2023 Highlights for the Motueka Catchment Collective

This year the Motueka Catchment Collective (MCC) had the chance to consolidate part of the work that started since 2021. Here are some key facts and figures from this year.

A committed group of farmers and residents in the upper catchment around Tapawera had worked hard since 2021 linking the people together to look after their waterways and connected environment, taking community lead action for the health of the catchment. They realised that improving the health of the river and surroundings is only possible with a coordinated, catchment-wide approach.

Then in June this year, this hard work paid off, and the group (known as the MCC) received a significant boost with the announcement of $870,000 in funding from the Ministry of Primary Industries Essential Freshwater Fund. A gathering of over 100 community members in Tapawera celebrated with Minister Damien O’Connor, iwi and stakeholders.

Since then it’s been a flurry of activity, involving many community members investing significant time, passion and energy to build capacity and capability across the catchment.

A survey of catchment residents carried out earlier in 2023 demonstrated the desire for continued on-ground actions. An area of focus was to establish Thematic Groups to take on the task of on-ground actions around these community priorities:

• The Biodiversity and Restoration Thematic Group was the first to be set up, comprising 8 core members. They have organised plantings along the awa with trees from One Tree Planted, Trees that Count, and 1000s of seedlings grown in community nurseries, along with holding events for the community. 

• A Pest Control Group has identified some exotic species to focus on and is forming collaborative relationships with other groups around trapping. The group is also working to expand the control of vine weeds, especially old man’s beard. The Weedbusters and group of Brooklyn community members meets on monthly basis.
• The Forestry Working Group has gathered a highly experienced group of scientists, industry representatives, community members and stakeholders around the table to begin unravelling the complex problem of how to better manage commercial operations, especially on the catchment’s unstable geologies. 
• The Freshwater Monitoring Group has been set up and is collating water sampling data across the catchment and training community members to use SHMAK kits as screening tools to work out critical point sources. In order to determine current state of the freshwater ecosystem, and if possible, in a long term monitoring establish trends. It will also be an opportunity to follow up the impact of restoration initiatives.
• The River Access and Recreation group is in the process of being set up, and has been connecting with other thematic groups, developing a bird watching project linked with the cycle trail. The group has also identified swimming hole locations across the catchment, in order to organise a tour.  

The Steering Group has been established to provide oversight and has met 8 times, supported by the team at Tasman Environmental Trust who take on the operational and administrative requirements, reporting and financial management. 

Following best practice, another key task has been appointing a Catchment Coordinator to meet the milestones established in the funding agreement on time and maintain the project flow. Shannon Parker began working for MCC in March 13^th 2023 and has bought her expertise in overseeing catchment groups overseas and around New Zealand’s South Island to this role. Shannon says of progress this year:

I’ve been amazed to see the commitment and energy from community members in the Motueka Catchment this year. There is so much happening throughout the catchment and it’s exciting to see the momentum grow. My focus as coordinator has been to meet funding milestones, set up robust support systems, and build community engagement and capacity.

I’m happy to report that our 2023 milestones have been met. We now have over 600 community members on our database. We have run over 20 events attended by over 400 people, and all Thematic Groups are either fully set up and already working with the community to take action, or in the process of doing so.

We are well set up for a year of action in 2024! 

The MCC has developed collaborative relationships with many organisations this year including Tasman Bay Guardians, Tasman District Council, Landcare Trust, and Iwi representatives.

MCC will move forward next year building community engagement and action with events, workshops and training, and supporting community members with their catchment projects. We look forward to connecting with you in 2024 for action around our precious environment and home!