Wharekawa Catchment Care Group (WCCG)

For the past 20 years, the Wharekawa Catchment Care Group has proven that local stewardship is the most effective tool for environmental restoration.

Established in 2005 by a dedicated group of landowners and residents, the group emerged from a shared goal of enhancing the Wharekawa Harbour and its river systems.

What began as a localised effort to fence off waterways and plant riparian margins has evolved into a catchment-wide movement that combines science and community action.

The group is focused on helping to create a resilient catchment where land, water and people thrive in harmony. This purpose is brought to life through a diverse membership that represents nearly 20% of the catchment’s population, with members including farmers, permanent residents and holiday-home owners.

Together, they manage restoration projects that aim to improve water quality and ultimately restore the mauri (life force) of the entire ecosystem.

Significant achievements include revitalising the Kapakapa Wetland and the Tawatawa Stream. These projects have reopened vital pathways for native fish and created a crucial sanctuary for the endangered Australasian Bittern.

This physical restoration is supported by a 10km network of automatic predator traps. This has drastically reduced the population of possums, rats, and mustelids – allowing native birdlife to return to the estuary and wetlands.

The Wharekawa Catchment Care Group has embraced modern technology to track their success. Using long-term biodiversity surveys, shellfish counts and cutting-edge eDNA sampling, the group monitors freshwater health in real-time.

These tools allow them to provide landowners with practical, science-backed guidance on making positive, workable changes that protect both biodiversity and local livelihoods.

As the Wharekawa Catchment Care Group celebrates its twentieth anniversary, its integrated approach serves as a blueprint for other coastal communities.

By bridging the gap between landowners, agencies, iwi, schools and volunteers, they have shown that while individual actions are valuable, it is collective effort that truly secures the landscape for future generations.