Taranaki Regional Council

Protecting and restoring NZ’s waterways

Water is the life blood of every ecosystem, yet half of New Zealand’s waterways are in urgent need of restoration. This amounts to a staggering 212,000 kilometres, and here at Kauri Park we are on a mission to protect and reinvigorate these vital ecosystems one plant at a time – a mission we call Project 212.

Ecosystem – Water is life 

We are proud of our involvement in Taranaki Regional Council’s globally acclaimed project to prepare their waterways for future generations. Their streams and waterways make up 5% of the nation’s total, some 16,200 kilometres and to date, 14,000 kilometres of streams have been fenced and 9,000 kilometres have been planted – a whopping 3,000,000 plants in total.

Photosynthesis, carbon drawdown and soil health are intrinsically tied to the health of these ecosystems and the resulting increase in biodiversity has seen the return of more insects, birds, fish, and invertebrates along the waterways. This regeneration is evidence of how we can work with Mother Nature to enhance our world, not only for the waterways but for the benefit of the greater environment as a whole.

Ecovitalism – people and process working in harmony.

With any environmental improvement the full potential is not seen at the beginning, and one unexpected benefit of healthier waterways and thriving ecosystems has been to local agriculture.

Farms that have retired land to permanent planting and better farming practices have reduced the size of their stock numbers and increased productivity adding to what we call the ‘ecology economy’. Not only lessening the impact of farming on the environment but improving productivity and efficiencies within the industry.

One farm as an example, retired 6% of their land from farming and planted native ecosystems while at the same time converting 13% to a less intensive livestock farming model. As a result, their productivity from dairy increased by 29% proving farming and the environment can successfully co-exist when managed properly.

For more information about the Taranaki Regional Council world-scale ecological restoration project: