Surveying the waterways

Waterway monitoring surveys have been carried out to give PKW owners a snapshot of the environmental well-being of the awa flowing across their whenua.

This is the first water monitoring project to be developed as part of the implementation of the Kaitiakitanga Strategy, with annual surveys planned to take place each year.

“It was great to see this strategic approach to our role as kaitiaki of the land being put into action,” says Mitchell Ritai, General Manager Shareholder Engagement. “Our commitment to enhancing the environmental ecology on our farms has been shown through the extensive fencing and riparian planting work already carried out plus the installation of some major effluent-management systems.

“The results of this survey will help us to see how effective our efforts have been and what more we need to do to ensure the mauri of the waterways is strong and healthy.”

The monitoring work is being carried out across 18 of PKW’s farms with the first three survey sites at Opua Road, Skeet Road and Little Oeo Road.

Surveys will be carried out at these specific points four times this year, so any changes in water quality can be captured and assessed.

The project work is being carried out by Emily Bailey and her team from Te Whenua Tōmuri Trust, an organisation that helps inspire and empower people to protect their communities and natural environment through sustainable practices.

Above: Emily Bailey

“Working with Māori people on Māori land to ensure its well-being for the future is something that we are very honoured to be a part of,” she says.“As a Trust, we are excited to be working with PKW on this project.”

The ecological status of the waterways is being measured using a Stream Health Monitoring and Assessment Kit(SHMAK) developed by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in collaboration with tangata whenua, farmers and universities. The kit employs scientifically sound methods to gauge stream health through the measurement of water quality, its physical features and the presence and vitality of plants and fish living there.

Above: Identifying macroinverterbrates which is a measure of stream bed life.

“This first lot of surveys will provide a baseline of data that subsequent surveys will be compared to so changes – good or bad – can be measured,” says Emily. “The results of those comparisons will enable identification of any areas that need attention and the development of focused, effective programmes to address any issues.”

As well as scientific monitoring, PKW will develop a Cultural Health Index tool that utilises mātauranga Māori to assess a waterway along with its flora and fauna.

“This tool will be developed inhouse and designed to capture the mātauranga Māori indicators that tell us if a stream is healthy or not, or if a certain plant is flourishing, or that a certain fish population is a stable one,“ says Mitchell.

Above: Mitchell Ritai carries out a PH test.

Above: Emily Bailey measures temperature in the waterway.

Initial results of the survey, which includes measurements of water flow rates, pH levels and temperature, suggest that the three test sites are in moderate good health. The next monitoring activity at these three sites will take place in February and will also seek to assess what species of fish are present and in what quantities.

“Shareholders will be informed of the results of these surveys with regular updates in Whenua,” says Mitchell.

“This project will not only provide us with information about our awa and whenua but will also be a way of establishing and strengthening the connection our people have with the whenua.”