Cleaning up Waingongoro Awa
The Waingongoro Awa is a short Hawke's Bay coastal stream that flows from large freshwater springs on the Maraetotara plateau through significant wetlands. It enters the sea at Waimārama south of Napier.
This river is sacred to local Māori as it provides sustenance, spiritual connection and drinking water for the hāpu. However, water quality has degraded over the years mainly due to loss of aquatic habitats, erosion, and faecal contamination from local industry.
Iwi, hāpu, schools and the wider community are working alongside Horizons Farming Limited - a sheep, beef, and deer farming operation - to protect and enhance the Waingongoro Awa catchment.
Funding of over $1 million over four years from 2023 is being provided by the Freshwater Improvement Fund for the clean-up of the Waingongoro Awa.
Learn more about the Freshwater Improvement Fund and other funded projects