Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group Field Trip–April 17, 2011

CUE Haven is fortunate to be situated 2.5 kilometres from the beautiful Kaipara Harbour.  The Kaipara is one of the largest harbours in the world and is rich is history and ecological value.

Over the years, however, the timber industry, farming and urbanisation have taken their toll on the harbour’s biodiversity.  Elimination of old kauri and kahikatea forests as well as reclamation of wetlands have increased soil erosion and runoff.  This has had an adverse impact on shellfish with corresponding impact on fish and bird species.  One study found that only 10% of the existing land cover today is made up of indigenous species or wetland plants.

Te Uri O Hau is a Maori tribe which controlled large areas of the Kaipara Harbour and today they have a keen interest in the health and well being of the Harbour and its catchment area.  Accordingly, they have formed the Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group (IKHMG) to assist in managing and protecting the harbour.

The IKHMG has undertaken an ambitious project to promote the planting of 2 million trees in the Kaipara Harbour catchment area by 2015 and CUE Haven is pleased to be part of that initiative.

On April 16 and 17, IKHMG held workshops and seminars to bring together people with an interest in protecting the Kaipara Harbour and its catchment area.  The objectives of the workshops were to share knowledge and information about existing restoration projects in the area, identify issues, ideas and solutions and to facilitate the development of networks and a support community.  A fundamental objective of the CUE Haven project is to contribute to the health and restoration of the Kaipara Harbour by restoring native bush on the property which will improve the quality of several streams that flow into headwaters of the harbour.  We are supportive of IKHMG and were very happy to sponsor a workshop field trip for the participants on 17 April.

Unfortunately, we were not able to participate because we were out of town.  IKHMG project manager, Leanne Mackey, and our good friend and neighbour, Kevin Adshead of the Mataia Restoration Project, visited us a couple of weeks prior to the event and we gave them a detailed update on our project.  Then on April 17, they stepped in and provided the workshop participants with an overview of the CUE Haven project, showed the participants the property and shared with them some of the challenges, issues and solutions we have been working on.

We look forward to continuing cooperation with the Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group.

Leanne Mackey and Kevin Adshead enjoying views of the Kaipara Harbour from CUE Haven

April 17, 2011 IKHMG Workshop Participants at CUE Haven