Environment Canterbury and Ngāi Tahu celebrated the planting of 100,000 plants at Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere on Friday.

Whakaora Te Waihora is a joint restoration programme between Ngāi Tahu, the Ministry for the Environment and Environment Canterbury and is New Zealand’s largest collaborative freshwater clean-up effort. It is a shared commitment to restore the cultural and ecological values of Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere and over 60 guests attended a commemorative planting.

Addressing guests at a planting ceremony in the Kaituna catchment on the lake, Environment Canterbury Chair of Commissioners Dame Margaret Bazley said Whakaora Te Waihora was important for all Cantabrians and New Zealand as a whole.

“Environment Canterbury is proud to be playing its part. In 2011, a relationship agreement and shared commitment between Environment Canterbury and the Te Waihora Management Board (representing Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu) was signed to confirm the restoration and rejuvenation of the mauri and ecosystem health of Te Waihora.

“Whakaora Te Waihora is all about working together. This collaborative work has seen many successes over the last two years. I acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of the co-governors and the project teams led by Amanda Ward.

“We are here to mark 100,000 plants in the ground. This is a significant milestone – but there is a lot more to do. There is much activity throughout the catchment with biodiversity work, science investigations, cultural work, engagement with landowners and lake level management.

“All of this work is contributing enormously towards putting Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, a national treasure, firmly on the road to recovery,” Dame Margaret concluded.

Tā Mark Solomon, Kaiwhakahaere, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu pointed out that Te Waihora has helped sustain over 23 generations of the Ngāi Tahu Whanui.
“It remains a major mahinga kai for our people – a source of the materials and kai that feed us, strengthen us and enable us to manaaki our whānau and our manuhiri,” Tā Mark said.

“Food production sits at the heart of Ngāi Tahu culture and identity. It is the cornerstone of our social, spiritual and economic wellbeing and it is a symbol of the tribe’s continuing relationship with the traditions and history of place.

“Successive generations of Ngāi Tahu have treasured this area. The Kaituna Valley was a traditional Ngāi Tahu accessway to the great mahinga kai of Te Waihora and Kaituna Lagoon is still an important food source.

“It is a good place, therefore, for us to mark the hard work of all those who have been involved in the lake restoration through the Whakaora Te Waihora partnership, and to recognise and acknowledge the foresight of all the other organisations who started this ecological restoration journey much earlier – especially the Te Waihora Management Board, which began lake planting and enhancement back in 2008.

“The six Papatipu Rūnanga involved in the board – Taumutu, Koukourārata, Tūāhuriri, Ōnuku, Wairewa and Rāpaki – recognised the degradation of the lake and had a vision of restoring Ngāi Tahu cultural identity through the rejuvenation of the mauri and life-supporting capacity of Te Waihora.

“Their vision of enhancing this great wetland for all New Zealanders took a big step forward with the development of Whakaora Te Waihora in 2011 and now we can feel heartened that the lake is in safe hands and that positive changes are underway.

“Whakaora Te Waihora is a symbol of the coming together of over 32 stakeholder groups, who all believe in, and are all committed to the lake’s restoration,” Tā Mark concluded.

“We can do it.
We will do it.
And we will do it together.
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – For us and our children after us.”

Tā Mark Solomon addresses invited guests in Kaituna Hall.

Tā Mark Solomon addresses invited guests in Kaituna Hall.

The weather was perfect for the walk down to the planting area.

The weather was perfect for the walk down to the planting area.

From left, Tā Mark Solomon, Chair of TWMB Terrianna Smith, MP Amy Adams and Dame Margaret Bazley Ecan Chair Commissioners.

From left, Tā Mark Solomon, Chair of TWMB Terrianna Smith, MP Amy Adams and Dame Margaret Bazley Ecan Chair Commissioners.

The commemorative stone carved by Riki Manuel.

The commemorative stone carved by Riki Manuel.

Minister for the Environment, the Honourable Amy Adams addresses the guests.

Minister for the Environment, the Honourable Amy Adams addresses the guests.

Tā Mark Solomon plants one of the commemorative totara trees at Kaituna Quarry.

Tā Mark Solomon plants one of the commemorative totara trees at Kaituna Quarry.