Marlborough Environment Awards

Te Hoiere Project is well represented in the upcoming Port Marlborough - Marlborough Environment Awards.

The awards are held every two years to showcase businesses or community projects that are good for the environment and are open to any businesses, community group or individual working in Marlborough. The 2025 winners will be announced at an awards event at the ASB Theatre on Wednesday 16 April.

This year’s entries associated with Te Hoiere Project are:

Te Hoiere Bat Recovery Project

The Te Hoiere Bat Recovery Project, led by Forest & Bird since 2005, aims to protect long-tailed bats at Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve.

Initially focused on volunteer-driven pest control, the project expanded after realizing that trapping alone wasn't enough to safeguard bats during the breeding season. In collaboration with the Department of Conservation (DOC), the project conducted extensive research to better understand bat populations and guide targeted pest control efforts.

Key achievements include pest control across 250 hectares, ongoing tree planting in the Ronga Scenic Reserve, and a population study conducted in 2018/19 identifying bat populations at Pelorus Bridge and nearby reserves. The project has benefited from partnerships with Ngāti Kuia, DOC, and others, as well as increased funding from Jobs for Nature, which supported staff, research, and volunteer coordination.

Challenges include reinvasion by predators, especially during beech mast years, and staff turnover. In response, the project has adopted new technologies like automated traps and is refining monitoring methods to improve efficiency and impact. The project’s successes have been recognized for its community engagement, use of advanced technologies, and scientific collaboration, making it a model of adaptive management in conservation.

Te Hoiere Linkwater Catchment

The Linkwater Catchment Group, formed in 2021, consists of six dairy farms in response to water quality monitoring by the Marlborough District Council (MDC), which revealed degraded or at-risk water quality.

The group aims to understand the impact of farming practices on water quality and work together to improve the catchment’s health. The area includes streams like Cullen Creek and Linkwater Stream, both identified as having poor water quality in MDC’s monitoring.

Farmers in the group have implemented various environmental improvements, such as realigning laneways, planting riparian zones, fencing off waterways, and improving waste management. The group has collaborated with initiatives like the Te Hoiere Project and MDC’s Catchment Care Programme, which provided support in the form of resources, subsidies, and expertise.

The group’s innovative, community-focused approach has been praised for its long-term vision, intensive water sampling, strong collaboration, and outreach efforts. The group’s success stems from working together, leveraging available resources, and committing to sustainable farming practices. Their efforts have also included community engagement through educational initiatives and open events, sharing their experiences to inspire broader environmental action.

Top of the South Wood Council (TOTSWC) - Te Hoiere Forestry Projects

Top of the South Wood Council (TOTSWC)represents the forest and wood processing industries in Te Tau Ihu and advocates for the collective interests of local forestry businesses.

Under the Te Hoiere Catchment Restoration Project, TOTSWC manages five key projects focusing on sediment levels, riparian vegetation restoration, and the impact of ungulates on biodiversity and stream health. These projects aim to provide baseline data and practical restoration tools for landowners to enhance environmental outcomes.

The Te Hoiere/Pelorus catchment, a national exemplar for environmental restoration, has been the focus of extensive community consultation, leading to the creation of the Integrated Catchment Enhancement Plan (ICEP). The Forestry Group, formed by TOTSWC and industry members, designed research projects to address environmental challenges in forestry practices. These include:

1. Sediment Baseline Study: A study to establish sediment levels in a stream before harvesting to guide future management.
2. Post-Harvest Riparian Native Planting: Testing various riparian management approaches to enhance biodiversity and stream health.
3. Ungulate Exclusion Research: Investigating the impact of excluding introduced ungulates on native flora, fauna, aquatic health, and carbon sequestration.

The projects have received positive feedback for their scientific approach, collaboration, innovation, and stakeholder engagement. Challenges such as budget constraints were addressed by leveraging partnerships, external expertise, and cost-reduction strategies.

In summary, the Te Hoiere Project, through collaboration and innovative research, is providing valuable data and strategies to improve forestry practices and environmental outcomes, benefiting not just the forestry industry but also broader land and catchment management efforts across New Zealand.

Linkwater School Stream Study

With 45 students, Linkwater School has a strong environmental focus and has been an Enviro School since 2008, recently achieving Green Gold status.

The school emphasises its connection to the community and the local natural environment, with active parental support for environmental initiatives.

In 2018, the Linkwater Catchment group was formed to improve water quality in local streams, and in 2021, the school became involved by participating in native species planting. This year, the school focused on the importance of water, studying the water cycle, and conducting stream studies on Murdoch's and Morrison's streams. Students measured water clarity, temperature, and investigated stream health through macro invertebrate sampling, eDNA collection, and SHMAK tests. They also discovered four long-finned tuna, a threatened species.

The school’s strong relationship with the local farming community allows them to address environmental issues and help students understand the challenges and responsibilities faced by the dairy industry. There were no significant problems observed, and the school’s efforts are positively contributing to both environmental education and local farming practices. Judges praised the students' knowledge and enthusiasm, particularly their understanding of water care, stream health, and responsible dairy farming practices. This involvement is fostering a new generation of farmers who prioritise environmental sustainability.

The Port Marlborough - Marlborough Environment Awards are run by a charitable trust and are supported Port Marlborough, Marlborough District Council, Department of Conservation and local sponsors.

For more details go to www.mea-nz.com or to buy tickets to the awards event go to: https://asbtheatre-premier.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/port-marlborough-marlborough-environment-awards-2025/blenheim