Restoring the Mauri of the Waiau Uwha River

19 June 2024

Hurunui Weedbusters Event, Saturday 22 June. We will be weeding a significant revegetation site by the Waiau-Uwha river, near Mouse Point on SH7. Local farmer John Faulkner and planting consultant Sue McGaw started this restoration project in 2020 to bring back native plants and wildlife habitat to a riparian stretch of John’s property, Lockerbie Farms. Our job will be releasing the plantings from smothering long grass and encroaching weeds. There are around 70 different species – all endemic within a 5km radius and including traditional Māori medicinal plants. The site is located on a former Māori route, and was used as a campground (nohanga) on the way to mahinga kai food gathering places. John and his neighbours are also predator trapping to protect the Waiau-Uwha’s rare riverbirds and other native fauna. He is keen to encourage more community involvement with the site and make it publicly accessible in future.

We’ll hear from John about the values and vision of this project, and enjoy lunch he is providing around 12.30pm.

Details:
Gloves and secateurs will be supplied. If you have your own tools such as gardening shears or flax knives to bring, please do.
Meet at 9am, Hurunui District Council northern carpark, Amberley, at 9am, to go in the HDC van, or at the site by 10am (directions on registration)
Please register with Rima Herber, rima.herber@hurunui.govt.nz, 0278722329, or Belinda Meares, Hurunui Biodiversity Trust, hurunuibiodiversity@gmail.com, 0221 600383

from Hurunui Biodiversity Trust

17 September 2023

from Hyundai Country Calendar – Season 2023, Episode 29 from 4:38 to 8:16

27 May 2023

With the help of a cultural land advisor, North Canterbury farmer John Faulkner is creating a diverse mahinga kai - Māori food gathering site - on his riverside property. "The nohoanga site was explained to me by Makarini [Rupene]. It was about the traditional gathering of mahinga kai." Rupene worked for Environment Canterbury as a cultural land management advisor. He connects with farmers, explaining the concept of mahinga kai and the cultural values that go with it.

from RNZ - Dairy farmer bridges cultural gap beside braided awa

14 September 2022

Acknowledging the impact of intense dairy farming over the last decade, John Faulkner a dairy farmer from North Canterbury set out 'to step up and do something' to realise his vision of restoring an 18km stretch of the Waiau Uwha River in this episode of On Farm Story.

From designing a contemporary nohoanga site plan to working with expert Sue McGaw to identify the right plants and Rongoā Māori, all with the ambition to look out over the river and know that the braided river has been enhanced, endangered bird species have a safe habitat and the farming communities are prospering.

from FarmersWeekly

Glossary of the te reo Māori kupu (words) used in this episode:

Mahinga Kai: Mahinga kai literally means 'to work the food' and relates to the traditional value of food resources and their ecosystems, as well as the practices involved in producing, procuring, and protecting these resources.

Mauri: Mauri is the life force or essence in all living things.

Ngāi Tahu: Ngāi Tahu is the principal Māori iwi (tribe) of the South Island.

Nohoanga: Nohoanga literally means "a place to sit", and traditionally refers to the seasonal occupation sites which were an integral part of the mobile lifestyle of Ngāi Tahu as they moved around the South Island in pursuit of food and other natural resources.

Rongoā Māori: Rongoā Māori is the traditional healing system of Māori. This healing system is based on herbal remedies, physical therapies, and spiritual healing.

HBT field trip at John Faulkner's revegetation site, Nov 2022

Weeding day Jun 2024