Our Projects 

Habitat Restoration​

This project has been responsible for planting over 25,000 native plants along the riparian and estuarine margins of the Waikouaiti River. Working in collaboration with landowners, government agencies and others this project has an emphasis on fencing to exclude stock from waterways. The purpose of the project is to improve river water quality by decreasing sediment and effluent run off and limiting erosion. This work also helps to maintain and enhance biodiversity, inanga (whitebait) habitat and the general health of the fishery. This project has established an independent native plant shadehouse/nursery growing plant stock from local ecosourced seed.
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Bird Monitoring​

This dedicated project group monitors the birds of the Waikouaiti River estuary by going out every 6 weeks to gather information on the numbers, distribution, nesting and seasonal changes. By 2018 they had conducted over 100 counts. Information from these monitoring activities is summarized in the Birds of the Waikouaiti River Estuary, Karitane brochure in the "Resources" page of this website.

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Information/Education/Advocacy

This project works to have our community understand the Waikouaiti River and Estuary ecosystem, participate in practices which maintain and enhance the health of the river and adjacent ecosystems and advocates on issues which effect the river and community. The project has commissioned experts to survey the area in order to develop science based conservation projects. Project work with citizen scientists and students from primary school through postgraduate university level connects our work with individuals keen to learn from our "field lab" (the river & estuary). The "Riverwatch" newsletter carries project stories to the community and beyond. This project also coordinates River-Estuary Care: Waikouaiti-Karitane's submissions to government and others on issues relevant to our group objectives.

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