Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust 

2025 East Coast Catchment Group Showcase: Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust 

This group was formed to improve the health of the catchment’s waterways, after members recognised an urgent need to address declining water quality and biodiversity loss in the Ahuriri Estuary.   

The group formed in 2022 through combined passion to restore the health of the Ahuriri Estuary and inspire people to protect and enhance the waterways flowing into the Estuary.   The Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment group secured funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries in late 2023 to fund co-ordination and project activity, enabling them to bring their vision to life.  

Trustees are passionate local people with skills that span horticulture and agriculture, soil science, ecological restoration, and conservation. The group also partners with local hapu Mana Ahuriri Trust for whom Te Whanganui a Orutū is a sacred place.  Strong leadership has been an integral factor in the success of this group. 

One of the group’s key initiatives is the development and rollout of Mini Fresh Water Farm Plans. These provide small block owners with guidance on sustainable land management practices. The goal is getting all 240 small block owners located near waterways to complete a plan within five years. 

The group has tapped into the Ministry for the Environment’s Access-to-Experts programme which takes expert advice and turns it into community-led restoration activities. 

Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust actively engages the community through a strong media presence, a dedicated website and community events such as planting days and school visits to a restored demonstration site. 

The group’s efforts have already yielded positive results, with landowners implementing erosion control measures, restoring wetlands, and planting riparian buffers. Ongoing monitoring of water quality and biodiversity will continue to inform their restoration efforts.  

Looking to the future, the group plans to host a 2025 environmental symposium and expand their water testing programme to identify and address priority waterways in decline.