First published in edition 450, Oct/Nov 2026
Friends of Te Wairoa were delighted to recently host a Wetland Wānanga, with a morning session at Hunua Hall followed by three wetland site visits in the afternoon.
Dr Rebecca Eivers of Wai Kōkopu Consulting led the wānanga, sharing her knowledge and experience of wetland restoration, re-creation and construction, with a particular focus on what this could mean for the Te Wairoa catchment.
The key message from the day was simple: “the right wetland, in the right place, for the right reasons.”
Dr Rebecca Eivers presents
Rebecca explained that New Zealand has a wide range of wetland types, including bogs, fens, marshes and swamps. Each has its own characteristics, so understanding the natural conditions of a site is important when deciding how best to restore it. Looking at historical wetland maps, soils, water flows and the catchment’s history can also help us understand where wetlands once existed and where there may be opportunities to bring them back.
Three main approaches were discussed:
Constructing treatment wetlands to help remove pollutants such as sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus and bacteria.
Restoring existing swamps, seepages and springs, often starting with something as simple as excluding stock and allowing native sedges, grasses and rushes to regenerate. These areas can slow water flows, filter water and help reduce nutrients and sediment entering our streams.
Re-wetting riparian and floodplain wetlands, which can improve water quality, hold back floodwaters and provide valuable habitat for native fish, birds and other wildlife.
For Te Wairoa, there is considerable potential to expand wetland restoration throughout the catchment. Wetlands can play an important role in improving water quality, reducing the effects of flooding and providing habitat for native fish and wetland birds.
An important message was to start small. Rather than waiting for large-scale projects, a wetland roughly the size of a tennis court can make a useful starting point. Over time, many small projects could build into a network of wetlands across the catchment.
Around 20 enthusiastic participants then headed out to visit examples of wetlands and restoration projects in Hunua and Clevedon, including the wetlands and riparian planting around Ōtau Ridge. Rebecca provided great insight into the types of plants that should be used, especially ‘sedges for edges’ meaning planting the immediate river banks with various eco-sourced carex.
It was a great opportunity to see first-hand what can be achieved and to discuss how some of these ideas could be applied here in the Te Wairoa catchment.
The wānanga has given Friends of Te Wairoa some practical ideas for the future. By protecting the wetlands we already have, restoring degraded areas and creating new wetlands where appropriate, we can make a real contribution to improving the health and resilience of Te Wairoa Awa, while also creating better habitat for our native species. For further advice and information on funding opportunities, contact Chris at regeneration@tewairoa.org.nz.
