Regional Council scientists estimate that the current amount of nutrients and bacteria entering the estuary will need to reduce by 30 – 60 percent if we are to halt this decline in estuary health.
It will take investment, co-operation and compromise from all sectors of the community to achieve that reduction target, and restore estuary health so it can once again sustain people and wildlife as it has for generations past.
In 2019/20, together with NZ Landcare Trust, we brought together a group of local landowners, Iwi, industry, community group and government agency representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the situation. They decided to form a community steering committee that will develop and lead delivery of a catchment restoration plan to improve water quality and estuary health in the Waihī Estuary and its contributing waterways and catchments.
The Steering Group comprises 10 members, each representing a range of sectors of the Waihī Catchment community, including tangata whenua, farmers, growers, foresters, environmental care groups, Māori agribusiness, residents and ratepayers.
