Tauranga, 30 January 2024 – Te Wahapū o Waihī (TWOW) and Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) have partnered
in a progressive blue carbon research project of international significance with The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New
Zealand (TNC NZ).
The kaupapa aims to explore the carbon sequestration potential of the salt marsh restoration on Cutwater Road, a new
wetland that will be developed between the Pongakawa River and Pukehina Canal, on the margins of the Waihī Estuary.
The project officially kicked off in November last year, with fieldwork now underway to measure carbon stocks and fluxes
in both the existing salt marsh, and an adjacent pasture earmarked for restoration as a coastal wetland.
Professor Kura Paul-Burke, Project Lead for TWOW, is excited about the potential impact of the kaupapa.
"Iwi have led the way in highlighting the decades-long deterioration of our estuary. This partnership marks a crucial
step towards understanding and harnessing the carbon sequestration potential of our coastal wetlands. By working
together, we can make significant steps in environmental conservation and climate change mitigation."
Pim De Monchy, Bay of Plenty Regional Council Coastal Catchments Manager says:
“We are proud to partner with Te Wahapū o Waihī and The Nature Conservancy, and support their work to measure changes in
soil carbon stocks. Not only will this data be shared with us, there are also opportunities for training and/or
involvement of our respective taiao teams in data collection. At the same time, we can be actively involved in the
further investigation of the potential for Blue Carbon credits for Aotearoa, similar to schemes that already exist in
Australia and the UK.”
TNC NZ Nature-based Solutions Project Manager Olya Albot says local collaborations are critical in terms of achieving
global environmental goals.
"TNC is committed to leveraging our global expertise to conserve vital ecosystems. Collaborating with local partners is
essential in our shared mission to address climate change and protect the natural world. We’re excited to be working
alongside TWOW and BOPRC as part of a global programme looking to demonstrate how blue carbon projects can help support
these critical ecosystems. Restoring coastal wetlands at scale could offer multiple wins for climate, biodiversity and
people.”
This kaupapa is part of a larger national initiative looking at carbon sequestration (storage) rates across various
coastal wetland types, both natural and restored ecosystems and will feed into international research to establish
whether blue carbon credits are viable. Scientists have shown blue carbon ecosystems can store significantly more carbon
than forests—mangrove swamps can store four times more carbon—which is why halting their destruction and restoring and
protecting them has become an international priority.
If the rates of sequestration are as high as in other countries, TNC is investigating whether ‘blue carbon’ could be
introduced into the ETS, or whether a similar credit scheme could be introduced to raise funds to support the
restoration and maintenance of further saltmarsh wetlands or offset the lost revenue from retiring pasture to create
wetlands.
Professor Kura Paul-Burke says the collaboration offers a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange, community
involvement, and potential advancements in carbon credit systems.
“As the project progresses, we expect to gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which coastal wetlands may be able
to mitigate climate change impacts. This iwi-led project seeks to provide benefits for our environment and collective
mokopuna of tomorrow.”
About Te Wahapū o Waihī
In June 2021, a collective of five iwi from the Waihī catchment joined forces to form Te Wahapū o Waihī and address the
immediate need to improve the health of the Waihī Estuary. Once a source of plentiful kai for iwi and communities, the
estuary is now identified as one of the most degraded in Aotearoa. Te Wahapū o Waihī is committed to restoring the mauri
of the estuary, so it will once again be a source of plentiful kai for our communities, whānau and mokopuna for
generations to come.
More information: www.waihi-estuary.iwi.nz/About Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC)
Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council's mahi guides and supports sustainable development for our region. Council
manages freshwater, land, air and the coastal environment as well as public transport and economic development.
Balancing enjoying and using this environment now with protecting it for future generations, Toi Moana also has a
responsibility for the economic, social and cultural well-being of the region and its people.
The Bay’s plentiful region has more than 308,000 residents, 39 Iwi, 18 offshore islands, 12 lakes, eight major rivers
and a rich landscape of geothermal systems, volcanoes, mountains, harbours and estuaries.
BOPRC serves 145,000 ratepayers and 308,000 residents across the Bay of Plenty.About The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New Zealand (TNC NZ)
The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New Zealand is an organisation of dedicated staff, scientists and members advancing
effective, lasting conservation in New Zealand. It is part of an international organisation working in more than 70
countries around the world.
TNC NZ’s priorities are native species and habitat, healthy oceans and coasts, climate resilience and regenerative
agriculture, and building the capability of the sector. It works in partnership with local communities, iwi,
universities and central and local government. With their expertise in ecosystem conservation, TNC has been at the
forefront of promoting the importance of blue carbon ecosystems in mitigating climate change impacts. And is working
with global firms specialising in nature markets. As part of the national project, TNC is working on unlocking the
carbon storage potential of blue carbon ecosystems in New Zealand.