A TĀTOU KAUPAPA - Our PRojects

Adopted in 2009, the Kaituna River and Ōngātoro/Maketu Estuary Strategy set a goal of 100 hectares (ha) of new wetlands within the lower Kaituna area. This goal will be achieved soon through current work in progress.

There are opportunities to extend that target and keep creating, or re-creating wetlands to further:

• increase habitat for taonga fish and bird species,
• support nutrient and sediment filtering,
• provide people with places to gather food and materials, learn, enjoy and relax, and make more sustainable use of marginal land.

Through this project, our aim is to create a further 100ha of wetlands (200ha total) within the next 10 years. Careful planning will be needed to ensure that new wetlands are well designed and maintained.

BOPRC and associated landowners will lead this project, which contributes to our aim of aim of creating a network of healthy and diverse Kaituna habitats and ecosystems. A broad range of tangata whenua, community groups and other agencies will also be involved.

Planned deliverables include:

• Completion of Te Pā Ika wetland restoration works by 30 June 2022
• Completion of Te Pourepo o Kaituna wetland restoration works 2020-2025
• Completion of Whakapoukorero wetland restoration works by 30 June 2025
• Completion of wetland projects within existing Environmental Enhancement Fund or environmental programme agreements by 30 June 2022
• Parawhenuamea wetland restoration works 2023-2028
• Te Tumu stormwater overflow wetlands development 2023-2028
• Identify and progress new wetland recreation projects through the Kaituna catchment network mapping project (Project 17) 2023-2028.

Related links:

• Te Pā Ika wetland
• Te Pourepo o Kaituna wetland creation project
• Bay of Plenty Regional Council Environmental Enhancement Fund
• Tauranga City Council Te Tumu development planning
• Kaituna catchment network mapping project