Te Waihora Co-Governance welcomes Marama Davidson

Nau mai haere mai, the Te Waihora Co-Governance Group were pleased to welcome Marama Davidson MP, Co-leader of Green Party Aotearoa, and Lan Pham MP to the Tai Tapu Community Centre to learn about the mahi of the Co-Governance group and Whakaora Te Waihora programme and reflect on what makes Te Waihora so special, in response to a request from their office.

Restoring Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere

Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere is a living hāpua - a shallow, brackish coastal lake-lagoon - that is nationally and internationally significant for its cultural, ecological and economic values.

Whakaora Te Waihora is an extensive ecological and cultural restoration programme to restore and rejuvenate the mana, mauri and ecosystem health of Te Waihora and its catchment.

It began in 2012, after Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Environment Canterbury came together to agree on a shared commitment and responsibility to improve the health of the lake and its catchment.

Since then, Selwyn District Council, Christchurch City Council and the Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai have joined the programme’s Co-Governance Group, a voluntary partnership, with representatives split evenly between mana whenua and government.

Reflecting on progress made

This visit was a great opportunity to take stock and reflect on the recent landmarks of Whakaora Te Waihora.

Some milestones discussed at the hui included: 10 years of voluntary Co-Governance over Te Waihora and its catchment; the progress of the Whakaora Te Waikēkēwai project – a project led by Te Taumutu Rūnanga, and co-managed with Environment Canterbury, which is restoring the mid-lower reaches of Te Waikēkēwai/Waikēkēwai Stream; and, the Department of Conservation led Weed Strikeforce project, which is restoring the lakeshore wetlands of Te Waihora through willow and weed control that fosters natural regeneration of wetland habitats.

“It was a pleasure to come together as partners and share with our distinguished guests the significance of Te Waihora and its catchment, and the ambitious plans we have to restore and rejuvenate the important ecosystem this lake supports,” said Craig Pauling, Deputy Chair of Environment Canterbury, and Whakaora Te Waihora Co-Governor.