Hapaitia te Mauri o Waiwiri!
Ngā mihi nui... Kaitiaki from Ngāti Kikopiri, Ngāti Hikitanga, Ngāti Tukorehe, Muaūpoko Tribal Authority; all landholders along the Waiwiri Stream and south western side of Lake Waiwiri, the MTM team; Cawthron Institute, Nelson; Department of Conservation; Horizons Regional Council; Horowhenua District Council; Massey University’s School of People, Environment and Planning, Palmerston North; and Schools of Architecture and Design, Victoria University, Wellington.
Improve the health of Waiwiri water and environs!
Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Caostal Ecosystems for iwi and hapū
Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal Ecosystems for Iwi and Hapū Photographs by Craig Allen and Huhana Smith
Hapaitia te Mauri o Waiwiri! Waiwiri water testing and shellfish sampling, 2011 and 2012
Special thanks to Craig Allen, Joan Leckie, Paul Ransfield, Tipene Perawiti, Pat Seymour, Kerehi Wi Warena, Apikaira Maria Wi Warena, Rob Warrington, Marekopa Matekatea and others from Muaūpoko Tribal Authority, James Richardson, Richard Anderson, Rangi Markus Heke, Toby Lawton, Isha Heke and Huhana Smith. Special thanks also to all landholders for allowing us to walk along the stream to sea.
Hapaitia te Mauri o Waiwiri!
Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal Ecosystems for Iwi and Hap큰 Photographs by Craig Allen and Huhana Smith
Hapaitia te Mauri o Waiwiri! Waiwiri water testing and shellfish sampling, 2011 and 2012
Manaaki%Taha%Moana:%Enhancing%Coastal% Ecosystems%for%iwi%and%hapū Lake%Waiwiri%(Papaitonga)%and%the%Waiwiri%Stream%remain%highly%significant%cultural%regions%to%tangata%whenua,%for%a%range% of%Māori%ancestral%and%heritage%landscape%reasons.%The%lake%and%certain%areas%of%land%surrounding%it,%are%also%revered%by% local%families%who%have%had%long%associations%with%the%lake%too.% At%the%coast,%the%Waiwiri%Stream%opens%onto%the%coastal%foreshore%that%remains%in%Māori%land%title,%where%kaumatua%and% kaitiaki%of%Ngāti%Kikopiri%and%Ngati%Hikitanga%tell%of%once%abundant%eel%runs,%shellfish%fisheries%and%seasonal%summer%harvests% for%the%preparing%or%drying%of%these%resources,%in%the%sheltered%lee%of%the%foreGdunes.% Today,%the%Waiwiri%Stream%is%the%most%visually,%degraded%stream%outlet%in%the%wider%case%study%area%for%MTM%research% project%between%Waitohu%and%Hokio%Streams.%In%February%2011%(when%partaking%in%one%of%three%hikoi%of%the%case%study% region)%the%teams%were%appalled%by%the%thick%brownGblack%sludge%that%had%settled%around%areas%of%the%Waiwiri%stream%mouth% in%summer,%which%had%not%been%seen%elsewhere.%Such%waterway%pollution%by%effluent%can%often%exacerbate%negative%affects,% which%manifests%in%hapū%and%whānau%or%others’%dysfunction.% Similarly,%depleting%various%coastal%species%is%associated%to%loss%of%mana%for%local%hapū%and%whānau%who%are%unable%to% provide%delicacies%for%sustenance%and%health%at%marae.%The%oral%archive%attests%to%kaitiaki%recalling%that%since%2002,%it%has%not% been%safe%to%collect%any%kai%resources%from%the%Waiwiri%Stream.%Its%loss%as%a%cultural%harvest%site%is%of%grave%concern.% This%Ibook%accompanies%the%First&Waiwiri&Walk&with&Craig&Allen&(Cawthron&Institute),&Tipene&Perawiti&and&Huhana&Smith& (Manaaki&Taha&Moana&),&22&June&2011%and%also%documents%three%later%testing%regimes%that%took%place%on%27th%June%2011,% 20th%September%2011%and%with%the%final%shellfish%sampling%on%18%July%2012.
In%close%collaboration%with%local%tāngata%whenua,%Manaaki%Taha%Moana%(MTM)%selected%the%visibly,%poor%water%quality%in% Waiwiri%Stream%as%a%priority%for%investigation.%MTM%is%a%sixGyear%research%programme,%funded%by%the%Ministry%of%Business% Innovation%&%Employment,%which%aims%to%assist%iwi,%hapū%and%whānau%to%maintain%and%enhance%coastal%ecosystems%of%cultural% significance.%% Revered%in%recent%memory%by%kaumātua%and%resource%gatherers,%the%Waiwiri%Stream%from%Lake%to%sea%was%seen%as%an%abundant% food%resource.%The%coastal%foreshore%adjacent%to%the%mouth%of%the%Waiwiri%Stream%once%provided%local%hapū%and%kaitiaki%with%a% plentiful%supply%of%shellfish,%including%toheroa.%This%is%no%longer%the%case%today.%Anecdotal%evidence%suggests%that%the%stream% has%suffered%severe%ecological%degradation%in%the%past%35%years,%with%an%accelerated%decline%in%the%decade,%reflecting%the% cumulative%effects%of%riparian%vegetation%loss,%sedimentation,%and%increased%nutrient%and%faecal%loading. Waiwiri%Stream%is%in%many%ways%typical%of%lowland%streams%in%the%case%study%area,%flowing%out%of%a%shallow%dune%lake%through% land%that%has%been%highly%modified%for%pastoral%agriculture%and,%in%some%cases,%for%forestry%and%residential%development.% Pastoral%land%use%is%known%to%lead%to%such%effects%in%lowland%rivers%around%New%Zealand,%and%is%therefore%one%of%the%probable% causes%in%the%Waiwiri%Stream.%However,%mandated%kaitiaki%have%also%expressed%concern%about%the%possible%contribution%of% human%faecal%matter%from%’The%Pot’,%an%artificial%pond%built%on%an%area%of%elevated%sand%dunes%approximately%300%m%from%the% stream.%The%unlined%pond%receives%secondary%treated%effluent%via%a%pipe%from%the%Levin%Wastewater%Treatment%Plant.%From%The% Pot,%effluent%either%seeps%into%groundwater%or%is%sprayGirrigated%onto%surrounding%pine%forest%at%a%rate%of%up%to%20,000%m3%per% day.%Effluent%will%also%dispersed%via%evaporation.% This%research%attempted%to%assess%the%influence%of%these%two%land%use%practices%on%water%quality%in%the%Waiwiri%catchment:% pastoral%land%use%and%human%effluent%input%from%The%Pot.%It%looked%for%evidence%of%a%longitudinal%decline%in%water%quality%by% first%interpreting%historical%data,%before%narrowing%the%focus%to%look%for%the%presence%and%likely%source%of%faecal%contaminants.% Historical%water%quality%data%from%the%catchment%were%assessed%with%reference%to%national%and%regionally%specific%water%quality% guidelines,%which%assess%the%risk%posed%to%either%aquatic%ecosystems%or%human%health%(e.g.%ANZECC%2000).% Historical%data%indicates%that%Waiwiri%Stream%is%in%a%poor%state%of%health,%with%total%phosphorus,%ammoniacal%nitrogen,%total% nitrogen,%dissolved%reactive%phosphorus,%carbonaceous%biological%oxygen%demand%and%faecal%coliforms%all%above%guideline% values.%Between%Lake%Waiwiri%and%the%coastal%mouth%of%Waiwiri%Stream%there%is%a%longitudinal%decline%in%some%water%quality% parameters%(i.e.%total%coliforms,%nitrate%and%total%dissolved%solids).%Since%these%parameters%are%not%source%specific,%the%research% investigated%pastoral%land%use,%human%effluent%input%from%The%Pot,%or%avian%sources,%as%the%reason%for%the%decline%in%water% health.%%%
Microbial%source%tracking%(MST)%was%used%to%link%faecal%contamination%with%host%organisms%to%identify%the%dominant%source%of% faecal%contamination%and%determine%if%human%faecal%matter%enters%the%stream.%From%a%cultural%perspective,%any%faecal%matter% and%especially%any%human%faecal%matter%anywhere%in%the%stream%is%offensive%regardless%of%whether%there%is%‘longitudinal% decline’.%The%inability%to%manaaki%(care%for)%guests%with%healthy,%local%delicacies%at%marae%is%a%grave%loss%of%mana%or%standing. NonGhost%specific%MST%results%indicate%substan`al%faecal%contamina`on%in%the%stream%as%well%as%in%shellfish%collected%at%the% mouth.%High%concentra`ons%of%ruminant%faecal%marker%and%the%persistent%presence%of%bovine%faecal%markers%indicate%that%the% dominant%source%of%faecal%contamina`on%in%the%Waiwiri%Stream%is%manure%from%cows.%Ruminant%marker%concentra`ons%were% high%at%almost%all%stream%sampling%sites,%but%the%highest%densi`es%were%found%in%the%stream,%close%to%the%point%where%it%leaves% the%lake.%Human%markers%were%present%in%two%of%the%42%water%tests%and%none%of%the%six%shellfish%tests.%These%were%found%in% water%from%a%tributary%that%enters%the%stream%from%land%surrounding%The%Pot,%indica`ng%that%water%containing%traces%of%human% faecal%maber,%enters%the%Waiwiri%Stream%at%this%point.%However,%the%evidence%suggests%that,%rela`ve%to%other%sources,%human% sources%are%likely%to%be%a%minor%contributor%to%faecal%contamina`on%in%the%stream. Recommenda`ons%for%restora`on%include%riparian%fencing%and%plan`ng;%improving%management%of%effluent%irriga`on%to%land% surrounding%The%Pot;%improvements%to%nonGcompliant%agricultural%prac`ces;%con`nued%management%of%popula`ons%of% Canadian%geese%around%the%lake;%and%resump`on%of%groundwater%quality%monitoring%around%The%Pot. This%study%has%been%carried%out%under%the%assump`on%that%the%health%of%shellfish%popula`ons%at%the%stream%mouth%reflects% water%quality%in%the%stream.%It%would%be%`mely%to%inves`gate%this%further%to%see%if%shellfish%abundance%is%affected%by%water% quality%in%lowland%streams%and/or%emergent%groundwater. Key%recommendations%include:%complete%fencing%and%planting%projects%along%mainstem%and%tributaries;%fence%smaller% tributaries%closer%to%confluence%and%construct%wetlands%to%filter%run%off%before%tributary%water%enters%the%stream;%address% effluent%discharges%that%flow%directly%into%surface%water%within%the%catchment;%consider%regular%culling%of%waterfowl%in%and% around%Lake%Waiwiri%to%reduce%faecal%matter%in%catchment;%fence%drains%in%low%lying%pasture%on%the%western%side%of%lake;% consider%seasonally%or%permanently%retiring%lowGlying%pasture%on%western%side%of%lake%to%reduce%faecal%and%nitrate% contamination%on%saturated%soils;%improve%treated%effluent%irrigation%at%The%Pot,%so%that%overland%runGoff%and%interflow%are% mitigated%and%resume%groundwater%quality%and%shellfish%lissue%monitoring%west%of%the%The%Pot%to%access%fro%trace%metals,% microbial%contaminants,%pH%and%ammonia%to%shellfish%and%shellfish%consumption.% The%final%report%by%Allen%C,%Sinner%J,%Banks%J,%Doehring%K,%2012,%Waiwiri&Stream:&Sources&of&Poor&Water&Quality&and&Impacts&on&the&Coastal&Environment,% MTM%Report%9,%Cawthron%Report%No.%2240,%was%issued%on%29th%October%2012.%The%full%report%is%available%to%download%from%www.mmtm.ac.nz.
Sampling%locations%for%the%Waiwiri%Stream%study.%Red%markers%indicate%shellfish%samples;%cyan%and%blue%markers%indicate%surface% water%samples%from%the%Waiwiri%Stream%or%a%direct%tributary;%and%white%markers%indicate%surface%water%samples%taken%from%Lake% Waiwiri%(Papaitonga)%%%%%%Overleaf:%Kaitiaki%heading%off%to%Lake%Waiwiri%testing%area%L1.
Previous%pages:%Images%of%effluent%pond%some%50%metres%from%Lake%Waiwiri%and%pump%closer%to%dairy%shed.%Whilst%pond%is% fenced%off,%at%high%water%level%it%flows%into%the%lake%via%an%overflow%outlet%(above%left)%with%detail%of%water%quality%(bottom% right).%Next%pages:%Sampling%at%Lake%Waiwiri%L1
Previous%pages:%Walking%and%out%of%testing%site%L3%at%Lake%Waiwiri%(Papaitonga).% Above:%A%drain%on%west%side%of%Lake%Waiwiri%(Papaitonga)%in%a%wet%paddock%with%considerable%cow%pugging.%Further% towards%the%pine%trees,%this%drain%was%sampling%site%T1.
What’s to eat? During%this%excursion%the%team%had%not%prepared%food,%so% thankfully%Marekopa%knew%what%was%edible%and%the%team% could%satisfy%their%hunger! Whilst%parsnip%or%celery%weed%in%the%water%way%is%not%the% most%palatable,%pūhā%and%kokihi%or%New%Zealand%spinach% certainly%are.
Marekopa%Matekatea%showed%other%samplers%what%is%edible%at%various%sites%along%the%Waiwiri%Stream.%This%tiikouka% centre%is%sweet!
More%sampling%days%for%Lake%Waiwiri%and% stream%to%sea‌
On%20th%September%2011,%another%crew%of%interested%kaitiaki%gathered%to%collect%the%next%range%of% water%samples%for%this%case%study%project.
Testing%again%on%20th%September%2012,%with%Joan%Leckie%and%Kerehi%Wi%Warena%leading%the%way%to%the%first%lake%testing% site.
Joan%Leckie,%Apikaira%Wi%Warena,%her%father%Kerehi%Wi%Warena,%Paul%Ransfield%and%Huhana%Smith%(taking%photos)%taking% samples%for%the%day.
The%group%heading%the%next%testing%sites.
Lake%testing%site%as%Waiwiri%StreamG%L2
Lake%testing%site%at%L3
Testing%with%kaitiaki%team These%samples%seek%information%on%turbidity,%water%quality,% faecal%microbes%and%temperature.
Apikaira%showing%how%its%done%at%T1%site,%which%is%a%drain%that%receives%significant%runoff%from%surrounding%land%that%then% reaches%the%Waiwiri%Stream
Testing%and%sampling%for%all%information%at%Site%S1.
Positive%riparian%revegetation!
Sampling%at%S2%and%having%a%rest%up%and%bite%to%eat.
Joan%Leckie%and%Huhana%Smith%left%the%team%at%this%point,%to%go%back%and%pick%up%vehicles%at%the%Lake.%They%then%met%up% with%the%sampling%group%opposite%The%Pot.
Joan%Leckie%overlooks%a%MÄ ori%land%block,%which%we%understood%was%not%formally%leased.%Someone%was%using%the%block% and%allowing%stock%to%enter%the%water,%adding%to%the%overall%poor%health%of%the%Waiwiri%Stream.%
More%sampling%with%other%kaitiaki%during%weeks%of%22G29th%June%2011 and%final%shell%fish%sampling%on%18%July%2012
Revered%in%recent%memory%by%kaumātua%and%resource%gatherers%alike,%the%Waiwiri%Stream%was% once%an%abundant%food%source.%The%coastal%foreshore%adjacent%to%the%mouth%of%the%Waiwiri% Stream%also%provided%local%hapū%and%kai`aki%with%a%plen`ful%supply%of%shellfish,%including%the% important%toheroa.% This%is%no%longer%the%case%today.%Anecdotal%evidence%suggests%that%the%stream%has%suffered% severe%ecological%degrada`on%in%the%past%35%years%with%accelera`on%in%the%last%decade,%reflec`ng% the%cumula`ve%effects%of%intensified%dairying,%grazing%by%cable,%loss%of%riparian%vegeta`on,% sedimenta`on,%and%increased%nutrient%and%faecal%loading. The%first%walk%of%Waiwiri%stream%site%took%place%with%Craig%Allen,%Tipene%Perawi`%and%Huhana% Smith%on%Wednesday%22%June%2011%to%GPS%appropriate%sites%for%tes`ng,%followed%by%actual% tes`ng%of%water%on%Monday%27%June%2011%with%a%team%of%nine%from%Kikopiri,%Muaūpoko%Tribal% Authority%and%Victoria%University.%The%following%pages%document%these%addi`onal%days%of% tes`ng%,%including%shellfish%sampling%for%those%who%braved%the%cold%seas%to%gather%the%tuauta% samples%the%MTM%team%needed%to%courier%to%Cawthron%Ins`tute%for%laboratory%analysis. Leq:%Stream%samplers%Apikaira%Wi%Warena%(Muaūpoko%Tribal%Authority/MTA),%Paul%Ransfield% (Tukorehe/Wehiwehi),%Joan%Leckie%(Forest%and%Bird,%Horowhenua),%Tipene%Perawi`%(Tukorehe,% Kikopiri,%Hikitanga)%and%Kerehi%Wi%Warena%(MTA),%seated.
After%sampling%lake%and%stream%with%Tipene%Perawiti%(front)%and%Pat%Seymour,%the%tides%in%afternoon%were%right. However%the%above%image%shows%the%team%waiting%for%rescue!%
Waiting... Two%kaitiaki%rest%up%in%dunes%waiting%for%help%to%come%from%Hokio.% The%driver%(out%in%tide%sampling%shell%fish)%was%confident%he%knew% how%to%drive%on%wet%sand.%A%misreading%for%any%driver,%as%the%area% is%also%subject%to%ghost%shrimp%colonies%or%“worm%holes�%that% make%the%sand%treacherous%for%vehicles,%as%above!% Many%thanks%to%a%local%farmer%who%was%only%too%willing%to%assist.
Last%Shellfish%sampling Key%kaitiaki%braved%the%cold%to%collect%shellfish%samples%for%Cawthron%tests.%For%the%last%sampling%required%the%dedicated%crew% found%the%samples%at%three%sites%in%under%half%an%hour!% These%tuauta%samples%were%collected%on%18%July%2012.% These%images%were%taken%at%entrance%to%Hokio%Beach,%Hokio%at%the%end%of%the%mission.%It%was%a%well%coordinated%effort%with%the% samples%placed%on%ice%in%containers,%to%the%post%office%at%Levin,%sharer%they%were%couriered%to%Cawthron%Institute%in%Nelson%for% analysis. Kaitiaki%pictured%next%page,%include:%Toby%Lawton,%Tipene%Perawiti,%Isha%Heke,%Rangi%Makus%Heke%and%Richard%Anderson.