The momentum is growing, and recruitment of new staff will soon be underway for the Maungatautari
to Pirongia Ecological Corridor Project linking two of the region’s most spectacular maunga, Maungatautari and Pirongia.
Following the announcement in January by Environment Minister David Parker of funding for the project
through the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme , recruitment will now be undertaken by the NZ
Landcare Trust, who will lead part of this project to create an ecological corridor between the waterways which flow from the two maunga – the Mangapiko and Ngāparierua streams.
“An ecological corridor reconnecting these areas will be created through biodiversity plantings, which will enhance native biodiversity and numbers, further strengthen iwi connections to the awa (river), and improve water quality,” says NZ Landcare Trust CEO, Dr Nick Edgar.
NZ Landcare Trust Waikato Regional Coordinator Nardene Berry, who will oversee part of the project, is looking forward to getting underway and finding the right people for the two roles that will be
advertised and funded for the next five years as part of the project.
"An ecological corridor reconnecting these areas will be created through biodiversity plantings, which will enhance native biodiversity and numbers, further strengthen iwi connections to the awa (river), and improve water quality," says NZ Landcare Trust CEO, Dr Nick Edgar.
NZ Landcare Trust Waikato Regional Coordinator Nardene Berry, who will oversee part of the project, is looking forward to getting underway and finding the right people for the two roles that will beadvertised and funded for the next five years as part of the project.
"The Maungatautari to Pirongia Ecological Corridor Project will bring together extensive restoration work already being done in the area by the likes of individual landowners, care groups, iwi, council and other agencies to improve and enhance riparian margins, create wetland habitat and reduce predators and increase biodiversity."
"This project is already powerfully collaborative, with the following partners already proactively part of it all – Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society, Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust, Maungatautari to Pirongia Ecological Corridor Incorporated Society, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura Trust, Purekireki Marae, Waikato Regional Council, Waipā District Council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Apakura."
"It will be exciting to be working at a large scale as it will allow a more coordinated effort to ensure positive and long reaching benefits to the environment between, and including, the two maunga."
"The two new roles will be a project coordinator, and a role we are working with mana whenua to develop the tikanga title for," Nick says.
"Recruitment for these roles will be starting soon and we are thrilled to see the NZ Landcare Trust team continuing to grow with passionate people, and overall, it means we are able to make a stronger positive impact with our work on the ground," he says.
"Exciting times are ahead!"
The grant comes from Ministry for the Environment’s Freshwater Improvement Fund which is part of the Government’s $1.245 billion Jobs for Nature programme.