Kōrero nā te awa Rakitata – Stories from the Rangitata River

The group formed from the old Rabbit Board in 1992, when upper Rangitata landowners, led by Ro Acland and Laurie Prouting, recognised that significant action and money was required to control weeds and pests on unoccupied crown land in the upper catchment. 

In the same year as their formation, the Landcare Group established an agreement with the Department of Conservation (DOC), Environment Canterbury, Toitū te Whenua Land Information NZ, Fish & Game, Timaru District Council and Ashburton District Council for ongoing weed and pest control.  

Over the last 30 years, this commitment has proven to be a recipe for success, with additional community donations including from Rangitata Diversion Race Management Ltd (RDR).

Collaboration is a recipe for success

Sally Stevens has been an active member of the Landcare Group for 25 years. Until recently, she and her husband Ross managed Whiterock Station in partnership with American owners. 

"This iconic Upper Rangitata braided river system provides an outstanding habitat for many endangered birds like the wrybill and black-fronted tern. The combined efforts to control the weeds help to remove potential cover for predators of these birds," she says. 

"Additionally, there is an impressive pest control programme, led by DOC, ensuring that the migratory birds have far greater protection."
 
"When driving up the Rangitata Gorge, the “wow corner” at Whiterock is where the Rangitata River first comes into view. It is such a spectacular mountain vista backdrop and beautiful braided river. 

"This view represents the success of a lot of hard work and what can be achieved when communities, government and local agencies work together. There is no “sea of yellow flowering broom and gorse” like many parts of the riverbed used to look like.  

"This is so impressive, and we are incredibly proud that the riverbed looks so pristine and amazingly free of weeds. Of course, weeds are still there and there is a seed bank in the soil that will always ensure that our weed control work can never stop," Sally says. 

United in the restoration goal 

Laurie Prouting, former owner of Mesopotamia Station and Chairperson of the Landcare Group is very clear that the weed control project must never end. 

"Now that we have started, we must keep at it, and we can never stop. The seed sources from these weeds are pretty oily and they can last in the ground for up to seventy years before germinating so that gives you an idea of what we are up against. 

"As I say, united we stand, divided we fall. It is as simple as that. If we are going to achieve the results that we want to see for our river and the land, we must be united and keep pushing forward together because we need to look after our native species and give them the best chance that we can. 

"Our vision is to leave our patch in good order for the next generation by keeping good control of plant and animal pests, improving water quality where we can, planting our native corridor and protecting our achievements to date," Laurie says.  
 
Upper Rangitata Gorge Landcare Group member and project manager Sally Stevens and chairperson Laurie Prouting at one of the groups planting sites

Landcare Group tackles landscape-scale project

In May 2021, the Landcare Group signed a Jobs for Nature (JFN) agreement with DOC. This agreement provides funding over four years for the fencing and planting of waterways, wetlands, and drains, along with further weed and pest control. 

The project aims to establish a corridor of native plants that will connect the Group’s efforts in the upper reaches of the Rangitata with the native bush in Peel Forest and further down the river with projects that other groups, such as Arowhenua, are working on along the lower reaches of the awa (river). 

Sally took on the role of project manager for the Landcare Group’s JFN project and coordinated contractors to carry out the work.  

"The Rangitata River has some beautiful wetlands, along with tributaries such as Deep Creek and Deep Stream. They are such stunning waterways which are now being planted and protected."

Project achievements

"So far, our project has completed 116 kilometres of fencing and we have planted 112,000 native plants with another 92,000 to plant. We are so lucky to be working with our amazing contractors, Landcare Services and High-Country Fencing, who are so committed to this project," Sally says. 

Additionally, our nurseries have been amazing, initially Orari Nursery and subsequently Arowhenua Native Nursery whose establishment is another separate, amazing story in its own right.

"It is full circle as the seeds for the plants are sourced from the upper Rangitata, grown in the Arowhenua nursery, and returned here for us to plant. Seeing this corridor come to life will provide fodder and a sanctuary for the birds and the bees. It will be very special," Sally says.

Providing natural spaces for generations to come

The Landcare Group is over halfway through its restoration project with less than two years left. There is an ongoing focus on maintenance of plants which is a vital aspect of this initiative, particularly given the variations in climate that the high country faces throughout the year. 

"The main problem for us to overcome is the climate and the weather extremes. We get snow, droughts, and floods and the further up the gorge you go, the smaller the planting window is, so we need to have everything very well planned to make the most of it," Sally says. 

The work that the Landcare Group has committed to will last for many generations to come. Both the JFN project and the ongoing weed and pest control in the riverbed are initiatives that bode well for the flora and fauna in the upper Rangitata River.  

The Landcare Group will continue to strive for a healthy braided river ecosystem for all to enjoy. Where treasured species (native taonga) are abundant and healthy, and people and communities can connect and thrive.

Phil de Joux, chair of Mckinnon’s Creek Salmon Hatchery says that of the 90,000 salmon released from the hatchery this year, they expect around one per cent or approximately 900 to return to the creek in three years’ time.

Protecting and raising salmon

McKinnon’s Creek flows into the Rangitata River, and the hatchery team trap a few salmon that return to the creek each season before removing the eggs from the female fish, fertilising them and incubating and raising the fish. He describes it as a “big operation” which relies on a teamwork approach. 

"We keep them here for 12 months before we release them, so it is quite a big operation. Pacific salmon have a lifecycle of about three years so from spawning in the headwaters of the Rangitata they attempt to come back to the same creek where they were born. 

"At the hatchery we have an amazing team of volunteers who are out here most days and at weekends cleaning the raceways and feeding the fish. We couldn’t do this without the support of government agencies and iwi. Everyone is working together to protect the salmon.

A vision for a sustainable fish population

The salmon population in rivers throughout New Zealand has decreased markedly over recent decades and Phil says there are several challenges for salmon who rely on the Rangitata River and its tributaries to complete their lifecycle.  

"Extraction of water from the river for irrigation is one challenge and the old fish screens which were not keeping the salmon out of the races in the past. We hope the quality of the water in the river doesn’t degrade further as salmon need fresh, clean water to spawn. 

"All the projects that are happening along the Rangitata should improve the water quality and the environment and we really hope to see those improvements work well for the river and the land around it."

Phil says the long-term goal for the hatchery is for river conditions to improve to the point where there is a stable salmon population living in clean, healthy water so that the hatchery is no longer required.
 
"We want to close the hatchery down. We are hoping that the new fish screens on the irrigation race will allow the wild run salmon population to come back to what it was in the past and then there will be no need for this hatchery."

In the meantime, Phil says the hatchery is always keen to welcome new volunteers who would like to get involved, particularly young people and those interested in a career in aquaculture. 

"It’s interesting work and we are one of the only hatcheries left. There is plenty of potential for people to do research here and develop a career in this exciting industry."

“I whakapapa to Arowhenua, so the Rakitata is extremely significant for me and our whānau. It was an awa that our tīpuna gathered kai and resources from.

“Being able to go out there and experience the awa and see all its diversity when we are collecting seeds is very good for our wairua. We are growing and learning our skills and making those connections stronger again. It is like a full circle because we gather the seeds from the Rakitata and then once they are ready, we plant them there again to restore the health of the awa.”

Growth from humble beginnings

The Arowhenua nursery project began in September 2021 as part of the Jobs for Nature programme which funded initiatives to benefit the environment and people as part of the government’s COVID-19 recovery package. The project started out at the marae but moved to larger commercial nursery premises on the outskirts of Temuka as it quickly outgrew its initial site.

Felicity says the nursery produces native plants for major restoration planting projects at Rakitata hāpua, Kirikiri farm and Ōtakitane/McKinnon’s Creek. The plants are specifically grown to be suited for conditions at these sites.

“We produce exclusively native plants for revegetation so we are wanting to replicate what would have been there in the past. The main plants we are growing here are carex secta, tī kōuka, harakeke, mānuka and kānuka.

“These plants will restore the Rakitata Awa, improve the quality of the water and encourage native manu (birds) and insects to return to the river.”

Building a connection to the environment

Along with the environment, people employed at the nursery are gaining new skills and learning more about their whakapapa. Felicity describes the personal learning and cultural connections being fostered as one of the most rewarding aspects of her role.

“It is an amazing opportunity for Arowhenua to be involved in restoring the mauri of the Rakitata Awa, with it being such a significant awa for us. To be able to bring our whānau into employment and upskill them and connect them back to the whenua is a highlight for me.”

Kaimahi restoration ranger Tobias Lamano has experienced a sense of enhanced purpose and a stronger connection to his tīpuna during the two years that he has been involved with the Rakitata restoration project through his work at the Ōtakitane planting site.

“I think it is giving us a sense of purpose and it makes me feel like we are doing what our ancestors would want us to do. We are reviving what was once a massive forest corridor along the river and trying to bring it back to life.

“A lot of us feel like this is where we are meant to be. It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, and you get to see the progress you are making each day with something that is helping the environment.”

Looking ahead

Witnessing progress and seeing native flora and fauna returning to the site are some of the best aspects of Tobias’s role and when he recalls what the planting site looked like two years ago, he can see huge biodiversity improvements in the area.

“When we first arrived here it was a willow swamp, and it was in a bad condition. The river was in poor health and there were hardly any native animals to be seen.”

Now with the willows cleared and over 12, 000 native plants from Arowhenua nursery planted across the site, Tobias has witnessed an improvement in water flow and quality, along with the return of native birds and fish.

“The flow is back, and the water quality has improved. We have the kanakana (pouched lamprey) using this stream and most of our native species that use this stream have come back.

“When I first came here, I thought it would be a bunch of plants stuck in the ground, but I didn’t realise the extent that that it would change what is happening here.”

Looking ahead to the future, Tobias says the ultimate measure of success for him would be the creation of an uninterrupted planting corridor along the length of a restored and healthy Rakitata Awa that provides a passageway for birds and fish from the mountains to the sea.

“When I am older it would make me feel really good if I could see the native birds living here and that the water would be healthy so that the fish can reach their breeding grounds. That would mean a lot to me.”

After living alongside the Rangitata River for almost 80 years, Rangitata hut owner Matthew Hall has a strong desire to protect both the river and the surrounding environment through his deep connection to the awa.

Matthew’s family has a long-standing association with the river, dating back over 100 years. His grandchildren are the sixth generation to fish along the river, while enjoying the outdoor lifestyle fostered at the Rangitata Huts settlement.

In the early days, tragedy struck Matthew’s family when his great-grandfather drowned while attempting to cross the Rangitata River in 1903.

Twenty years later, the original hut was built by Matthew’s grandfather with the structure being strengthened and extended over the following decades. Rabbits caused many issues for early hut owners.

"The rabbits were rife when my grandfather built the original hut here. It was designed as a simple place for the summer and there were only half a dozen huts here then.

"The rabbits did so much damage that they destroyed the piles, and you couldn’t keep them out of the hut, so they had to replace the foundation with concrete."

A fisherman's tale

As a child and even into his twenties, Matthew lived according to the seasons and tides of the Rangitata River. When he wasn’t fishing, he spent his time studying the river and finding the best fishing spots.

"I think you are born under a stone, and I was born under a stone on the Rangitata River. From a child, right up into my early adult life, I lived just about every tide on the river. I spent hundreds of hours out there fishing and studying the river day and night.

"I even got to the point where I didn’t sleep in the hut but out on the beach next to the river. I discovered that the best time to fish was in the first half of the night up until 1am because there was lots of activity happening during that nocturnal phase."

Future focused

Matthew has been the secretary of the South Rangitata Hut Holders Association for "as long as he can remember". There are 110 huts at the Rangitata River mouth and Matthew said that with 87 hut holders as members, the group has been able to advocate for protecting and enhancing the river.

"We have a long way to go to mitigate the impacts of coastal erosion, to improve water quality and get fish back to the river, but we have a good group of people working together with the government agencies and iwi.

"When it comes to the river, we want the same thing. We are on the same page when it comes to improving the health of the Rangitata."

Along with mitigations for coastal erosion, Matthew is keen to see the results of improved fish screens recently installed along the Rangitata Diversion Race (RDR) irrigation scheme and wants a better balance between commercial and environmental needs due to the huge changes he has seen happen to the river in his lifetime.

"Today we only have about five per cent of the fish and smelt that we had in the 1970s. I want a cap on irrigation with no further takes allowed from the river and the minimum flow of the river increased."

Looking ahead to the future, Matthew is a firm believer in preserving open spaces where people can connect with nature, such as the Rangitata River.

"When you open the car door and step out at the Rangitata, you feel a sense of peace and freedom and I think it is important to preserve that. It is good for people to have places where they can relate to nature and the environment. We need to ensure that the future generations can have this same experience."

Brad Edwards, co-chair of the Rakitata Revival Working Group, says that the strategy for this ambitious project which covers 177,000 hectares aims to strengthen the collaboration and connections between a wide range of different people who interact with the river in unique ways. 
 
“The project is guided by five shared values that honour the river and underpin this programme of work,” Brad explains.  
 
The five shared values are:  

• We acknowledge and value the living status of the awa and the need for an all-encompassing approach.  
• We respect the many ways in which people are connected to the awa. 
• The leadership of mana whenua is central to achieving our goals. 
• We can all play a part in restoring the Rakitata for future generations.  
• We respect and acknowledge the reciprocal relationship between people and the awa. 

Flooding influences restoration

Karl Russell, Arowhenua Kaumātua and co-chair of the Rakitata Revival Working Group, says the 2019 South Canterbury floods acted as a catalyst for action to restore the mauri of the Rakitata Awa.

“The 2019 flood cut the South Island in half and it triggered a lot of emotions from a mana whenua perspective and from a community and political perspective.

“I think we all realised that we couldn’t keep using the same methods because they weren’t working. We saw it as an opportunity to retrieve some of our mana and whakapapa and to restore the connections and kōrero that had been lost.”

For Karl and Arowhenua, restoring the south branch of the Rakitata is a vital aspect of the revival programme.

“One of the biggest drivers for us is the restoration of the south branch of the Rakitata. It is a futuristic way of looking after our waterways where we put the awa first. We gather around the table for conversations that ask what the river wants and needs.”

Protecting the dynamism and natural characteristics of the river is central to the programme, says Brad.

“The Rakitata is a huge river system with a big upper catchment area that reaches right up into the tops of the Southern Alps, into ice gardens and plateaus and then moves down to the sea. 

“Braided rivers, like the Rakitata, are rare internationally and it is a very iconic Canterbury landform. They tend to move and swing, casting out new channels and moving out of old ones and this dynamism is important to protect.”

Courageous conversations create change

All project partners have engaged in courageous conversations on how the natural state of the Rakitata River system has been altered, thereby changing the way people engage with the awa. 

Looking at the river with fresh eyes and acknowledging the damage that has occurred while creating a better future which is focused on meeting the needs of the river is an important part of the collaborative process, according to Brad.

“People have long had an impact on the river, and we have tended to push it into an unnatural course. We have sculpted the braid plain and moved our farming and infrastructure out onto it, generally without consideration of the river.

“Rivers across New Zealand and particularly braided rivers like the Rakitata are suffering from encroachment and from intensification of land use. We have tended to box our rivers in with stop banks and berms. This has reduced the natural creation of new habitat for braided river wildlife and taonga and has impacted on river form and function with consequences such as riverbed lifting. 

“This is something we need to address and decide how we can enable braided rivers to be more dynamic again, to allow maximum flood flows, and to protect our communities.”

Taonga are to be treasured and protected 

Brad has spent over 300 days on the Rakitata Awa over the last seven years doing bird monitoring along various sections of the river. During that time, he has noticed a dramatic decline in bird life alongside an increasing imbalanced ecosystem that has damaged the health of the river.

“There’s been a reduction in the black-billed gulls and black-fronted terns that used to nest in the lower reaches of the river when I first started bird monitoring. At the same time, we’ve seen an increase in exotic weeds and predators.

“Some of our treasured taonga are starting to disappear from the river and that’s why this revival programme is so important as we can start to reverse some of these declines,” Brad says.

Karl says having kōrero focused on the long-term health and wellbeing of the awa is a fundamental foundation block for project partners and the community to build a new future together.

“Our 100-year plan brings those conversations into play. We will have respect for each other when we acknowledge everyone’s needs and wants but the biggest need is the environment and that must come first. 

“When the river’s needs come first it means that the environment is taken care of, biodiversity is taken care of and then we ask the river who can use it and who should be around it.

“My biggest hope is that the wider community will look at the Rakitata from a different viewpoint, not just as a waterway, but as a place that creates life and wellbeing for everyone around it. A place where we as people can be at one with the environment.”