“It has become a diverse workplace for Māori and tauiwi to carry out environmental mahi in a way that provides a sense of agency and self-determination.”

As a child, Shannon would swim in the Pūniu River near his marae, but as an adult, he realised that the waters, once clear with a rocky bottom, had become murky, polluted and unswimmable, mainly due to runoff from deforestation and agriculture. Then in his thirties, and reflecting on what he valued in life, he set himself a mission to restore the river.

“It was a life-changing moment and gave me my purpose – the Pūniu holds cultural significance for local hapū, and it was spiritually damaging to witness the rapidly degrading water quality, the decrease in biodiversity and the effects it was having on the health and wellbeing of local people.”

A nursery was developed on the marae grounds to kick-start the initiative of growing and planting trees along the river and tributary streams. Time was spent training people from the community to propagate native plants at Mangatoatoa marae. These plants are then planted around rivers, lakes, wetlands and erodible land.

“This winter we have planted 500,000 native plants into the Pūniu and Waipa rivers, and we have the capacity to deliver in excess of 1 million plants each year in the coming seasons.”

“But the project isn’t just about growing plants. We are also focused on growing our people. We currently employ 46 locals to help actively replenish and regenerate the Pūniu catchment through riparian and wetland planting. All staff are paid the living wage and we are committed to building the skills and capability of their people, a number of young staff members are being supported to step up into leadership roles.” 

Encouraging the next generation is also a priority. An education program at the local Whare Kura ensures the ongoing success of Pūniu River Care, the improvement of the environment and the hope it gives marae throughout Aotearoa.