On World Wetlands Day (Sunday 2 February), thirty people gathered in Coastal Taranaki to acknowledge Pipiriki.

The once vulnerable wetland is now the largest protected wetland forest on Taranaki’s ring plain. TeUraura Nganeko, who has been associated with the wetland since its preservation work began in 2006, says that back when the wetland needed protecting there was no money to do it.

“The land needed fencing and planting, but there was no putea.  Te Tumu Paeroa (then the Māori Trustee) suggested that the trust be placed under a QE2 covenant.  We did exactly that, and it meant that we were able to get better protection on our land, and greater funding for our preservation work,” says Mr Nganeko.

By putting the covenant in place, the owners,  Nga uri o Te Tuahu Waiwiri and Merewaiti Te Wehenga Tahuna, protected their land whilst generously gifting their 23 hectares of forest to all of New Zealand.  Surrounded by farm lands, the wetlands stands as a legacy of what once was.   

Through the covenant, the trust was able to access funding, erect fencing, create an on-going Biodiversity Plan, and replant native understory vegetation.  Such work has been a co-operative effort by owners, organisations, and the lessee/neighbouring farmer, Andrew Pentelow, who runs a farm that is both profitable and environmentally protected.

David MacLeod, Taranaki Regional Council Chairman, says that wetland protection is highly relevant to Taranaki. “The important role of wetlands in support of agriculture is becoming clearer and clearer, and there are successful agricultural practices which support healthy wetlands,” says David.

“In previous times wetlands were often seen as a barrier to agriculture, and they were drained and reclaimed to make farming land available. But today the Council and other agencies and groups work closely with landowners to protect and enhance wetlands, and we’re seeing attitudes change as knowledge increases.”

As well as keeping river systems healthy and consistent, wetlands also:

  • Improve water quality by removing nitrates and intercepting phosphates in runoff sediment.
  • Act as rich ecosystems that support a diversity of plant, animal and bird life.
  • Provide recreational value and can add landscape appeal to a farm.
  • Function as carbon sinks.