Our Waitarakao wins big at local government awards

Our Waitarakao: Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon Catchment Strategy has won the Air New Zealand SuperSteward — Tū Tiaki Award at the 2025 Local Government NZ Excellence Awards and been praised as a “huge strategic piece of forward planning”.

The award category celebrates local government projects that protect and enhance the natural environment through long-term thinking, strong partnerships, and actions that uphold the wellbeing of land, water, and people.

Our Waitarakao is a partnership between Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Timaru District Council, Department of Conservation, and us, working closely with the community to restore the mauri (wellbeing) of Waitarakao lagoon and catchment for everyone.

The strategy was shaped through extensive engagement with the community — and now, it's being brought to life through actions including predator control, beach clean-ups, stream restoration, native planting, fish sampling, and water quality monitoring. 

“Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua are pleased to see the efforts and passion of many different interests come together to protect Waitarakao,” said rūnanga Chair Fiona Pimm.

“This is a special place with historic significance to our Arowhenua whānau and more recently a place of significance to Timaru settlers. It is a place where we share common values for protection of our environment.”

Project partners are thrilled with recognition

Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen said, “this is a great result, it shows what can be achieved through collaboration between councils, government agencies, rūnanga, and the community. 

“Timaru residents really got in behind this strategy and taking care of the area with agencies as we developed the strategy. From clean up days to providing new pathways to the area, it was this collaboration that made it such a success.”

Department of Conservation eastern South Island operations director Jo Macpherson said Our Waitarakao has set the benchmark for truly collaborative ecological restoration projects with treaty partners, agencies, and the community working together, and it’s fantastic to see these efforts recognised.

“This is a really significant ecosystem and culturally significant site, but it’s in poor shape, so it’s vital we all work together for the health of the lagoon.”

Acknowledging collaboration partners

We’d like to acknowledge the great work of staff and partners who are doing the important work on the ground with the community. Our Chair and Councillors were excited to stand alongside Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Timaru District Council, and Department of Conservation to accept the award.

Awards judges described Our Waitarakao as an “outstanding community effort built on strong partnerships and purpose.” They applauded the long-term ecological vision, and the role council played in enabling collaboration across iwi, DOC, council, and locals.

Find out more about Our Waitarakao project work and community-led restoration that is taking place in the catchment.

PHOTO: L-R: Presenter Reuben Levemore - Air New Zealand, Chair Craig Pauling and Councillor Genevieve Robinson - Environment Canterbury, Chair Fiona Pimm - Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Jo Macpherson – Department of Conservation operations director for the eastern South Island, Mayor Nigel Bowen – Timaru District Council, Deputy Chair Deon Swiggs - Environment Canterbury, Councillor Gavin Oliver - Timaru District Council, Councillors John Sunckell and Iaean Cranwell - Environment Canterbury.