Whakapara Marae

Back Row, left to right – Whakapara Marae’s Hank van Engelen, Raymond Neville, Zeanda Edwards (Trustee) – front row – Dale van Engelen (Trustee), Sandra Neville , Te Raa Nehua.

Whānau at Whakapara Marae are pleased to have partnered with Kaipara Moana Remediation by using KMR’s Whenua Whānui Fund to plant natives and help restore the local awa.

Whakapara Marae elders Te Raa Nehua and Dale van Engelen have been working together on resource management around the marae and in the Puhipuhi area for a number of years and both were pleased to link with KMR.

The Whakapara Marae’s resource management plan highlights the need to restore the awa (formerly known as the Waimā Stream) that runs below the marae, and to plant native trees for future generations.

And Te Raa says that is exactly why they have partnered with KMR, to put another part of that plan firmly in action – ultimately for the benefit of rangatahi and tamariki.

“Last year we contacted KMR about getting funding to plant some natives on the marae to regenerate natives for future generations as well as environmental outcomes to stop flood damage. We planted over 4,200 trees and grasses last winter near the marae and down to the banks of the awa,” the pair say.

“We are now in the process of trying to release those plants so they can flourish well clear of the kikuyu and other pest species that would otherwise suffocate them. With the rain and heat from this summer there are weeds, blackberries and vines growing over the plants. We are relying on volunteers to do this and we have Department of Corrections workers who are also helping, along with a spray contractor.

As well as KMR, Te Raa says they also work with Ngā Kaitiaki o Ngā Wai Māori to try to restore tuna to the awa.

“We have been doing elver releases in the awa in and around Puhipuhi and other areas for well over a decade now,” says Te Raa, who adds that they are focussed on building relationships with local farmers and other groups.

So far, with the help of KMR Field Adviser Tim Eves, they have planted wīwī, tī kōuka, kahikatea, harakeke, karamū, māhoe, mānuka and kānuka.

In years to come, Dale says they plan to plant pūriri, kauri and tōtara to grow species for carving for future generations, along with rongoā species for medicinal and healing use.

She says the awa used to be a source of water for drinking, washing and harvesting food like tuna and water cress.

“As a child I remember we would swim in the awa, our families would gather there. The men and boys would go tuna spearing, the rest would build a fire and prepare potatoes and tītī to wait for the freshly caught tuna to be cleaned and put in a big pot for a boil up,” says Dale.

KMR’s Whenua Whānui Fund supports landowners and groups to create sediment reduction projects in the Kaipara Moana catchment. The fund is aimed at collectives including hapū, marae, kaitiaki groups, landcare groups, catchment groups and trusts administering land with multiple ownership including ahuwhenua trusts.

Through the Whenua Whānui Fund, KMR is now working to support 94 collectively-led projects to co-design a project, develop a plan to unlock KMR funding, lead delivery of a project or where projects have been completed.

For more information about how the Whenua Whānui Fund can support your aspirations for the whenua, get in touch with KMR via hono@kmr.org.nz or apply via the website at https://kmr.org.nz/application/