He Whāriki mō Paekoau Catchment Group

Born from the resilience shown after Cyclone Gabrielle, He Whāriki mō Paekoau began as an initiative led by Te Tawa Kaiti Lands Trust to restore the mauri of Paekoau Stream. What started as a local response has now evolved into a dynamic catchment group, weaving together hapū, whānau, the Ruatoki GHG Cluster, local government, and partners in a shared vision of environmental healing.

The catchment spans from Te Manawa o Tūhoe Forest to the Whakatāne River and includes Te Tawa Kaiti Lands, where Paneteure Marae stands as a cultural anchor. Its hapū members are beneficiaries of Te Tawa Kaiti Lands Trust, reinforcing the connection between marae, whenua, and the Paekoau Stream.

This kaupapa (purpose) is deliberately intergenerational, with kaumātua (elders) and mokopuna (children) working side-by-side to restore the stream as a source of nourishment and spiritual sustenance. Their hands-on commitment actively translates ancient mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) into real-world action.

While the group works across 15 properties, its most visible achievement is an annual planting day, which brings together kura, hapū, and partners for a collective effort to revitalise the stream. Its cultural significance was immortalised by Molly Turnbull in her book Paekoau Paekoa.

Grounded in science and education, the group has established soil and freshwater biodiversity baselines to inform restoration planning. At a separate site, planned for 2026 in partnership with HALO, the group will implement Te Ara ō ngā Mātātā – He Ara Whakaoranga, an educational framework developed by Te Tawa Kaiti Lands Trust to protect the endangered mātātā (fernbird), create ecological corridors, and restore wetlands.

Through education, community engagement, and strategic partnerships, He Whāriki mō Paekoau ensures its commitment to this unique ecosystem – and its deep cultural roots – will endure for generations.