INDEPENDENT NEWS

Ūawanui project receive a boost from the DOC Community Fund

Published: Thu 21 Dec 2017 03:18 PM
Ūawanui project receive a boost from the DOC Community Fund
Funding from the Department of Conservation (DOC) Community Fund is welcome news to Te Aitanga ā Hauiti and the community of Ūawa, Tolaga Bay, as it will go toward their 100-year vision for the Ūawanui Project.
Te Aitanga ā Hauiti Centre of Excellence received $25,000 from the fourth round of the DOC Community Fund.
DOC’s East Coast Operations Manager, John Lucas, says this funding will help the community enhance and protect the nationally important Opoutama Cooks Cove including Titirangi Station, Pourewa Island and Kaitawa Estuary.
“These areas have extremely high natural, recreation, historic and cultural values so it’s critical they be preserved for the benefit of future generations,” says Mr Lucas.
Chairman of the Hauiti Incorporation, Grant Amaru, says the funding will build on the work the incorporation and Ūawanui Project have done planning long-term environmental management across Titirangi Station and restoration planting.
“We’ll use this money for a community weed control framework so we can plan and begin work on ecological weed control around important areas of Opoutama Cooks Cove and Titirangi Station. It will benefit the knowledge and skills across the community.”
The project areas contain important coastal forest and scrubland vegetation remnants. The estuary is also habitat for the New Zealand dotterel, bittern and a range of other wading species.
The track to Opoutama Cooks Cove from Tolaga Bay wharf also has a high cultural importance to Te Aitanga a Hauiti, as it contains Titirangi te maunga, and Opoutama Cooks Cove.
The latest DOC Community Fund funding round has granted a total of $4.2 million to support 112 community conservation projects around the country.
–Ends–

Next in New Zealand politics

Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
By: New Zealand Government
GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan
By: New Zealand Government
New Zealand Provides Further Humanitarian Support To Gaza And The West Bank
By: New Zealand Government
High Court Judge Appointed
By: New Zealand Government
Parliamentary Network Breached By The PRC
By: New Zealand Government
Tax Cuts Now Even More Irresponsible
By: New Zealand Labour Party
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media