With over 1000 natives planted last week around the Gladstone Track area near Lake Hāwea, WAI Wānaka’s new crew had a big first week in their new jobs.

The crew of 13 were recruited by WAI Wānaka under central government’s $1.3 billion Jobs for Nature initiative, which provided funding for eight full-time equivalent employees for eight weeks. 

The crew are employed to work on the riparian restoration Million Metres project, an initiative of the Sustainable Business Network, which aims to clear and replant a million metres of stream banks in native bush by 2026. 

WAI Wānaka project manager Prue Kane said they went through a full recruitment process to select the 13 employees and received a high calibre of applications from locals with a wide range of ages and backgrounds. 

“We were looking for people that had been affected by COVID, have a long term commitment to the area, are passionate about the environment, and keen to do the physical work required,” she said. 

The crew spent last week planting and removing weeds along the Gladstone Track in Lake Hāwea, including around Urquhart’s Beach, in partnership with Guardians of Lake Hāwea, which will continue to monitor the area post-planting.

“We are planting eco-sourced natives that have been selected for that specific site, and our partners are responsible for the ongoing maintenance of those plants,” she said. 

Job well done - planting complete near Urquhart's Beach, Lake Hāwea.

While this current “Partnering to Plant” programme with the Million Metres project only runs for eight weeks, Prue said she anticipates there will be additional funding for further environmental work.

“It is expected that further funding under the Jobs for Nature fund will then be available to continue and increase employee numbers for the Wanaka area.” 

Announced in May this year, Jobs for Nature is a four year COVID-19 recovery package aimed at providing environmental funding for 11,000 jobs to support projects including improving freshwater sources by fencing waterways and riparian management, improving biosecurity with weed and pest control and enhancing biodiversity on public and private lands by planting native species. 

WAI Wānaka is the second group to receive funding under this stream to be up and running in New Zealand.

WAI (Water Action Initiative) Wānaka is a community group set up to safeguard and improve the quality of the water in and around the broader Upper Clutha catchment. 

It has been working with other community groups, councils, private landowners and others to progress these actions, including working in partnership with Te Kākano Nursery for Habitat Restoration on the Million Metres project. 

PHOTOS: Supplied