Kaitiakitanga
Nga Whenua Rahui is a contestable fund established in 1991 to provide funding for the protection of indigenous ecosystems on Maori land and is administered by the Nga Whenua Rahui Committee and serviced by the Department of Conservation.
Pukerewa A Trust ("the Trust") aims to contribute to the government's goal of planting one billion trees by 2028. We will continue to promote opportunities that perserve and protect our whenua, the biodiversity of our native bush, coastal and wetland ecosystems.
Timeline...
September 2014
The trustees consider proposals to plant exotic (Radiata Pine) or indigenous (Manuka/Kanuka) species. The decision to plant indigenous species supports the strategic and economic aspirations the Trust has for sustainable environmental management.
February 2019
Trustees, staff, Waikato District Council and Nga Whenua Rahui gathered for a meet and greet on Pukerewa.
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From far left, Jaedyn Falwasser, Mike Chambers-Raroa, Callum Bourke, Meryl Carter and Shane Jones.
February - March 2019
Nga Whenua Rahui protected area funding application and supporting information submitted.
April 2019
The Trust's environmental protection and enhancement proposal submitted.
May 2019
The trustees and Nga Whenua Rahui signed off the kawenata funding 7.6kms of conventional 8 wire post and batten fencing between the farm's southern and northern boundaries.
November 2019
Meryl Carter met with the trustees over dinner to provide feedback on our proposal and decision from the Nga Whenua Rahui Management Committee. At the conclusion of the night, Meryl presented the trustees with a book titled 'Te Tauwhanga a Reipae' (The Waiting place of Reipae). We were very humbled and honoured to receive an autographed copy from Meryl.
February - March 2020
Description of works and budget costs completed. Project on hold due to COVID-19 lockdown.
July 2020
Nga Whenua Rahui kawenata signed off by Hon Eugenie Sage (Minister of Conservation).
September - December 2020
The trustees sought expressions of interest from contractors in the Waikato. Contracts were awarded to Hill Country Fencing (2016) Ltd in Glen Murray and Blair Smith Contracting Ltd in Rotongaro to undertake the kawenata fencing project.
Fencing Materials, Machinery & Equipment
April - May 2021
Fencing materials are delivered to the Airstrip for transportation to the coastal fencing sites. The kawenata fencing project reset to commence 31/05/21.
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Above left, trustees and staff check off delivery consignments before Hill Country Fencing prepared bundles for transport.
Razorback, Conservation & Lagoon (coast) fencelines
June 2021
New eight wire conventional fences replaced the electrics on the coast to ensure protected areas are stockproof.
Above left to right, Hill Country Fencing completed the coastal fence on the Razorback, Conservation and Coast Lagoon
paddocks.
Mussel Bed (coast) fenceline
Mussel Bed is identified as a high-risk erosion prone area. In an effort to reduce the impacts of erosion and with a little help from our native planting programme, Mussel Bed will be retired from grazing, and left to revert to native bush. In May 2019, Anything Fencing Ltd replaced all the electric fences and erected conventional fences around this protected area. For more information click Pukerewa Fencing Project
Karaka's (coast) fenceline
Hill Country Fencing replaced the electric fences with conventional fences on Karaka's paddocks, effectively completing the fencing on Mussel Bed.
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Above left, new conventional fence between Karaka's and Mussel Bed on the right.
New Grass & McDonald's (internal) fenceline
July 2021
Inclement weather conditions for this period made it impossible to continue to work safely on the coast, work resumed on the coast after weather conditions improved. Meanwhile, the team moved inland to work on New Grass and Pukerewa Rd fenceline. As seen below top left, some digger work was required to move the fenceline to more stable ground. Second from the left, only 3ha of New Grass paddock was fenced off for grazing, the remainder was left to revert to native bush. The following images show the start and completion of new fences around the wetlands and swamp areas located in New Grass and McDonald's paddocks, these measures will continue throughout the farm in order to protect and enhance the environment and preserve the biodiveristy of our ecosystems.
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Above left to right, protecting the wetlands and riparian habitat by stockproofing New Grass and McDonald's paddocks.
Nga Whenua Rahui visit
On 15 July 2021, Meryl Carter visited the farm to see how the kawenata fencing project was coming along. Prior to the tour, Meryl and the trustees met up for a cuppa and a safety briefing.
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Above from left, Wilhelm Studer signing off the health and safety induction, above Meryl Carter checks out the planting
project before heading out to the coast to look at the new fences. Above Campbell Bryce and his team signing off!
Hoki's & Blowhole (coast) fenceline
July 2021
The proposed fenceline crossed a difficult stretch of coast on the Mussel Bed and Blowhole gully. The cost of drilling and running the fenceline out to that area would be impractical and uneconomic. The trustees, Hill Country Fencing and Nga Whenua Rahui agreed that as important as it was to fenceoff this piece of coast, the same result could be achieved by bringing the fenceline off the coast onto Karaka's and Hoki's original fenceline, this move kept the project on budget and provided a safe and practical solution for the fencers.
Below, new fences on Hoki's through the Blowhole coast, completed!
Whitesand's (coast) fenceline
August 2021
The proposed fenceline came off Blowhole ridge over Whitesand's streambed and out to Whitesand's coastline. Again, the cost of drilling and running the fenceline on that stretch would be impractical and uneconomic. The trustees, Hill Country Fencing and Nga Whenua Rahui agreed to bring the fenceline off Blowhole ridge and run it out to the temporary fenceline on Whitesand's Gully, this move kept the project on budget and provided a safe and practical solution for the fencers.
Above, new fences on Whitesands 'B' & 'D' paddocks onto Whitesand's Gully, completed!
Ladder's (coast) fenceline
September 2021
The decision to move the new fenceline on Ladder's boundary 50 metres up from its intended location was due to ground movement and erosion as seen in the images below. V-Drains (below third row, far right) have been installed on Ladders to drain surface water flowing from surrounding hillslopes to lower lying land, and so mitigating the damage caused by erosion on the whenua.
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Above, new fences on Ladders paddocks, completed!
Resumption of wetlands fencing
Below far left, fencing off the wetland swamp on McDonald's paddock was completed on 13 September 2021. Below far right, shows the O'Neil's fence bordering the wetlands is in good condition due to its low-lying position. Mostly remedial work involving replacing some battens/posts, restraining and refastening wires was required.
On behalf of the trustees, farm management and appreciation expressed by Meryl Carter, a huge thumbs up to Campbell Bryce and his team, the most easy as people to work with, a great job, quality finish, and completed ahead of time. A phenomenal effort guys!
