Brighter future for precious braided river birds thanks to funding boost
Braided River Aid (BRaid) will receive $20,000 from Environment Canterbury's Waitaha Action to Impact Fund (WAI Fund) to help protect Canterbury's threatened braided river birds and raise awareness of the importance of their habitats. BRaid was successful in both the 2024/25 and 2025/26 funding rounds.
The funding will support conservation efforts for species including black-fronted terns/tarapirohe and wrybills/ngutu pare, helping secure a brighter future for these threatened birds and the habitats they rely on.
Protecting globally rare braided river habitats
Waitaha Canterbury's plains are the largest flat area in Aotearoa New Zealand, and one of their most distinctive features are the braided rivers which formed them.
They are home to many threatened birds, found only in New Zealand and specially adapted to live in these ever-changing, dynamic environments. The birds are not easy to see, so it is vital to improve awareness and to look after them for future generations.
More than 60 per cent of Aotearoa New Zealand’s braided rivers are found in Canterbury. The region is home to many native species that rely on wide gravel riverbeds for nesting and feeding. These ecosystems are globally rare and provide critical habitat for a range of threatened wildlife.
Bird species the funding will help protect
The funding will contribute to protecting some of Canterbury’s best-known braided river birds, including:
- Black-fronted tern/tarapirohe
- Black-billed gull/tarāpuka
- Wrybill/ngutu pare
- Banded dotterel/pohowera
- Pied stilt/poaka
- South Island pied oystercatcher/tōrea
Banded dotterel on a braided riverbed. Photo: James Thomson
Black-billed gulls gathered at a nesting site. Photo: Nick Ledgard
Variable oystercatcher feeding in shallow coastal water
Wrybill resting among riverbed stones
How BRaid protects braided river biodiversity
BRaid works to protect the biodiversity of Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique braided rivers by connecting researchers, conservation groups, agencies, landowners and community organisations through a central networking hub.
BRaid shares information on braided river birds, including research, resources and best practice, while advocating for the long-term protection of braided river environments.
Through newsletters, seminars, research sharing, stakeholder engagement and public outreach, BRaid aims to inspire more people to become involved in braided river conservation.
Principal biodiversity advisor Frances Schmechel said the charitable trust was very deserving of the funding it received due to the huge positive difference it makes.
"BRaid are fantastic advocates for braided river birds and their breeding habitats. They raise awareness, work with local river users, provide advice and signage, have an amazing website with all sorts of resources, advocate for practical measures to protect habitats and birds, and the list goes on.
"They are a small but very effective group. Their annual BRaid conference in July is always well attended, put together on a shoestring. It serves to pull together all the most current information with all the groups working in braided river biodiversity management. There is a very wide range of topics and participants."
WAI Fund supports vital conservation work
The WAI Fund investment will support BRaid’s work to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and regenerating braided river biodiversity.
BRaid chairman Nick Ledgard said funding from Environment Canterbury's WAI Fund is the "lifeblood" of the work that BRaid does to protect braided river birds.
"With the likes of Environment Canterbury's funding, we can guarantee our [BRaid's] existence from one year to the next. Without Environment Canterbury assistance and the WAIFund, and help from staff members like Frances Schmechel, BRaid wouldn't be in existence."
BRaid's work to protect braided river birds is just one of the projects that the WAI Fund is supporting for 2025/26.