (Environment Canterbury) has planted approximately 2,500 plants Carex, flax on the Countess Stream (part of the catchment flowing into the Waiau Uwha).

Amuri Irrigation Company has established a Countess Stream Catchment Group with the aim of providing positive environmental and biodiversity outcomes.

https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/people/finding-a-rivers-future-in-its-past/

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/country-calendar/episodes/s2023-e29

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB10W_EpHQM

For more information contact John at [email protected]

© 2023 Hurunui Biodiversity Trust