This project aims to achieve a catchment-scale restoration of native riparian ecosystems and wetlands, and improved water quality for the Moutere River and its tributaries (14,680ha; 524km of waterways), and Inlet (760ha).
The project joins two groups: the Moutere Catchment Group (MGC) and the Moutere Inlet and Tasman Environmental Restoration Group (MITER). The waterways in both catchments (Tasman and Moutere Valleys) feed into the Moutere Inlet. By working together, the groups aim to improve the environment, water quality and employment opportunities in the area.
The Moutere catchment group is now five years old. Starting with 10 landowners, quickly moving to 100 by the first official meeting and now we have over 200 landowners working together to plant, restore and protect the Moutere Catchment.
Since September 2020 the Moutere Catchment has received more than 380,000 fully funded plants and plant guards, and supported over 51 km of funded riparian fencing.
Thanks to the hard work of our local landowners, and additional financial contributions the catchment has been able to achieve significantly more planting and fencing than the funding had expected us to.
Overall we estimate that closer to 500,000 natives have been planted in our catchment over the last three years when you include all the additional plants purchased by land owners. What an incredible result!
A massive thank you! And well done! Hundreds of people who have been, and are continuing to put in the hard mahi of planting, fencing, maintaining and supporting all this fantastic work.
Our key goals include:
• An estuary and surrounds with an improving environmental state, leading to better habitat, increased biodiversity, more recreational opportunities and which is valued by residents and visitors alike.
• Restoring the Moutere Estuary and its connected river and streams to ecological health.
• Creating a social connection to the community now and in future, that will sustain the mana and mauri of the waterways.
We are running a survey to see where to next for the catchment. If you would like to contribute please complete the survey here.
