This environmental project won the SuperSteward Award, sponsored by Air New Zealand, which acknowledges outstanding environmental initiatives by councils across Aotearoa. We're thrilled to share an incredible video with you! This is the culmination of mahi conducted by Ngāti Kuia, ngā iwi o Te Tauihu, Te Kaunihera o Te Tai o Aorere | Tasman District Council, Te Papa Atawhai | Department of Conservation, as part of the Freshwater Improvement Fund, made possible by Mahi mō te Taiao | Jobs for Nature.
The video was created by LoudNoise Digital Media (our very talented whanaunga Keelan Walker). This project beautifully merges Mātauranga Māori with modern environmental engineering, reviving the mauri of the Nelson Lakes wetlands. A standout moment was the weaving wānanga that created harakeke geotextile baskets to restore the wetland’s natural balance. The use of harakeke baskets to plug drains were shown to be more cost effective than traditional engineering techniques.