Puniu River Care

Description

Pūniu River Care is a New Zealand charity whose kaupapa/purpose is to heal the watershed through facilitating both ecological and community restoration, using practices grounded in Māori traditions and values. Pūniu River, Waikato, New Zealand.

When implemented - 2015 is when the organisation was formed, It is still running today.

Who - Shannon Te Huia, the man who started the movement and formed the charity Pūniu River Care.

Summary - This case study is an example of river rewilding. Shannon Te Huia saw how much the beloved river he had grown up swimming in, enjoying and loving, had changed over the years for the worst. The once clearer water was now murky and uninviting. He was angered to see such a negative change in the natural environment that he decided to take action and restore his river to the health it was in the 70’s. To do this he delivered his project through te ao Maori, using both the Western science around analysing the catchment and looking at all the cultural interests within the catchment. From there they started to talk to each cultural group, each marae, and then put their vision in place. They wanted to reassure people that they were serious about the change and it was going to be culturally respectful. Then through a lot of processes and planning, they started planting a lot of trees that would then be used to surround the river and boost the overall health and wellbeing of the space.

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About the author

Kristin Howie

• Submitted 1 projects
• Expert at Climate Events - Learning From Trouble
• New Zealand

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