On Sunday 18 October, members of the Mangatarere community came together at Belvedere Bridge for a combined action planning session, stream exploration, and Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The day brought together a diverse group of people who share a connection to the Mangatarere awa, including members of the Upper Mangatarere Catchment Group, the Mangatarere Restoration Society, local schools, landowners, and community members keen to become involved in looking after the river and surrounding catchment.
The morning began with participants sharing some of the work they have been involved in along the awa over many years. It was inspiring to hear about the wide range of initiatives already underway across the catchment. These included native planting, water quality monitoring, eDNA sampling, flood protection work, rubbish clean-ups, bug hotels, seed collection, pest animal control, and other restoration activities. Together, these projects highlight the significant commitment and care that local people have for the health and wellbeing of the Mangatarere catchment.
The group then headed into the stream to explore the awa and learn more about the ecosystem living beneath the water’s surface. Participants observed a variety of macroinvertebrates and discussed what these species can tell us about water quality and stream health. The exploration provided a hands-on opportunity to connect with the awa and better understand the environmental values that community members are working to protect and restore.
Action planning was woven throughout the stream walk and discussions. Rather than sitting indoors around a table, participants talked about ideas, priorities, and opportunities while standing alongside the river and gathering around maps. The session demonstrated that action planning does not always need to happen in a meeting room. Some of the best conversations occur while walking through a catchment and seeing challenges and opportunities firsthand, although there were still plenty of sticky notes involved. Discussions covered both the work already taking place and future projects that people would like to see happen across the catchment.
The afternoon AGM marked an important milestone for the group. Members agreed to operate as one collective organisation under the name Mangatarere Community Catchment Group, using the Mangatarere Restoration Society’s existing incorporated society structure. The group will have a shared vision and work across the whole Mangatārere Catchment, with some activities happening across the whole area and some in sub-catchments like Enaki Stream/Hinau Gully or Kaipaitangata/Dalefield.bThis approach will build on the strong foundation established by the Restoration Society, the Catchment Group, and landowners, while creating opportunities to further connect and coordinate restoration efforts across the catchment and within sub-catchments.
The next step is to continue the action planning process with the wider community. Together, the group will develop a shared vision for the catchment, identify desired outcomes, and prioritise actions that will help guide future work to protect and restore the Mangatarere awa for generations to come.
This event was supported by the Wairarapa Catchment Collective, a partnership between Greater Wellington, Mountains to Sea Wellington, MPI On Farm Support, and Catchment Groups.