Good things happen when we all come together

A joint effort between Waitomo District Council, Te Nehenehenui, Maara Kai Roopu o Te Kūiti and other organisations and community groups has demonstrated the power of community collaboration.

Earlier this month a local contingent took part in a joint project to clean the Mangaokewa Stream in Te Kūiti.

Utilising the Maniapoto freshwater cultural assessment framework ‘Te Mauri o Waiwaiā’, developed by Te Nehenehenui, participants were able to capture data that will help assess the state of the stream and help build capability and capacity of Maniapoto whānau to participate in the assessment of their waterways according to their freshwater values.

Te Mana o te Wai also underpinned the joint project.

Te Mana o te Wai is a concept that refers to the fundamental importance of water and recognises that protecting the health of freshwater protects the health and wellbeing of the wider environment. It protects the mauri of the wai. Te Mana o te Wai is about restoring and preserving the balance between the water, the wider environment, and the community.

Six loads of green waste and seven loads of domestic waste totalling more than 3000kg was removed from the awa, including roading signage and cones, an old bike, supermarket trolley and much more rubbish.

A big thank you to Waitomo District Council staff, Te Nehenehenui staff, Maara Kai Roopu o Te Kūiti, Waikato Regional Council Staff, Department of Conservation, The Lines Company, Pukenui School and Te Whare Kura o Maniapoto.