Wakapuaka Bursting with Life
The Nelson North community around the Wakapuaka River is partnering with Council and the NZ Landcare Trust, in a project that aims to restore the health of the Wakapuaka River and strengthen community connections in the area.
The project is focused within the community with support from Nelson Nature and the Landcare Trust, particularly in recognising the values of the river, and working to restore its natural values.
Much of the land in the Wakapuaka catchment is in private ownership, so work to improve water health issues such as E.coli and raised nutrient levels will focus on enabling the community to continue to care for its river. The project recognises previous work in this area and builds on the community's demonstrated willingness to care for their treasured waterway and encourage it to grow its strengths.
Nelson Nature will support this programme through monitoring water quality and quantity to identify issues that need fixing; helping with tree planting and fencing along the river; running a rainwater harvesting project; working with the school to strengthen student connections with the values of the river; supporting best practice septic tank management, and learning more about the history of community and the river that touches the lives of many.
Wakapuaka – Bursting with Life! was launched at a community barbecue and outdoor movie on Friday 9 March 2018 at the Hira Reserve.
Nelson Nature and Landcare Trust hosted a landowner workshop in late March 2018 to encourage best practice land management to improve the river's health. Read the workshop notes. (3.5MB PDF) (3.5MB PDF)
There are ongoing activities including tree planting, weeding and community days. Keep an eye on Council's Facebook Page, Our Nelson, or the Nelson Nature Fix for future events.
In 2007, the Wakapuaka Rivercare Group produced a booklet about the natural and human history of the Wakapuaka River - you can download a copy here (34MB PDF).