Haukaretu Stream Restoration Project – About the Project

*_{The project signboard on the restoration site, which is adjacent to the Hutt river trail.}*

About the project:

The Haukaretu stream flows from below Cannon Point, alongside the Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River where it discharges just south of the stream restoration project area. It’s a short stream without well-defined banks or a rocky stream bed. At the restoration project site, it is a muddy bog, the flow blocked by dozens of crack willows, blackberry, broom and weeds.

_{As it was before any work was started}

_{The location is over the river just south of Gibbons Street.}

Who’s involved:

Cleaning up 350 metres of stream is a collaborative community effort by the Heretaunga Community Church in conjunction with the Greater Wellington Regional Council, and supported by Forest & Bird, and others.

When the project is finished, there will be ongoing community involvement maintaining the area with occasional working bees.

The “big picture” plan:

The restoration project will clean up some 350 metres of stream which is located to the north of the last 500 metres of stream where it discharges into the Hutt River. The restoration will restore the stream’s character and importance to its local environment by removing old fence lines, overgrowth, problematic trees, weed species and pests, and replanting the area with over 5000 eco-sourced native plants and encouraging bird life and other riparian dwellers and aquatic life to re-establish the area.

Everyone is invited to help in whatever way works best for them – whether that’s hands-on, or coming along and encouraging those doing the mahi.

What’s been done so far:

GWRC have started clearing the fence lines. They will start the willow removal when the ground dries sufficiently over the next few months.

_{The already much improved northern boundary of the restoration site}

_{The already much improved centre view of the restoration site}

_{The already much improved restoration site looking north along the river trail.}

What’s next:

Please sign up for email updates so that you don’t miss any events. Haukaretu.Stream.Restoration@gmail.com

The project partners will officiate the opening of the project after which preparation of the 5000 seedlings will begin. This will be both fun and informative for anyone wanting to learn how to do this. Forest and Bird will tutor us. Green thumb gardeners are especially welcome, but any colour of thumb is wanted. You will be emailed so that you can attend any session that suits you. A great place to find new friends.

Lots of varied work on site including weeding, clearing the stream bed, establishing stream banks and removing pests.

*The southern boundary of the restoration project alongside the river trail.*

Haukaretu Stream Restoration Project.