Community action group WAI (Water Action Initiative) Wānaka is taking time out tomorrow (Friday, May 5) to reflect on the collaborative efforts of planting 45,000 native plants in the Upper Clutha over the past five years.

The group, which was formed to improve our water and environment, will gather together with its many contributors at Glendhu Bay to celebrate its achievements. 

“It’s just that opportunity to bring everyone together, to take the chance to just look back on what has been achieved and catch up with the people that we’ve met along the way and have contributed to this project,” Wai Wānaka programmes manager Prue Kane told The Outlet Podcast.

“The number of people that have been involved is huge and we think it’s really important to take stock of what’s been achieved and what we have learnt and what we can do together going forward as well.”

Prue said one of the big achievements was the establishment of the community catchment plan which provides a roadmap for the activities of Wai Wānaka.

“That brought together all the different individuals and community groups and sectors that were working in environmental work streams and freshwater action,” she said.

The Covid-19 pandemic provided a boost for Wai Wānaka which secured $3M in funding for riparian planting under the Jobs for Nature programme introduced by central government.

“[We] were successful in receiving funding to employ a cohort of people to undertake not just native planting, which is what we’re celebrating on Friday, but also plant maintenance, rabbit control, predator control, weed control, including wilding pines, as well as biodiversity and freshwater monitoring,” Prue said.

“We have a highly trained cohort of passionate people that can carry out all of those tasks within the community and that’s been a really big highlight for us.

“Alongside those ecosystem changes, I think one of the most enduring changes that will come out of these projects and that we hope to continue is just that increase in knowledge and understanding that’s been enabled by this work.”

Prue encourages anyone who would like to be involved and find out more about Wai Wānaka to attend the gathering tomorrow at the Glendhu Woolshed which includes viewings of planting sites and commentary on what has been learnt along the way.

Find out more about Wai Wānaka here.

PHOTO: Supplied