| 67 PRODUCTION Aramiro Ahu Whenua Trust Environmental project making a difference Karen Phelps Located in the Waitetuna Valley the trust operates a 1984ha farm, which includes a 600ha pine plantation, a 900ha indigenous forest and a 350ha beef farm. Aramiro Ahu Whenua Trust is in its second year of a bold environmental project that will benefit not only the local community but also the wider Waikato regional west coast catchment. The trust, located in the Waitetuna Valley south east of Raglan adjoining the nationally significant Pirongia state forest park, operates a 1984ha farm, which includes a 600ha pine plantation, a 900ha indigenous forest and a 350ha beef farm. The farm has several tributaries running through it including the Waitetuna River, the largest tributary of Whaingaroa (Raglan) Harbour. With support from MBIE Provincial Growth Fund the trust is undertaking an ambitious 22.6km of fencing and riparian planting including 50,000 eco-sourced natives to protect the land, the water and restore at risk populations of native freshwater fish including the local kaitiaki (guardian) the tuna (eel). “This is not just about protecting the environment and practicing kaitiakitanga (guardianship). This is about future proofing our land and our people by building resilience to climate change, supporting land use that reverses any negative impacts on water quality and developing and teaching sustainable land practices to our rangatahi (youth) so that they may continue to enjoy and appreciate our precious taonga (natural resource),” says trust chairperson Michelle Tai-Rakena. Michelle says just one year into the project the difference to the waterways and wildlife is already apparent with a reduction in stream bank erosion and sediment discharge, stabilisation of erosion prone soils and enhancement of in-stream habitat through shading and cooling. “Our manu (birds) are returning and our tuna are returning. These are all signs that we are on the right track,” says Michelle. “To date we have now retired 20ha of land with setbacks of between 5-10 metres along all the tributaries and also fenced 5ha of wetlands and native strands. “The support from MBIE has allowed us to employ two fulltime kaimahi taiao staff and engage environmental specialists. It simply wouldn’t have been possible without this support,” says Michelle. Other programs the Aramiro Ahu Whenua trust run on farm include water quality monitoring with E-DNA testing, which is a joint collaboration with Manulife. They also operate environmental farm modeling, a collaboration study with AgResearch and a Whenua based Agricultural NZQA training programme developed for descendants of Aramiro trust lands as well as land and water feasibility studies supported by Te Puni Kokiri. Michelle says the trust is busy working on more environmental projects including pest management. “We have a long term commitment to our land and our people – manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata.” “Our manu (birds) are returning and our tuna are returning. These are all signs that we are on the right track.” w McCaw Lewis is proud to partner with Aramiro Ahu Whenua Trust he waka eke noa - We are all in this together - PH 07 838 2079 | WWW.MCCAWLEWIS.CO.NZ 07 847 5646 www.jcrb.co.nz L1/53 King St, Frankton, Hamilton Chartered Accountants & Business Advisory Services Working with you to achieve your business goals from beginning to end.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=