Iwi Ecosystem Services, with Ngāti Raukawa

Case Study 1 -
Exploring our role as kaitiaki of the Te Wānanga-o-Raukawa Ōtaki campus:
a transdisciplinary synthesis with management recommendations

The Te Wānanga-o-Raukawa campus in Ōtaki was a former wetland.  Wetland vegetation was cleared and the area drained in the late 1800s.  The campus is part of a tract of land owned by the Ōtaki Porirua Trust Board and includes neighbouring farmland, stream network and local public domain.  For this case study, a team of 8 staff will: (i) assess the direct and indirect impact of campus activities on local ecosystems; (ii) research, record and map cultural/natural ecosystems and their services values; and (iii) develop an Action Plan for restoring ecosystem services on the Campus and surrounding area.  Once the ‘Action Plan’ has been approved and implemented the practical benefits of this project are likely to be: (i) reduction of the impact of campus activities on surrounding natural ecosystems; (ii) restoration of the wetland that adjoins the campus and natural puna (freshwater spring) located on the campus; (iii) planting of riparian vegetation networks on the neighbouring farm and corridor stream networks; (iv) the restoration of Huruatai Park forest reserve; and (v) improved connectivity of vegetation across this residential landscape corridor of Ōtaki.

More information and photos related to this case study can be found here.

If you have enquires about this case study, please contact Aneta.Rawiri who has been contracted by NZCEE to Te-Wānanga-o-Raukawa to work on this research.