Source: New Zealand Government
- Jobs for Nature funding for seven projects around the country
- Investment will clean up and protect waterways and create local jobs
- Up to 243 jobs (FTEs) expected from these projects over the next five years.
The clean-up of a degraded lake in Marlborough and restoration of an estuary system in Gisborne are among a suite of projects that will receive $12 million of Jobs for Nature funding, Environment Minister David Parker announced today.
Across the seven projects, up to 243 jobs (FTEs) are expected to be created over the next five years.
Together with council and other contributions, these projects will see more than $26 million invested in improving New Zealand’s freshwater.
“Each project is taking us closer to meeting the objectives of the Essential Freshwater package, while creating training and employment opportunities,” David Parker said.
“It’s about improving water quality now, so that the next generation can enjoy healthy freshwater for years to come.
“We are supporting projects that are taking a catchment wide approach to remediation, like the Hokianga Harbour Care project. We are helping fence off waterways to exclude stock, plant up riparian margins and restore wetlands.
“We are upskilling people. Ngāti Koata Trust’s project to restore Lake Moawhitu is offering employment and ecological training for local rangatahi and others in the community,” David Parker said.
The funding for these projects comes from the Freshwater Improvement Fund. It aims to create significant environmental benefits and boost training and employment in our regions to help accelerate the recovery from the impact of COVID-19.
At the latest full update on 30 September 2021, the Jobs for Nature programme had created employment for 5,698 people. This included short term, part time and contract work. At that date there were more than 2,400 currently employed. The programme remains on track to meet its core objectives.
Editors’ notes:
Projects receiving funding
Northland
- Hokianga Harbour Care Incorporated will receive $2,000,000 over four years for their Hokianga Catchment Restoration Project. The Hokianga Catchment Restoration Project will undertake on-the-ground activities to improve the health of the freshwater catchments within the Hokianga district, improving the health of the Hokianga Harbour and the community that relies on it. The project is expected to create 24.5 FTEs.
Waikato
- Te Puāwaitanga o Ngāti Hinerangi Iwi Trust (TPNHT) will receive $1,000,000 over four and half years for their Waihaumanu Project. This project aims to restore the Mangapiko stream, the awa tūturu and is expected to create 12.4 FTE.
- Pūniu River Care Incorporated will receive $4,000,000 over four and half years for their Ngā kaitiaki o te awa o Pūniu – Stage 2 project. It will fence and plant alongside tributaries which flow into the Pūniu river. It is expected to create 110 FTE.
Gisborne
- Gisborne District Council will receive $2,250,000 over four and half years for their Restoring the Mauri and Ora of the Tūranganui Estuary System project. Actions include riparian planting, wetland restoration, the removal of barriers to fish passage, improving connectivity, enhancing fish spawning, and stormwater improvements in the urban and urban fringe stream network that drains into the estuary waterway system. It is expected to create 43.4 FTE.
Wellington
- Greater Wellington will receive $2,000,000 over four and half years for their Improving Fish Passage in the Wellington Region project. This project aims to improve fish passage in Wellington’s waterways, through a Fish Passage Regional Action Plan, assessing, remediating and monitoring fish passages. It is expected to create 33.2 FTE.
Marlborough
- Ngāti Koata Trust will receive $759,000 over four and half years for their Securing the mauri of Moawhitu project. The project aims to restore Moawhitu through a multi-partner initiative. The project partners will undertake targeted restoration of Lake Moawhitu water quality, re-introduction of woody habitat for taonga species, and revegetation of indigenous plants. It is expected to create 8.4 FTE.
Canterbury
- Selwyn District Council will receive $796,980 over four and half years for their Te Waihora Freshwater Wetland Restoration – Tārerekautuku wetland project. This project will support the ecological restoration of the significant Tārerekautuku / Yarrs Lagoon wetland, as part of the wider Te Waihora Freshwater Wetland Restoration project. It is expected to create 10.8 FTE.
