Waikanae River Environmental Strategy an Outcome of the Waikanae Floodplain Management Plan Waikanae River Environmental Strategy

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Waikanae River Environmental Strategy An outcome of the Waikanae Floodplain Management Plan Waikanae River Environmental Strategy

Foreword

The first Waikanae River Environmental Strategy was published in 1999 following the development of the Foreword Waikanae Floodplain Management Plan. Since then there have been significant environmental improvements within the Waikanae River Corridor, particularly in terms of restoration planting and the development and enhancement of access and pathways for walking, cycling and horse riding. Many of these improvements are recommendations from the 1999 version of this Strategy, which have been implemented by Greater Wellington Regional Council and Kāpiti Coast District Council, together with the community. This updated version of the Strategy identifies key features of the Waikanae River environment, with a focus on the River Corridor downstream of the Water Treatment Plant. It sets out an agreed vision and objectives and provides updated recommendations for the management of the river environment going forwards. This Strategy is the combined effort of the Greater Wellington Regional Council and Kāpiti Coast District Council. The Department of Conservation, Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, the Friends of the Waikanae River, and other members of the community have also made a valuable contribution to the Strategy review.

______Cr Barbara Donaldson Cr Penny Gaylor Chair, Strategy and Policy Committee, Chair, Environment and Community Environment Management Portfolio Leader Development Committee Greater Wellington Regional Council Kapiti Coast District Council

1 Contents Part B: A Framework for Protecting and Improving the Foreword...... 1 River Environment ...... 31 Contents...... 2 5. Vision and Objectives ...... 32 List of Figures ...... 4 5.1 Vision ...... 32 Introduction and Background....5 5.2 Objectives ...... 32 6. Methods for Improving the 1. Introduction ...... 6 River Environment ...... 34 1.1 Background to the updated Waikanae Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae 6.1 Community Involvement...... 34 River Environmental Strategy ...... 6 6.2 Maintaining Land Uses Which Provide 1.2 Purpose of the Strategy ...... 8 For A Greenbelt and ‘Mountains to 1.3 Structure of the Strategy ...... 8 Sea’ Ecological Corridor...... 35 1.4 Scope of the Strategy ...... 10 6.3 Protecting and Restoring Indigenous 1.5 Limitations of the Strategy...... 12 Vegetation and Habitat ...... 36 1.6 Parties with a Role in Implementing 6.4 Providing for Recreation this Strategy...... 12 and Access...... 42 2. Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai Response to the Strategy...... 13 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor ...... 45 Part A: Context ...... 15 7. Reikorangi/Water Treatment 3. Key Features and Values ...... 16 Plant Reach...... 46 3.1 The Waikanae River Catchment ...... 16 7.1 Situation ...... 48 3.2 Ecological Values...... 18 7.2 Vegetation Management ...... 48 3.3 Recreational Values ...... 20 7.3 Recommended Actions ...... 49 3.4 Landscape Values ...... 22 8. Parikawau/Edgewater Park Reach...... 50 3.5 Tangata Whenua Values ...... 22 8.1 Situation ...... 52 3.6 Historic Heritage ...... 24 8.2 Progress ...... 52 3.7 Flood Risk Management Activities .. 25 8.3 Vegetation Management...... 53 3.8 Infrastructure and Services...... 25 8.4 Recreation and Access...... 53 4. Issues ...... 26 8.5 Interpretation...... 54 4.1 Fragmentation and loss of Remnant 8.6 Land Ownership...... 54 Vegetation and Habitats ...... 26 8.7 Flood Risk Management...... 54 4.2 Fish Habitat ...... 26 8.8 Recommended Actions...... 54 4.3 Loss of Riparian Vegetation ...... 26 9. Waipunahau/Jim Cooke Memorial 4.4 Weeds...... 27 Park Reach...... 56 4.5 Pest Animals...... 28 9.1 Situation ...... 58 4.6 Climate Change ...... 28 9.2 Progress...... 58 4.7 Access and Recreation ...... 29 9.3 Vegetation Management ...... 59 4.8 Managing Adverse Effects of Flood 9.4 Recreation Facilities...... 59 Risk Management Activities ...... 29 9.5 Flood Risk Management ...... 59 4.9 Co-ordinating Flood Risk 9.6 Recommended Actions ...... 60 Management and Restoration in the River Corridor ...... 30

2 10. Pukekawa Reach...... 62 Appendices...... 89 10.1 Situation...... 64 14. Appendix 1...... 90 Contents 10.2 Progress ...... 64 14.1 Restoration Guidelines...... 91 10.3 Vegetation Management...... 65 14.2 Restoration Planting ...... 91 10.4 Access...... 65 14.3 Plant Species ...... 93 10.5 Recreation Facilities...... 65 14.4 Ongoing management ...... 93 10.6 Interpretation...... 65 14.5 Aligning Restoration and Flood 10.7 Land Ownership...... 65 Risk Management Activities ...... 94 10.8 Flood Risk Management ...... 65 14.6 Further Reading...... 95 10.9 Recommendations ...... 66 15. Appendix 2...... 96 11. Te Aorere/Waikanae Christian 15.1 Appropriate Plant Species by Reach.97 Holiday Park...... 68 Reference List ...... 103 11.1 Situation ...... 70 11.2 Progress ...... 70 11.3 Vegetation Management ...... 71 11.4 Access...... 71 11.5 Recreational Facilities...... 71 11.6 Land Ownership...... 71 11.7 Flood Risk Management...... 72 11.8 Recommended Actions ...... 72 12. Arapawaiti/Otaihanga Reach...... 74 12.1 Situation ...... 76 12.2 Progress...... 76 12.3 Vegetation Management...... 77 12.4 Access...... 77 12.5 Recreation Facilities...... 77 12.6 Interpretation...... 77 12.7 Flood Risk Management ...... 77 12.8 Recommended Actions ...... 78 13. Kenakena/The Estuary Reach...... 80 13.1 Situation ...... 82 13.2 Progress ...... 83 13.3 Vegetation Management ...... 83 13.4 Mazengarb Stream ...... 83 13.5 Recreation and Access...... 84 13.6 Interpretation...... 84 13.7 Land ownership...... 84 13.8 Flood Risk Management...... 85 13.9 Recommended actions ...... 86

3 List of Figures

Figure 1: The Seven Reaches identified in Part C of this Strategy Figure 2: The Waikanae River Corridor Figure 3: The Waikanae River Catchment Figure 4: The Waikanae River as part of an ecological corridor from the Tararua Ranges to Kāpiti Island Figure 5: Parks, reserves, paths, bridleways and recreational assets in and near the Waikanae River Corridor.

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae Figure 6: Some sites of Māori cultural significance Figure 7: Reikorangi/WTP Reach Figure 8: Parikawau/Edgewater Park Reach Figure 9: Waipunahau/Jim Cooke Memorial Park Reach Figure 10: Pukekawa Reach Figure 11: Te Aorere/Waikanae Christian Holiday Park Reach Figure 12: Arapawaiti/Otaihanga Reach Figure 13: Kenakena/the Estuary

4 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

5 1. Introduction Volunteer groups, including the Friends of the Waikanae River (FWR), the Kāpiti Ecological Restoration and Maintenance Trust (KERMT) and 1.1 Background to the the Waikanae Estuary Care Group are undertaking updated Waikanae River projects to restore and enhance the Waikanae River Environmental Strategy environment. The Kāpiti Coast District Council (KCDC), the Greater Wellington Regional Council The Waikanae River – A Treasured (GWRC) and the Department of Conservation Natural Resource (DOC) also undertake work to enhance the river The Waikanae River is a unique natural resource environment and support the work of volunteers. of tremendous value. It is a popular place for Managing Flood Risks From the Waikanae River Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae recreation, particularly in the area downstream of Although it is an asset and a taonga, the Waikanae the State Highway 1 (SH 1) Bridge. Recreational River is also a hazard, as it has the potential to activities in this area include swimming, fishing, flood parts of Waikanae and Otaihanga. Flood kayaking, picnicking, playing sport, walking, events not only have the potential to damage running, cycling and horse riding. property, they also put human life at risk. In 1955, a large flood extensively damaged houses on the floodplain. Following this flood an erosion and flood control scheme was established, which included stopbanks and erosion protection works. The flood control scheme covers the section of the river from the just below the Waikanae Water Treatment Plant to the river mouth. This area is known as the ‘River Corridor’.1 The Development of the 1997 Waikanae Floodplain Management Plan (FMP) and 1999 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy In 1997, GWRC’s Flood Protection Department, Cyclists enjoying a ride on the south bank in consultation with the Waikanae and Otaihanga communities, prepared the Waikanae Floodplain The Waikanae River has important historical and Management Plan (WFMP), which set out a cultural values and is a taonga of Te Atiawa ki package of measures to manage the flood risk. Whakarongotai, who are tangata whenua in this These measures included building and maintaining area and kaitiaki of the river. structural works, erosion control, gravel management, planning controls, and increasing The river is also a special place in ecological terms. community preparedness for flood events. It provides a ‘mountains to sea’ ecological corridor from the Tararua Ranges to the Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve and the Kāpiti Marine Reserve, with Kāpiti Island Nature Reserve (a predator free sanctuary for bird life) located directly offshore (see Fig. 4).

1 The River Corridor comprises the riverbed and adjacent floodway downstream of the Water treatment Plant (see Fig. 2). It is the minimum area necessary to manage a major flood and let flood waters pass safely to the sea. Therefore, appropriate land uses and development potential are extremely limited. Generally the main activities that take place in the Waikanae River Corridor are recreational activities, ecological restoration, and flood risk management activities. 6 In association with flood risk management activities, the Flood Protection Department undertakes and supports actions to enhance the

environment of the River Corridor. Introduction Recognising that flood protection measures can create both environmental effects and opportunities to enhance the river environment, the community developed the following objectives, which were included in the Waikanae FMP: • To ensure methods included in the Floodplain Management Plan preserve or enhance the environmental character of the river and floodplain • To ensure public access to the river is maintained so as to enhance its amenity value and use for recreational purposes. The FMP also included an objective relating to tangata whenua (Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai): • To ensure the traditional, spiritual and cultural values of the tangata whenua are adequately recognised in accordance with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

To support these objectives and provide an agreed Restoration planting framework for protecting and enhancing the river’s values, GWRC prepared the 1999 Waikanae In addition to the restoration planting, a number of 2 River Environmental Strategy (the 1999 Strategy) recommended actions from the 1999 Strategy have with support from KCDC. been implemented, including the establishment of The Waikanae River Ecological Strategy3 (the new pathways and signage. In 2009, the Te Arawai Ecological Strategy) was also prepared in 1999 Bridge was completed, providing a strategic as a condition of GWRC’s resource consent for pedestrian link between the north and south banks flood risk management activities. The Ecological of the river. KCDC has purchased a large block of Strategy was a response to a submission from land adjacent to the River Corridor on the south tangata whenua regarding the need for a bank, which will be used to establish a significant restoration programme based on sound recreational reserve. The Waikanae River is now ecological principles. -more than ever- a people place and an ecological corridor. Review of the Waikanae FMP and Waikanae River Environmental Strategy This updated Strategy provides a snapshot of the current river environment and key values The Waikanae FMP and the Waikanae River that are associated with it. It provides an agreed Environmental Strategy have been reviewed and vision, objectives, and a range of recommended updated to reflect the current situation. GWRC actions to guide those carrying out activities in published the updated Waikanae FMP in 2013. the river and River Corridor. It provides guidance The review of the Waikanae River Environmental on restoration, to encourage a consistent and Strategy has been led by GWRC and supported co-ordinated approach to restoration of the River by KCDC. The review involved consultation with Corridor. It also sets out to better co-ordinate flood volunteer groups, tangata whenua, DOC and risk management activities with environmental others in the community with an interest in enhancement and restoration activities. the river. This updated Strategy has incorporated a The review revealed that significant changes number of aspects of the Ecological Strategy, so to the Waikanae River environment had taken that the two documents are more closely aligned. place since the 1999 Environmental Strategy was It also has been extended to include the reach of prepared. Of particular note was the significant the river between the Water Treatment Plant restoration work that had taken place, which has and the SH1 Bridge. had a transformative effect on the local ecology and the recreation, landscape and amenity values downstream of the SH 1 Bridge. 2 GWRC, 1999. 3 Park, 1999. 7 1.2 Purpose of the Strategy 1.3 Structure of the Strategy

Greater Wellington Regional Council, Kāpiti Part A sets out the background information Coast District Council, The Department of relevant to the Strategy, including the key values Conservation, the Waikanae community, Te associated with the Waikanae River and key Atiawa ki Whakarongotai and nearby landowners issues relevant to the restoration and management are all making efforts to protect and improve the of the river environment. Waikanae River environment. This Strategy is Part B includes the Vision and Objectives for intended to assist and co-ordinate these efforts. the river environment and general methods This strategy presents an agreed vision and for achieving that vision. Part B is applicable to objectives that the different parties can work the Waikanae River environment, and in some Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae towards. It also sets out a range of recommended instances, the wider catchment. actions for enhancing the Waikanae River Part C of the Strategy focuses on the River Corridor Environment in line with the vision and objectives. - downstream of the Water Treatment Plant (Fig The ‘environment’ includes the biophysical 1). The following river reaches4 are identified and environment, as well as cultural, historic and described in more detail in Part C of the Strategy: recreational environment. 1. Reikorangi/Water Treatment Plant Reach: The Strategy is primarily an outcome of the from the Water Treatment Plant downstream to Waikanae Floodplain Management Plan, and the Rail Bridge therefore, GWRC is the principal author of the Strategy. For GWRC the Strategy provides a 2. Parikawau/Edgewater Park Reach: from the framework for the environmental enhancement Rail Bridge downstream to Walnut Grove (on work that the Flood Protection Department the north bank) undertakes in conjunction with their flood 3. Waipunahau/Jim Cooke Memorial Park Reach: protection activities on the Waikanae River. The from Walnut Grove to Paretai Grove (on the Strategy also aims to ensure that environmental north bank) enhancement and restoration activities carried out by other parties do not conflict with flood 4. Pukekawa Reserve Reach: from Paretai Grove protection activities in or near the River Corridor. to Kauri Road (on the north bank) Kāpiti Coast District Council, the other principal 5. Te Aorere/Waikanae Christian Holiday partner in the Strategy, will use it as a reference in Camp Reach: from between the western end relation to: of Pukekawa Reserve on the north bank, downstream to residences at the eastern end of • its statutory land management functions the settlement of Otaihanga (on the south bank) • its operational works 6. Arapawaiti/Otaihanga Reach: from the eastern • any proactive efforts to improve the end of Otaihanga (on the south bank) to river environment. approximately XS 50, where the dune on the north bank comes close to the river Because of its significant management role in the river environment, particularly around the 7. Kenakena/The Estuary: Extending over the Estuary, the Strategy also recommends actions that final 50 m of the river, from Mazengarb Stream the DOC could undertake. confluence to the river mouth. Other groups and individuals with an interest in Part C contains recommendations for the the Waikanae River can refer to the Strategy when management and enhancement of the River planning activities or developments in or near the Corridor in each of these reaches in line with River Corridor. These groups include: the vision and objectives of this Strategy. Recommendations for appropriate plant species • Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai (mana whenua for restoration planting for each of these reaches ki Waikanae) are contained in Appendix 2. • Community groups • Environmental organisations • Private landowners • Utility owners/operators. The Strategy places no obligation on the parties involved, beyond their existing statutory responsibilities. 4 The reaches cover both sides of the river. 8 Figure 1: The Seven Reaches identified in Part C of this Strategy.

9 1.4 Scope of the Strategy 1.4.3 Area Covered by the Strategy The Strategy applies to the Waikanae River, its 1.4.1 Obligations of Parties environment and the wider catchment. However, The Strategy places no obligation on the parties the focus of the Strategy is on the River Corridor involved, beyond their existing statutory - between the Water Treatment Plant River Mouth responsibilities. (just upstream of the SH 1 Bridge) and the river mouth, including the Estuary. This section of the It is acknowledged that: Waikanae River is actively managed to reduce • GWRC, KCDC and DOC all have their own flood risks to the Waikanae and Otaihanga mandate and responsibilities communities. It also has the greatest recreational usage and is undergoing a significant restoration • GWRC, KCDC and DOC have limited financial Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae effort. Therefore, this is the area where pressures resources, and the objectives in the Strategy on the environment and potential for conflicts may only be achieved over a long period between uses are the greatest. • The recommendations in this strategy are not Feedback from consultation on this updated binding on the parties involved and are subject Strategy has indicated that some parties would like to availability of funding and outcomes of to see the focus of the Strategy extended to include community consultation the River upstream of the Water Treatment Plant. • Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai have This should be considered when the Strategy is cultural responsibilities as kaitiaki of the next reviewed. Waikanae River, which need to be understood and respected • Private landowners within the river environment have rights in relation to their property, which need to be understood and respected. Therefore, the Strategy is intended to be flexible, relying on the good will and co-operation of all of those with a role in managing and enhancing the river environment.

1.4.2 The Strategy is a Long-Term Plan, Which Will be Realised in Stages The Strategy is a long-term plan that can be realised in stages. It is intended to be flexible, relying on the good will and co-operation of the agencies and stakeholders involved. Opportunities to address different aspects of the Strategy will arise at different times.

Figure 2: The Waikanae River Corridor5

5 The River Corridor is also depicted in red on the maps of each river reach in Part C of this Strategy. 11 1.5 Limitations of the Strategy The GWRC Flood Protection Department administers land in the River Corridor between the This Strategy provides a snapshot of some of the Water Treatment Plant (just above the SH 1 Bridge) key ecological, recreational, cultural and historic and the river mouth, for flood risk management values associated with the Waikanae River, and purposes (see Fig 2). In association with flood sets out recommendations for their protection risk management activities, the Flood Protection and enhancement. However, it is unlikely that all Department undertakes and supports actions to values present in the River environment have been enhance the environment of the River Corridor. captured in the Strategy. In addition, the Waikanae These actions are guided by this Strategy. River environment will change over time, as too Greater Wellington Regional Council's Biodiversity will our knowledge of this environment and Department supports restoration and pest control

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae subsequently, the community’s expectations efforts in the Waikanae River Environment, with regarding how it should be managed. a particular focus on areas identified as Key Therefore, the Strategy provides a starting Native Ecosystems (KNE’s). The Environmental point for those undertaking activities that may Regulation Department issues and monitors affect the Waikanae River environment, but it must resource consents relating to works carried out be read alongside current scientific information in and near the river. The Environmental Science and knowledge about the Waikanae River Department undertakes water quality monitoring. Environment and in the context of the outcomes - of community engagement. 1.6.2 Kapiti Coast District Council (KCDC) The Kāpiti Coast District Council administers 1.5.1 Water Quality and Allocation land in and adjacent to the River Corridor. The strategy contains information on water KCDC has regulatory responsibilities for land quality, and some of the recommended actions use management of the River Corridor and its can enhance water quality, however the Strategy environs, excluding the bed of the river. KCDC’s does not comprehensively address water quality key mechanism for regulation and management or allocation issues associated with the Waikanae is the Kāpiti Coast District Plan. KCDC has a role River or associated waterways. These issues implementing some non-structural methods here are addressed through the Regional Plan and and in the wider catchment. RMA process. KCDC undertakes and supports ecological 1.5.2 Flood Risk Management Activities restoration and other environmental enhancement and Their Effects works in the River Corridor and its environs. The Strategy does not identify specific actions These actions are guided by this strategy. that will be undertaken to manage flood risks to In an operational role, KCDC is responsible for the Waikanae and Otaihanga communities. These the management of parks and reserves adjacent to 6 actions are identified in the Waikanae FMP. the river, including Jim Cooke Park and the new While this Strategy contains some specific recreation reserve that will be developed on the recommendations relating to managing the former Howarth Block and Turf Farm land on the effects of flood risk management activities in the South bank. Waikanae River environment, the Code of Practice7 provides the overall framework for managing the 1.6.3 Department of Conservation (DOC) effects of flood risk management activities. DOC manages the Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve at the mouth of the river, and the 1.6 Parties with a Role in Tararua Forest Park at the headwaters. DOC Implementing this Strategy also advocates for the protection of threatened habitats and species through the statutory resource 1.6.1 Greater Wellington Regional Council management processes. It is responsible for the The GWRC Flood Protection Department is Wellington Conservation Management Strategy responsible for developing and implementing the (established in 1996), which includes the Kāpiti- Waikanae Floodplain Management Plan and this Horowhenua area and the Scientific Reserve. Environmental Strategy. DOC has responsibilities for the protection of fish passage in inland waterways in accordance with its responsibilities under the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations (1983).

6 GWRC. 2013. 7 At the time of publishing this Strategy, the COP was in the process of being updated. Please contact GWRC Flood Protection for the latest version. 12 1.6.4 Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai 2. Te Atiawa ki The rohe of Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai are marked by the following boundaries: from Whakarongotai Kukutauaki to Whareroa (seaward), inland to Pukemore and Maunganui, northward to Response to the Kapakapanui and Pukeatua, to Ngawhakangutu, Strategy then westward to Kukutauaki. Thus Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai hold mana whenua status over the Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai (TAKW) were asked Waikanae River and its surrounding environment. to provide comment on the Strategy and have The basis and principles of the relationship done so in specific parts. However we wish to between Greater Wellington Regional Council and provide some key recommendations and a general Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai are outlined in the response to the Greater Wellington Regional ‘Memorandum of Partnership’.8 Council for the future management and planning of the Waikanae River. Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai is represented by Atiawa ki Whakarongotai Charitable Trust. The Recommendation One: A Partnered Approach to principal marae, Whakarongotai, is located in the the Waikanae River Environment Strategy centre of Waikanae township. In keeping with the Memorandum of Partnership between GWRC and TAKW, we suggest for the 1.6.5 Restoration Groups future that GWRC move to develop a Waikanae Community groups such as the Friends of the River Environmental Strategy with TAKW. A Waikanae River (FWR), the Kāpiti Ecological shared vision and objectives could be established, Restoration and Maintenance Trust (KERMT), and and the tino rangatiratanga of TAKW is recognised the Waikanae Estuary Care Group are involved and protected. In particular, TAKW has an interest in the protection and restoration of the ecological in being involved in prioritising and implementing values of the River Corridor and Estuary. protection and improvement methods. TAKW currently do not have the resources to facilitate our involvement in the development of this Strategy or any in the future. Recommendation Two: Support the Development of a Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai Environmental Plan TAKW are currently seriously under resourced and it is quite challenging to contribute to or make comments on documents such as this Strategy. Such work rests upon the good will of individuals within the iwi to offer their time, but TAKW do not have any certainty that they will always have access to this support. TAKW needs to have a complete and up to date Environmental Plan that can support their input to regional and district planning, and to better communicate their perspectives and values with regards to environmental and resource management.

8 GWRC, 2012. 9 Statistics New Zealand , 2013. 13 Recommendation Three: Continue to Move 2. In the River Corridor: Towards a More Integrated Strategy TAKW are interested in improving and TAKW acknowledge the 2014 Strategy has a restoring habitat across the whole River more integrated approach than the previous 1999 Corridor. However, there are two reaches of the version. However, the framework of this Strategy corridor that of particular interest: remains quite heavily focused on ecological a. Arapawaiti/Otaihanga – There are various considerations and does not fully integrate social, mahinga kai sites and taonga species cultural and economic considerations in a way populations. There are also several wahi that is consistent with a kaitiaki based approach. tapu sites in this area The implications of this are that there are likely to be some distance between Council and TAWK in b. Kenakena/Estuary - There are various Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae terms of how they prioritise issues, their approach mahinga kai sites and extremely significant to protection and improvement, and what each taonga species populations. There are also Treaty partner is trying to achieve through wahi tapu sites in this area. such a strategy. Recommendation Six: For GWRC to Recommendation Four: Develop a Project Carry Out a regular 'Iwi Walkover' with Identifying Mahinga Kai and Species of Representatives From TAKW Significance Within the Waikanae River Environment. Similar to the wahi tapu and species of cultural significance projects that Kāpiti Coast District Council have commissioned, TAKW sees the need for the identification of mahinga kai sites and species of significance to inform future protection and improvement of the river environment in a way that upholds the values of TAKW. Recommendation Five: Council to Work With TAKW to Identify Specific Recommendations of the Strategy That TAKW Could be Involved in Implementing TAKW seeks to create a dialogue with Council to identify specific protection and improvement methods TAKW can be involved in through the implementation of the Strategy in the future. At this stage, TAKW can identify the following areas that they would be particularly interested in being involved with: 1. In the River Environment: a. Improving and restoring indigenous vegetation and habitat, particularly in mahinga kai sites and with taonga species b. Improving and restoring fish habitat, particularly in mahinga kai sites and with taonga species c. Improving recreation and access areas particularly in the provision of public restrooms.

14 PART A: CONTEXT This section sets out the key features and values associated with the Waikanae River. It then identifies some key issues relevant to the restoration and management of the Waikanae River environment.

15 16 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy Figure 3:TheWaikanae River catchment plant covers 125km long. Theuppercatchmenttothewater treatment of Wellington City.Itisapproximately25km foothills oftheTararua Ranges,some50kmnorth The Waikanae River flowsfromthe western 3.1.1 3.1 3. River asfarupstreamXS120(approximately). the south).Tidalinfluenceaffects Waikanae Beach (tothenorth)andParaparaumu Beach(to lying between thecoastalsettlementsof Waikanae a lowgradientalluvialfloodplaintoanEstuary the river meandersforapproximately7kmacross Downstream oftheWater TreatmentPlant weir, steeper, upperpartofthecatchment. These alljointhemainstemofriver inthe Reikorangi andMaungakotukutukuStreams. are theNgatiawa andRangioraRivers, andthe the remaining40%inpasture.Themaintributaries growth forestandregeneratingnative bushand and Values Key Features Catchment The Waikanae River The Waikanae RiverCatchment 2 , with60%covered inold- floodplain. between otherfragmentedecologicalareasinthe important ‘steppingstone’forspeciestravelling climate. An ecologicalcorridoralsoprovidesan plants andanimalstoadaptachanging populations, andprovidesopportunitiesfor genetic diversity amongst plantandanimal to move between habitats.Thishelpstoincrease for native birds,fish,plants,lizardsandinsects An ecologicalcorridorprovidesopportunities located directlyoffshore(Fig4). Reserve, apredatorfreesanctuaryforbirdlife, Kāpiti MarineReserve, withKāpitiIslandNature the Waikanae EstuaryScientificReserve andthe ecological corridorlinkingtheTararua Rangesto The Waikanae River providesa‘mountainstosea’ 3.1.3 the golfcourse. tidal influenceofthestreamextendsupstreamto boundary ofthePekapeka Streamcatchment.The the floodplainthatextendsnorthwards tothe long. Itnowdrainsasmalllocalcatchmenton The Waimeha Streamisapproximately 3km Beach settlement. to allowforsubdivisionoftheoriginalWaikanae to createanewmouthfortheWaimeha Stream Stream. Inthe1920s,anartificialcut was made the channel,whichbecameseparateWaimeha northern channel.Thisisolatedthelower sectionof drying upoftheuppersectionriver’s forest clearanceandlanddrainage,ledtothe associated withEuropeansettlement,including Land usechangesinthelate19thcentury Paraparaumu Beachsettlement). the seanearKenakena(nowMazengarbRdin south throughanextensive estuaryandreached present estuary.Fromheretheunitedriver flowed main stemoftheWaikanae River again,nearthe through theWaimeha Lagoonbeforejoiningthe Street thechannelturnedsouthwest, flowing intersection ofTe MoanaRdandTe Rauparaha approximately paralleltoTe Moana Rd.Nearthe Waimeha Stream,whereitliestothenorthof,and and followed muchofthecoursepresent northerly channelmeanderedacrossthefloodplain downstream ofthecurrentSH1Bridge.Themore River branchedintotwoseparatechannelsjust At theendof19thcentury,Waikanae 3.1.2 10 9 Tonkin and Taylor Ltd,2013. GWRC,1999. Corridor A ‘MountainstoSea’Ecological Change OverTime 10

Figure 4:TheWaikanae River aspartofanecologicalcorridorfrom theTararua RangestoKāpitiIsland 17 PART A: Context / Key Features and Values 18 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy 12 11 to periodicinundation. favourable tokahikateaandotherspeciesadapted in somepartsofthisareamayhave beenmore 1 althoughthemeanderingnatureofriver Similar forestprobablylinedthebanksbelowSH and rewarewa, withafewpodocarps(e.g.rimu). bordered bystandsoftitoki,kohekohe,tawa Between Reikorangiand SH1,theriver isstill grass andlupinstohelpstabilisethesand. greatly modifiedbytheintroductionofmarram vegetation ofthecoastalforeduneshasbeen by pastureandresidentialdevelopment. The surrounding floodplainhasbeenreplaced The originalswamp andcoastalforestofthe would have beenpresent onthedunes. binding plants(pingaoandSpinifexhirsutus) tawa andkohekohecouldbefound.Native sand- more stableinlanddunes,coastalforestincluding can beseenatNgaManutoday.Onthedrier, kahikatea, pukatea,andswamp maire.Suchas and flax,blendingintoswamp forestcontaining of wetland areasofopenwater, rauposwamp In pre-Europeantimesthefloodplain was amosaic of thearea. markedly changedthelandscapeandvegetation of forestclearanceandswamp drainagethat floodplain inthe1880s,andwithitcameaprocess European settlementbeganonthe Waikanae 3.2.1 range ofbirds. sport fishspecies,invertebrates, andadiverse important, providinghabitatsforindigenousand The river environmentandestuaryareecologically 3.2 retirement destination. Kāpiti Coastgenerallyreflectstheirpopularityasa population over 65years inWaikanae andthe and Otaihanga.Thehighpercentageofthetotal particularly Waikanae Beach, Waikanae East, These areasareexperiencingpopulationgrowth, western edgeoftheWaikanae River Estuary. northeastern endofParaparaumu Beachlieatthe on thesouthsideofriver. Residencesatthe River, whileOtaihangaliesupstreamofthemouth lie immediatelytothenorthofWaikanae The settlementsof Waikanae and Waikanae Beach 3.1.4 Thissectionlargely adaptedfromTonkin andTaylor Ltd,2013. Tonkin andTaylor Ltd,2013. Ecological Values Indigenous Vegetation Urban Settlements 11

• • These include: wetlands inthefloodplain ofthetwo waterways. There areanumberofsmalllagoons,ponds,and 3.2.2 Ecological restoration and DOChave supportedtheseefforts. the Waikanae EstuaryCareGroup.GWRC,KCDC Restoration andMaintenanceTrust(KERMT), Waikanae River (FWR),theKāpitiEcological in therestorationworkareFriendsof below SH1.Threekeyvolunteergroupsinvolved River environment,particularlyinthereaches have hadatransformative effectonthe Waikanae vegetation oftheRiver CorridorandtheEstuary Voluntary effortstorestoretheindigenous of theWaikanae River. Waikanae EstuaryScientificReserve atthemouth and adjacentwetland areas,particularlywithin the original vegetation associatedwiththeEstuary There areimportantsurvivingremnantsof also befoundalongtheriverbanks. of whichhave spreadfromadjacentfarmland,can volunteers. A variety ofintroducedplants,some and amixofnative treesthathave beenplantedby with afewremnantpatchesofkohekoheforest planted forfloodprotectionpurposes,together Today theriverbank vegetation containswillows controlled byafloodgate the watercourse. Theoutletofthelagoonis 1970s bydrainingswampland andenlarging of theWaimeha Stream,was developed inthe The Waimanu Lagoon,alsointheformercourse the Waimanu Lagoon settlement, andisdrainedbyasmallstreamto Stream, isfedbydrainsintheWaikanae Beach former south-flowingcourseofthe Waimeha The Waimeha Lagoon,whichliesinpartofthe Lagoons, Ponds,andWetlands koromako (bellbird). including kereru(woodpigeon),tuiand A numberofnative bird speciesarepresent, programme hasbeenbeneficialforbirdspecies. corridor, combinedwithapestanimaltrapping The restorationworktoenhancetheecological 3.2.3 in theWaikanae River Banded Kokopu–oneofthenative fishspeciesfound • • • • • • • of Waimeha Stream. Treatment ponds),alsolyingtothenortheast Swamp (whichincludestheWaikanae Sewage Totara LagoonandassociatedTe Harakiki waterfowl habitat which have beenartificiallyenlargedtocreate to thenortheastofWaimeha Stream, Ponds withintheNgaManuSanctuary,lying beach partoftheScientificReserve A lagoonofshallowbrackishwater onthe of theWaikanae EstuaryScientificReserve Lake PuketewhainoattheParaparaumu end opposite theOtaihangaBoatingClub Weggery Lagoon,locatedonthenorthbank, community groups which isbeingrestoredbyKCDCand the northbankoppositeOtaihangaDomain, the Waikanae River, includingtheoxbowon Several smalloxbowsonthenorthbankof large dune 1928 thatcausedtheriver tocutthrougha created asaresultofmajorfloodin1927or lying onthenorthwestern endofMakoraRd), bank immediatelytothewest ofresidences The OtaihangaOxbow(locatedonthesouth Bird Life 16 15 dotterel (NationallyVulnerable frequenting thearea. Amongst thesearebanded habitat, withmanynative andintroducedspecies The Estuaryalsoprovidesvaluable native bird

species, andprovidinginangaspawninghabitat. habitat forsixormoremigratoryindigenous threatened indigenousfishspecies,providing community health,providinghabitatfor ecosystems; havinghighmacroinvertebrate Waikanae River ashavingsignificantindigenous The RegionalPolicyStatement(RPS)identifiesthe 3.2.4 Fish the estuary. for native birds,islocateddirectlyoffshorefrom Kāpiti IslandNatureReserve, anislandsanctuary threat rankingof‘At Risk–Declining.’ were observed intheEstuaryarea.Thisbirdhasa early 2012,threefernbirds(Bowdleriapunctata) mudflats providessuitableforaginghabitat.In recorded attheEstuarywhereasmallareaof pied stilts(At Risk–Declining)whichhave been Reikorangi Bridgeand‘Oxbow Ramp’sites. is available forpartofthisperiodtheoriginal now. However, water qualitytrendinformation quality over thefulltimeperiodfrom1998until any meaningfulassessmentofchangesinwater Waikanae River EnvironmentPlan in1998,prevent testing methodssincethereleaseoforiginal as changesinanalyticallaboratoriesandsome The changeinmonitoringsites2003aswell Greenaway Road. for theprogramme)shiftedupstreamto tidally influencedandsodeemedinappropriate Mangaone Walkway andthelower site (whichwas relocated: theupperreachsitewas shiftedto SoE monitoringprogramme,bothsiteswere ‘Oxbow Ramp’.FollowingareviewoftheRivers at ReikorangiBridgeandinthelower reachesat 2003, thesesiteswere locatedintheupperreaches two sitesontheWaikanae River. Upuntil August monitors water qualityandecologicalhealthat GWRC’s EnvironmentalScienceDepartment 3.2.5 Declining’ duetodecliningnumbersnationally. native specieshave athreatstatusof‘At Risk– well astheintroducedbrowntrout.Nineof freshwater andonemarine/estuarinespecies) as a diverse populationofnative fish(fourteen records indicatethattheWaikanae River supports New ZealandFreshwater FishDatabase(NZFFD)

GWRC, 2013. DOC, 2014. Threat ratingsare according totheNZThreatClassification System. Water Quality 13 ) andseveral

19 PART A: Context / Key Features and Values 20 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy is notusedbyvehicles. The sharedpathonthenorthern sideoftheriver agreement fromtheFlood Protection Department. vehicles arenotpermittedwithoutspecial and horseridersalsousethisroad,butprivate machinery, toaccesstheriver. Walkers, cyclists by FloodProtectionvehicles, includingheavy also thehaulroad;anoperationalareaused On thesouthbank,muchofsharedpathis Waikanae ChristianHolidayPark. Centre downstreamofJimCookePark andatthe passes throughprivate landsuchastheEquestrian is publicland,however thereare placeswhereit SH 1andthecoast.Themajorityofsharedpath running eithersideoftheWaikanae River between There isasharedpathapproximately2.5mwide 3.3.1 the River Corridor. Figure 4showsrecreationalassetsinandnear significant amenityandrecreational values. (RPS) recognisetheWaikanae River forits Plan (RFP)andtheRegionalPolicyStatement of activitiesavailable. TheRegionalFreshwater by itsproximitytoresidentialareasandthevariety recreational value oftheriver corridorisenhanced space destinationofregionalsignificance.The on thesouthbankwillintimebecomeanopen Domain. ThenewKCDCRecreationreserve between thecoastandSH1atOtaihanga particularly inthenorthbankamenityareas resource forlocalresidentsandvisitors, The Waikanae River isapopularrecreational 3.3 difference inindexscoresbetween sites. cover, arelikelytoaccountforsomeofthe Changes inphysicalhabitat,includingperiphyton health indexscoresthanthelower reaches. although theupperreachestendtorecordhigher support healthymacroinvertebrate communities, In termsofecologicalhealth,bothmonitoringsites erection ofhealthwarning signsatbathingsites. Road during summer/autumn and often lead to the are aregularfeatureontheriver bedatGreenaway potentially toxiccyanobacteria (phormidiumspp) most otherrivers intheregion.However, matsof when comparedwiththatofthelower reachesof is alsoconsideredtobevery good-especially quality inthelower reachesatGreenaway Road and doesnotappeartohave deteriorated.Water the upperreachesremainsinexcellentcondition over thelastfive orso years, water qualityin Based ontheWaikanae River monitoringresults Recreational Values Bridleways (CWB) Cycleways, Walkways, and on fine weekends. The Waikanae River isavery populardestination 16 15 The Te Arawai Bridge per dayinwinter. 1,200 crossingsperdayinsummerandaround700 The OtaihangaSuspensionBridgereceives upto further 3kmdownstreamatOtaihangaDomain. 2 kmdownstreamofSH1,andthesecondisa newest istheTe Arawai footbridge,approximately There aretwofootbridgesacrosstheriver. The should beaware of). children cyclingonthenorthbank,whichriders and justafter3pmwhenthereisapulseofschool generally quietonweekdays, (exceptbefore9am end ofGreenaway Road,Waikanae. Therideis the beach.Parking andaccesstothisrideisoffthe 8 kmlongandrunsbetween Greenaway Roadand The Waikanae River Bridleway isapproximately managed bytheDepartmentofConservation. via anetworkoftracks,bridgesandboardwalks linked totheOtaihangaDomainandcoast The Waikanae EstuaryScientificReserve is Waikanae Beachsettlement. right oftheriver downstreamtoTutere Stinthe suspension bridgeandcontinuesonthetrue Peka crossestheWaikanae River attheOtaihanga Coast CycleRoutebetween Paraparaumu andPeka pathway fromCapeReingatotheBluff.TheKāpiti Araroa, NewZealand’sTrail–the3000kmlong The northbankoftheWaikanae River ispartofTe NZBridleways,2010. Tonkin andTaylor Ltd,2013. 15

Whitebaiting ispopularinthelower reaches • • • • • near thelower Waikanae River Corridor: The followingparksandreserves arelocated inor 3.3.2 river forpedestriansandcyclists. Suspension Bridgeprovidesaccessacrossthe a playgroundandtoilets.TheOtaihanga open spaceandfamilyamenitiesincluding Road. Thisisapassive reserve, providing Otaihanga DomainisaccessedfromMakora Pukekawa Reserve containspicnicfacilities. toilets andchangingfacilitiesavailable. a popularcommunitysportingfacility,with Avenue West andCharnwoodGrove. Thisis Jim CookePark isaccessedfromNimmo Otaihanga bycar. Arawai footbridge,andfromLancelotGrove in foot fromtheNorthbankviaTe recreationl areas.Theareacanbeaccessedby reserve includingsportsfieldsandpassive to bedeveloped intoasignificantrecreation the southbankoutsideofRiver Corridor, purchased 60hectaresofexturffarmlandon KCDC RecreationReserve –KCDChas children’s swings,andatoilet. Grove. Edgewater Park providespicnictables, Edgewater Park isaccessedviaFleetwood Parks andReserves 17 at theriver mouth. for kahawai andmulletinthelower reachesand There isalsosomenettingforflounderandfishing during theseasonfrom15 August –30November. Estuary ScientificReserve byGazettenotice, Whitebaiting ispermittedwithinthe Waikanae The river isalsopopularforwhitebaiting. busiest timebeingpre-Christmas. season extendsfromOctoberto April, withthe in thereachesdownstreamofSH1.Thefishing Horowhenua Regions.Theriver isvery accessible which attractsanglersfromthe Wellington and The Waikanae River supportsatroutfishery 3.3.3 Fishing River Corridor and recreationalassetsinneartheWaikanae Figure 5:Parks, reserves, paths,bridleways Imagecourtesyof KCDC. 17

21 PART A: Context / Key Features and Values 22 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy feature oftherecreationprogramme. River, particularlyforkayaking, isaprominent programmes andrecreation.UseoftheWaikanae holiday accommodation,conferencing,ministry guests annually.Themainservicesofferedinclude Rd. Covering 70acres(28ha),itreceives 12,000 is locatedbesidetheriver attheendofKauri The Waikanae Christian Holiday Park (‘El Rancho’) 3.3.6 equestrian experiences. Nimmo Ave West. TheCentreoffersarangeof is locatedonthenorthbankofriver at13b The Waikanae Equestrianand Vaulting Centre 3.3.5 Ka check, cleananddry Help prevent thespreadofdydimo– building whichcanaccommodatesmallboats. ramp locatedjustdownstreamoftheBoatShed website, theClubalsoholdsrightstoaboat for meetingsandfunctions. According toits Rd. Thisbuildingprovidesacommunityfacility The OtaihangaBoatingClubislocatedonMakora wind-surfing, andradio-controlledboatuse. rowing, andswimming.Thereislimitedyachting, activities: principallykayaking, tubing,canoeing, reaches forentrylevel andchildren’swater-based Waimanu Lagoonareasprovidesafeandsheltered The lower reachesoftheWaikanae River andthe 3.3.4 El RanchoHolidayCamp Vaulting Centre In-River Recreation - piti Equestrianand • • • • distinct reacheswithinthelower River Corridor: From alandscapeperspective, therearefour variation inthelandscapeofcoastalplain. also significantasadistinctfeaturethatprovides between theTararua Rangesandthecoast.Itis The Waikanae River isanimportantvisuallink 3.4 of occupancy. Subdivision inŌtaihanga. Pou aretraditionalsigns Kairākau’, was locatedatwhatisnowtheCamelot Waikanae beachfront. Theotherpou,named‘Te at whatisnowknownasPiopio Place, nearthe One ofthesepou,named‘Piopio’, was located that restedoneachsideoftheWaikanae River. ancestress was bestowed upon twopou,orpillars, further southtotheKāpitiregion.Thenameofthis Eventually PiopioTe Kairākau’speople migrated bring warfare between thetribestoanend. famous ToiKairākau,named Atakore, inorderto Pohokura decent,shemarriedadescendantofthe for Atiawa kiWhakaronatoiIwi.OfTe Tini-o- Piopio Te Kairākauisaprominentancestor raupatu, orconquest. began theestablishmentofresourcerightsthrough district, andonarrival there,themigrantscarefully other tribesthroughoutthejourneytoKāpiti (migrations) occurred. After muchconflictwith 1840s. Duringthistime,anumberofwaves ofheke now theWellington region,between the1820sand region throughtoTe Upoko-o-te-Ika,orwhatis spread itselffromTaranaki andtheCentralPlateau go backtotheKāhuiMoungacollective thathad The earliestaccountsof Atiawa kiWhakarongotai 3.5.1 3.5 estuarine habitatarethedominantinfluences. a wideEstuarywheretidalconditionsandan Estuary section:Theriverscape broadensinto rural land and itisvisuallyinfluencedbysurrounding and backwaters aremoreofanaturalfeature through lower lyinglandwherecreeks,streams Jim CookePark toOtaihanga:Thisreachpasses visual feature with remnantkohekoheforestadominant visually secluded,setdownbelowterraces SH 1toJimCookePark: Theriver is treatment plant environs immediatelydownstreamofthewater includes thegorgeandforestedterrace Water TreatmentPlant toSH1:Thisarea Landscape Values Tangata Whenua Values by Te AtiawakiWhakarongotai Historical SettlementofWaikanae 18

of significance. all themahingakaisitesandspecies Environmental ManagementPlan thatdocuments ki Whakarongotaiareseekingtodevelop anIwi source kaiandothernaturalresources.Te Atiawa and isstillanimportantareawithinwhichto been akeysourceoftraditionalfoodhistorically, Waikanae River Environmentastheriver has There arearangeofmahingakaiareasinthe 3.5.3 20 19 18 relationship totheWaikanae area. the river symbolisesTe Atiawa kiWhakarongotai’s This simpleproverb capturedbythenamingof “This ismypeaceandhumility” “Ko tōkuwaikanaetanga tēnei” following proverb: of thisproverb isalsopersonifiedbythe a-Nanaia was ‘staringinamazement’.Theessence from thereflectionofstarsandmoon.Haunui- was thattheeyes oftheKanaewere gleaming or Mullet,swimminginshoals.Whatstartledhim the river waters, henoticedmyriadsofKanae, in theskies.WhenHaunui-a-Nanaiastaredinto night inwhichthestarsandmoonwere prevalent was crossingtheriver. Itwas duringacloudless This proverb recallswhenHaunui-a-Nanaia “Staring inamazement,henceWaikanae” “Ka ngahaengāpī,koWaikanae” has twoproverbial meanings.Thefirst: serene natureofthisarea.Theterm“Waikanae” The namingoftheWaikanae River symbolisesthe Whanganui toWellington includingmanyrivers. named various tributariesandlandmarksfrom a-Nanaia iswell-known astheancestorwho ancestral canoesofKurahaupōand Aotea. Haunui- a-Nanaia, whohasadirectrelationshipwiththe was thejourneyofanancestornamedHaunui- Preceding theTe Tini-o-Pohokurasettlement 3.5.2 AtiawakiWhakarongotai, 2014. AtiawakiWhakarongotai, dateunknown. AtiawakiKapiti(2014). Resources Mahinga KaiandOtherNatural The namingoftheWaikanae River 20

3.5.4 Wa is discovered. should befollowed ifanarchaeologicalsite discovered. TheGWHeritageDiscovery Protocol may beadditionalsiteswhichhave notyet been follows. Thisisnotanextensive list,andthere significance. Moredetailonsomeofthesesites known wāhitapusitesandareasofcultural Figure 6(below)showsthelocationofsome Whakarongotai. information pleasecontactKCDCorTe Atiawa ki with KCDCtoidentifywahi tapusites.Formore Te Atiawa kiWhakarongotai(TAKW) areworking on historicheritage. some ofthesesitescanbefoundinthenextsection sites andfoodcultivation areas.Moredetailabout include urupa(grave sites)aswell ashistoricpā especially inthelower reachesoftheriver. These located inorneartheWaikanae River Corridor, There areanumberofknownWāhiTapu sites 21 Figure 6:SomesitesofMāoriculturalsignificance Ngaia,2011(image courtesyofBoffa MiskellandBen Ngaia). Waikanae RiverEnvironment Significance AssociatedWiththe - hi Tapu andOtherSitesof 21

23 PART A: Context / Key Features and Values 24 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy this typesurvive tothisday. ferry innmakesitvery rare.Fewotherbuildings of (register number4967).Itsearliesthistoryasa very significant,andisaCategory2Historic Place Although muchaltered, Arapawaiti ishistorically accommodation totravelers onthebeachhighway. of theriver crossingandprovidedfood by TomWilson in1848.Itwas hisbaseaskeeper Inn, aswell as Arapawaiti, thehousewas built building intheKāpitiregion.KnownasFerry near Arapawaiti Pā,istheoldestsurviving Close tothesouthbank 3.6.2 Kaitangata andNgātiRahiri. one timeacultivation siteofTuhata andthoseof Court MinuteBooksstatingthat Arapawaiti was at Many peoplearerecordedintheMāoriLand attraction forthoselivinginthisarea. with tidalinfluencewouldhave beenamajor side oftheWaikanae River Mouth. A richestuary Arapawaiti was asignificantareaonthesouthern Kurukanga, Rangitauhuku,Rangiwhakaruru. Miti, Te Hore,Te RangihaukuandTe Aunga, Te There were othersalsolivinghereatthistime:Te Arapawaiti was apāofthepeopleNgātiRukao. at thetimeofbattleKuititangain1839, The MāoriLandCourtMinutebooksreportthat an urupāfor‘Māorileaders’ Cemetery Reserve. Localhistorystatesthat itwas This sitehasrecentlybeencalledthe Arapawaiti 3.6.3 3.6.1 Arapawaiti Tapu Area. Kāpiti’s oldestbuilding,andtheTakamore Wahi to theRiver CorridorincludetheFerryInn, Other sitesofhistoricalsignificanceinoradjacent Pikehō, andŪpokoteKaia. side oftheriver includedWaimea, Waikanae, Kaiwarehou andotherpā.Pāsitesonthenorthern Te Uruhi,Kenakena, Arapawaiti, Kaitoenga, Pā sitesonthesouthernsideofriver included 3.6 3.6.4 established afortified PāatKaitoenga. to MerePomare theOtarauachiefEruini Te Tupe cultivated inthe areaofKaitoenga. And, according Tamihana Te Karuexplainingthathisparents Native LandCourt evidencewas providedby slightly inlandfrom Arapawaiti Pā. the Waikanae River. Itissaidtohave beenlocated settlements adjacentto,and onthesouthernsideof Kaitoenga was oneofanumber Ati Awa descendants ofThomasWilson. Urupa (cemetery)isthefamilyurupaof Historic Heritage Arapawaiti (FerryInn) Arapawaiti CemeteryReserve Kaitoenga Pa 22 - Pa 28 of theWaikanae Estuary,

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26 24 25 . The Arapawaiti

area (registernumber7263). Kuititanga. burials ofkoiwitangata;andthe1839battle Te the Te Ati Awa cheiftainess,Pohe;themultiple the deityRongomai;murderandburialof with thesite,includingassociation Many significantevents andpeopleareassociated important culturalsitesontheKāpitiCoast. The Takamore Wahi Tapu areaisoneofthemost 3.6.7 3.6.6 Waikanae River. where theMangakotukutukuStreamenters Pukekawa Reserve. Itisonthewestern sideto the river nearlyoppositetothecurrent-day settlement. Thissiteisonthesouthernsideof Waikanae River, eastofthecurrentOtaihanga Kaiwarehou sitsonthesouthernbankof 3.6.5 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 and onlyusedforburials. The sitewas subsequentlyconsideredwahi tapu throughout theNgahuruhurucultivation grounds. in battle were buriedwheretheyfellandscattered known asNgahuruhuru.Thebodiesofthosekilled site, locatedwithinthelargecultivation ground and Te Ati Awa. Itwas centred ontheWaimea Pa Kuititanga, was foughtbetween NgatiRaukawa In October1839,asignificantbattleknownas Te register/details/4967. ibid. Heritage NewZealand, 2012. Taken fromTe AtiAwa kiWhakarongotai,2014b. Kaimanawawharehou, andothervariations. Also speltinplacesasKai-ware-hou, Kaiwharehou, Adapted fromTe AtiAwa kiWhakarongotai,2014b. KCDC, nodate. Adapted fromTe AtiAwa kiWhakarongotai,2014b. Heritage NZ,1999.Arapawaiti.http://www.heritage.org.nz/the- KCDC ,nodate. Adapted fromTe AtiAwa kiWhakarongotai,2014b. the samename. Arapaoaiti. ApointonthenorthwesternendofKapitiIslandhas Many variationsinspellingexist:Arapauaiti,Arapaoiti, Takamore Wahi Tapu Area Ngahuruhuru andWaimeha Pa Kaiwarehou Pa 32 Takamore isaregisteredWahi Tapu - 29 31

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Floodplain ManagementPlan Waikanae River, refertotheWaikanae River management activitiesassociatedwiththe For moreinformationaboutfloodrisk build-up ofgravel inthelower reaches. through theriver systemandthedeposition managing thecontinuoustransportofgravel damage causedbyperiodicfloodevents, and of adynamicriver system.Theseincluderepairing GWRC arerequiredtorespondthechallenges operations andmaintenanceworksundertakenby Plans, andannualworkprogrammes.The Council’s LongTerm Plan, Asset Management reflected anddeveloped furtherintheRegional the floodrisk).Inturn,theserequirementsare as movingpeopleandinfrastructureaway from within theriver, andotheroff-river works(such construction ofstopbanks,operationalworks These measuresincludecapitalworkssuchas which itwillbeachieved. the communityandoutlinesmeasuresby flooding thathasbeendeterminednecessaryby document establishesthelevel ofprotectionfrom and agreementwiththelocalcommunities.This This FMPwas developed throughconsultation (WFMP) (Wellington RegionalCouncil,1997). in theWaikanae FloodplainManagementPlan protection workintheWaikanae River iscontained The overarching visionandstrategyforflood Wellington Region. assuming responsibilityforthisfunctioninthe Greater Wellington RegionalCouncil(GWRC) 34 33 with rivers isenshrinedinlegislation requirement toaddressthefloodhazardassociated infrastructure thatisvalued at$4.8M.The the floodplainisprotectedbyfloodprotection the Waikanae River foralmost60years, andtoday Flood protectionworkshave beenundertakenin 3.7

GWRC,1997. ‘natural hazards’include flooding. 30 oftheResource ManagementAct1991(RMA).Bydefinition, and avoidanceor mitigation ofnaturalhazardsunder section Conservation andRiversControlAct 1941(sections10and126), preventing offloodanderosiondamage undertheSoil GWRC hasstatutoryresponsibilityfor theminimisingand Activities Flood RiskManagement 34 . 33 withthe • • • • • • • • • the River Corridorinclude: described above, infrastructureandserviceswithin In additiontothefloodprotectionworksalready 3.8 35 AdaptedfromTonkin andTaylor, 2013. the Waikanae River eastofOtaihangaRoad. Raumati tojustnorthofPeka Peka Rd willcross extending fromjustsouthofPoplar Ave, involving anew4lane,16kmlongmotorway The newMacKaystoPeka Peka Expressway, • • • Underground servicesat: and theOxbowonnorthernbank. providing accessbetween OtaihangaDomain The Otaihangafootbridgeover theriver, in 2009 Cooke MemorialPark, whichwas constructed The Te Arawai footbridgeupstreamofJim approximately 35m(onthenorthbank) The distancetotheriver oftheclosestpylon is Nimmo Avenue EastandNimmo Avenue West. transmission linescrosstheriver between Two setsofTranspower highvoltage bank immediatelywest oftheSH1bridge Removals Ltdhousestoragesite,onthesouth The DriconconcreteplantandGoldCoast lanes wideandapproximately70mlong downstream oftherailbridge,whichistwo The SH1bridge,approximately30m approximately 50mlong The NorthIslandMainTrunk railway bridge, Bridge, andaccessedviaReikorangiRd approximately 1200mupstreamoftheSH1 on thetruerightbankofWaikanae River The Waikanae Water TreatmentPlant, located XS 155gas&telecommunications. XS 110to120–telecommunications telecommunications XS 070–power, sewer and Infrastructure andServices 35

25 PART A: Context / Key Features and Values 26 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy 37 36 Kohekohe ForestRemnantin theRiver Corridor modified landscape. stones’ orislandsofnaturalhabitatina habitat fornative animalsandform‘stepping they provideseedsourcesfornative plants, are valuable totheecologyofareabecause All remainingareasofindigenousvegetation long-term viabilityofthehabitatoverall. habitats, which reduces the diversity of species and remnants aresmallandisolatedfromothernatural have importantconservation value. Mostofthe remain andmostofthese,byvirtuetheirrarity, Only afewremnantsofthesehabitatsnow habitats occurred. and onhigherground,othertypesofdryland extensive areasofswamp forestandwetlands, than itdoestoday.Theriver systemincluded floodplain hadamuchgreaterdiversity ofhabitats Before humanintervention, theWaikanae River 4.1 River environment. considered inthemanagementofWaikanae This sectionidentifieskeyissuesthatshouldbe 4. Issues efforts toprotecttheseareasarevital. urban landscapesinthearea.Consequently, the variety andqualityoftherural Park,1999. Boffa MiskellLtd,1992. and Habitats of RemnantVegetation Fragmentation andloss 36 Theyalsohelpenhance 37

affected by water pollution. Streams. TheMazengarbStreamhasalsobeen such astheWaimanu, Muaupoko andMazengarb have affectedtheecologicalqualityoftributaries vegetation andmodificationofstreamalignments The removal andmodificationofriparian habitat forinanga(whitebait)spawning. The lower reachesofthe river provideimportant indigenous species,andundercutbanksfortrout). and indigenousspecies;wetlands, backwaters for variation (eg,poolsandripplesforbothnative vegetation, spawninghabitatand This meansmaintainingfishpassage,riparian needs tobeprovidedforwithinthecatchment. Habitat forbothtroutandindigenousfishspecies Risk –Declining.’ in theWaikanae River have athreatstatusof‘At Nine ofthenative freshwater fishspeciesfound • • • • demonstrated bythefollowingcriteria: ecosystems,as a numberofsignificant[freshwater] The Waikanae River hasbeenidentifiedashaving 4.2 39 38 • • • • following reasons: Riparian vegetation isimportantforthe 4.3 vegetation intheWaikanae River Corridor. involved invarious projectsrestoringriparian Community groups,CouncilsandDOCareall Boffa Miskell Ltd,1992. GWRC2013. environment only). Containing Inangaspawninghabitat(estuarine species inthecatchment Having habitatforsixormoreindigenousfish species inthecatchment indigenousfish Having habitatforthreatened indigenous vegetation cover of A catchmentwithahighpercentage other animalsincludingbirds. invertebrates andshelter, foodandnestingfor It providescover andfoodforwater and insectscanusetomove between It providesacorridorofvegetation whichbirds trapping siltandothercontaminants tothequalityofwater,It contributes by spread peakloadflows entering rivers andstreams,thushelpingto It slowstherateofrun-offandtherefore water Fish Habitat Loss ofRiparianVegetation 38

natural regenerationtooccur Controlling weeds suchastradescantiaallows

order toprevent erosionoftheriverbank edges. Regional Council’sFloodProtectionDepartmentin are plantedintentionallybyGreaterWellington found intheRiver Corridor. However, these Willows arethemostabundantexotictreespecies • • • native flora: according totheirhabitandimpacton Weeds canbedividedintothreecategories mature andregeneratingnative forest. abundant andtheyarehavingamarkedeffecton species theirdistributioniswidespreadand of severe impact.Inaddition,formanyofthese many areinternationallyrecognisedasweeds than 60speciesofidentifiedecological weeds, corridor oftheWaikanae River. Therearemore indigenous native vegetation intheecological Ecological weeds aresignificantthreatstothe 4.4 Weeds 46 45 44 43 42 41 40

Urlich,2014. PerrieandCockeram, 2010;Perrie,2009;2007. Notethatthelower qualityratingintheupperreaches GWRC2012/2013. Warr, 2002a.;Milne andPerrie,2005. MilneandPerrie,2005. Warr, 2002a. is duetonaturally occurringfactors. River Corridor. restoration workthatistakingplaceinthe native speciesandthusnegatively affectthe pseudopanax hybrids,thatcandisplacelocally karaka, puriri,karo,northernlacebark,and several non-localnative speciesthatsuchas buddleija, andbrushcherry.Therearealso species arebrushwattle, sycamore,poplar, native species.Someoftheworstweedy tree have theabilitytoshoulderinanddisplace push intonative bushoropenhabitats.They Woody weeds aretreeandshrubspeciesthatcan pampas grass agapanthus, artilleryplant,arumlily,and and nasturtium.Otherspeciespresentinclude the Waikanae River aremontbretia,tradescantia abundant exoticgroundcover weed specieson species intotheunderstorey.Themost establishment andthusrecruitmentofcanopy the forestfloorandprevent native seedling Groundcovers suchastradescantiacancarpet Japanese honeysuckle morning glory,capeivy,everlasting pea, and high impactincludebananapassionfruit,blue and Germanivy.Otherspeciespresentof River Corridorareconvolvulus,blackberry, abundant exoticclimberspeciespresentinthe as poseathreattorestorationefforts.Themost native vegetation eventually killingitaswell and blackberrycansmothersuffocate Climbers/ suchasbananapassionfruit ramblers 46

27 PART A: Context / Key Features and Values 4.5 Pest Animals 4.6 Climate Change

Pest animals have a huge detrimental impact In the medium to long term, climate change effects on the ecological integrity of the Waikanae have the potential to increase both the frequency River Corridor. Possums destroy native forest and magnitude of natural hazard events that through browsing and have an impact on the already occur in the area. fledging success of native bird species. Cats, Increased intensity of rainfall events will put rodents, and mustelids (stoats, ferrets and weasels) pressure on stormwater systems and flood risk prey on native bird species, native invertebrates, management works. Higher rainfall may also and lizards. Hedgehogs have a strong impact result in higher rates of sedimentation at river on native invertebrates. Hares and rabbits can mouths and in estuaries, increasing the flood

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae eliminate palatable plant species within forests, risk in those areas by raising the base level of the and they undermine young native plantings in riverbed.47 Increased sedimentation will also affect restorative plantings. the ecology of those areas. In 2012 GWRC, in partnership with KCDC and A major consequence of climate change is sea Transpower ‘Greenlines Initiative,” set up a level rise. In estuary environments, as sea level possum and predator network along the River rises it increases the volume and peak velocity of Corridor from SH 1 overbridge to the estuary. water flowing in and out of the estuary on each This network consists of possum bait stations and tidal cycle. This can lead to erosion, sediment predator traps. The local community has taken deposition and shoreline changes in response to on the maintenance of these baiting and trapping the increased flows and flow rates. It can also push lines and these efforts should have a big positive up water table levels, impeding drainage of surface impact on native flora and fauna in the corridor. and storm water, leading to increasing incidences Rabbit control is also carried out by both GWRC of flooding in low lying areas. This effect will be and KCDC. magnified during storm events when high river levels and storm tides cause floodwaters to back upstream. In the long term, these effects could lead to permanent inundation in some areas.48 Climate change will have impacts on the distribution of species. The establishment of a mountains to sea ecological corridor provides opportunities for species to naturally adapt by migrating to more suitable habitat as sea levels and temperatures increase. Climate change is also expected to have impacts on weed and pest animal species, which need to be better understood in the context of the restoration of the Waikanae River Corridor.

47 Ministry for the Environment, 2010. 48 Dawe, 2014. 28 ecological, recreational,visual, andculturaleffects. risk managementmethods thatlimitadverse increasing communityinterest intheuseofflood carried outischanging,withGWRCstaffnoting the way thatfloodriskmanagement activities are a result,expectationsofthecommunityregarding more popularplaceforrecreationandleisure. As access hasbeenenhanced,itbecomeamuch As theRiver Corridorhasbeenrestoredandpublic adverse effectsontheenvironmentorother values. Some river managementactivitiescanhave 4.8 seating alongtheRiver Corridor. There isanidentifiedneedformoretoiletsand Illegal motorbikeaccessisanongoingproblem. in placeforfloodriskmanagementpurposes. holes onthedownstreamsideofrockgroynesput however, opportunitiestocreatenewswimming of itsfloodriskmanagementworks.Thereare ends upfillinginexistingswimmingholesaspart vulnerable toscouring. As aresult,GWRCoften the outsideofriver bendswherethebankis the river. Swimmingholesnaturallyoccur on Dense willowplantingscanrestrictaccessto horses asshowninfigure5. There areanumberoffordingpointssuitablefor and cycliststhrough. riders tomove offthetrackandletpedestrians dense, regularbaysshouldbeprovidedforhorse Where vegetation onbothsidesofthetrackis riders andcyclistshave clearvisionahead. shared pathandkepttrimmedbacksothathorse Vegetation shouldbeplantedbackfromthe the differentusers. situation createsapotentialforconflictbetween Flood ProtectionDepartmentvehicles. This walkers, runners,horseriders,cyclistsand On thesouthbank,haulroadisusedby provided toenhanceaccess. desired. TheTe Arawai footbridgeatJCPhasbeen of theriver onbothsidesifacircularrouteis or acommitmenttowalk nearlytheentirelength is limited,necessitatingreturnbythesameroute the southbankwalkways andcycleways access many linkagesintonearbystreets.However, on river isgenerallygoodonthenorthsidewith At present,walking andcyclingaccesstothe 4.7 Activities of FloodRiskManagement Managing AdverseEffects Access andRecreation

resource consent conditions activities isgoverned bytheCode ofPracticeand The management oftheeffectsfloodprotection and thecommunity. that includesconsultationwithtangatawhenua the CodeofPractice,throughanagreedprocess review whichinturnwillleadtoadjustments of thismonitoringwillbesubjecttoevaluation and extraction) intherivers itmanages.Theoutcomes of floodprotectionactivities(suchasgravel and monitoringoftheenvironmentaleffects GWRC alsoproposesaprogrammeofresearch 4.8.2 in theCodeofPractice. risk managementactivities,astheseareaddressed comprehensively addresstheeffectsofflood Note thatthisStrategydoesnotattemptto will informallfloodriskmanagementactivities. new CodeofPracticewillberegion-wideand currently updatingtheCodeofPractice.The at timesenhancetheriver’s values. GWRCis a greateruseoftechniquesthatpreserve and time andacommonthemeinthisevolutionis Flood riskmanagementtechniquesevolve over for GWRC’sfloodriskmanagementactivities. Strategy provideanenvironmentalframework the COP,resourceconsentconditionsandthis of floodriskmanagementactivities.Together, agreed methodsforlimitingtheadverse effects maintenance works.Thisdocumentoutlines Practice (COP),forroutineoperationsand GWRC FloodprotectionproducesaCodeof 4.8.1 flood protectionactivities. framework formanagingeffectsassociatedwith planning documentsprovidethehigh-level Resource Management Act (1991)andassociated to protectorenhanceenvironmentalvalues. The community fromfloodingwilloutweigh theneed are situationswheretheneedtoprotect river remainsasignificanthazardandthere However, itisimportanttorememberthatthe Research andMonitoring The CodeofPractice(COP)

29 PART A: Context / Issues 4.9 Co-ordinating Flood Risk Management and Restoration in the River Corridor

GRWC’s Flood Protection department need to be able to carry out work in and around the river in order to maintain the level of flood protection for the Waikanae and Otaihanga communities agreed in the WFMP. There are also important flood protection assets such as stopbanks, river corridor Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae flow paths49 and survey sightlines which should be kept clear of trees. Therefore it is important to plan restoration and environmental enhancement work in the river corridor in consultation with GWRC’s Flood Protection Department. This helps ensure that environmental enhancement activities do not undermine flood risk management assets. Although there has not been a major flood event for some time, it is important that flood protection assets are maintained, so when a flood does occur the system designed to protect the community works effectively. It is also important to recognise that there will be instances where protecting the community from flood risk will outweigh the enhancement of other values at particular locations. Appendix 1 contains more information about co- ordinating flood risk management and restoration work in the River Corridor.

49 See Appendix 1. 30 PART B: A Framework for Protecting and Improving the River Environment This section includes the Vision and Objectives for the Waikanae River environment and general methods for achieving that vision. This section is applicable to the Waikanae River, the River Corridor, and in some instances, the wider catchment.

31 5. Vision and Objectives

5.1 Vision

The agreed vision that this Strategy sets out for the Waikanae River environment is: To restore and maintain the ecological integrity of the Waikanae River environment while providing for its sustainable use and enjoyment Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae by the community. 5.2 Objectives The Waikanae River as a 'mountains to sea' ecological 5.2.1 Maintain the Waikanae corridor and greenbelt River Corridor as a greenbelt and a ‘mountains to sea’ 5.2.2 Encourage Informal, Passive, ecological corridor. and Unstructured Recreational The Waikanae River Corridor is one of several Opportunities greenbelts or ‘green corridors’ in the Kāpiti The Waikanae River and River Corridor is highly district. A greenbelt is an area of undeveloped valued as a recreation resource. It provides the land that is set aside near an urban area to provide community with the opportunity to undertake a open space and passive recreational opportunities, range of recreational activities in a natural setting. amongst other goals. Greenbelts may also protect An objective of this Strategy is to continue to significant native ecosystems. The maintenance provide for and enhance recreational use, and and enhancement of the Waikanae River as a in particular, to promote passive and unstructured greenbelt was a key objective of the 1999 Strategy, activities such as picnicking, swimming, walking, and continues to be a key objective of this strategy. fishing, horse riding, and cycling within the The 1999 Strategy also discussed the Waikanae River Corridor. River as part of an ecological corridor. This is also Where possible the separation of pedestrians from reflected in KCDC’s Open Space Strategy.50 cyclists, vehicles, and horses is encouraged. An ecological corridor connects significant ecological areas together. The Waikanae River can 5.2.3 Recognise and Provide for be understood as an important ecological corridor Kaitiakitanga and Tangata Whenua Values and Objectives51 as it provides a linkage between the Tararua Ranges and the Waikanae Estuary Scientific Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai sees the river from Reserve, which is connected to the Kāpiti Marine its origins in the tears of Ranginui and in the Reserve and the Kāpiti Island Nature Reserve formation of streams in the Tararua Mountains. (see Figure 4). Management of the river should include consideration of the wider catchment, including Managing the Waikanae River as a whole the river's natural floodplain, its sister tributary, ecosystem that is connected with other ecosystems the Waimeha, as well as its flow into the Tasman within the catchment is an important component Sea (Te Tai o Rehua). of the ecological corridor concept. This was highlighted by tangata whenua in response to the As well as being connected to the wider 1999 Strategy. environment, the Waikanae River has complex and ancient associations with tipuna of its many As a central ecological corridor, the Waikanae occupying hapu. The health and wellbeing of River can provide a basis for developing a network the river is seen as being connected to the health of connected habitats over the wider catchment and wellbeing of the people of Te Atiawa ki in the longer term. This would improve the Whakarongotai. ecology of the floodplain and river, providing the conditions for more native plant and animal species to enter.

50 KCDC 2012. 51 This section provided by Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai. 32 and enhanced. that existwithintheriver systemareprotected which ecologicalandethnobiologicalrelationships genealogy. Thiscanbemeasuredbythedegreeto Whakapapa: natural characteroftheRiver Corridor. the waahi tapuwithintheriver systemandtothe can bemeasuredbytheprotectionofferedbothto Wairua: Spiritual well-being, peace, reverence. This through arelationshipwiththeriver system. people cangainsustenanceandsocialcohesion on theriver systemandthedegreetowhichlocal tangata whenuahave accesstodecision-making This canbemeasuredbythedegreetowhich Mana: Autonomy, security,self-determination. improve theriver system. enables thecommunitytobetterprotectand generation ofnewknowledge andresearchthat property connectedtotheriver system,andthe and respectforknowledge andintellectual This canbemeasuredbythedegreeofprotection Māramatanga: Knowledge, analysis,creativity. quality, forestcompositionetc. variety ofvariables includingbiodiversity, water such assoilandrock.Thiscanbemeasuredbya which existswithinitincludinginanimateobjects pertains toboththewholeriver systemandallthat Mauri: Life,health,vitality,andenergy.This from akaitiakiperspective. guidance astowhatoutcomesmaybeimportant an exhaustive listbutinsteadshouldprovide environment. Thisshouldnotbeconsidered how theyarerelevant totheWaikanae River practice ofkaitiakitangaseekstoupholdand The followingisalistofkeyvalues whichthe the community. the social,cultural,andeconomicoutcomesof of theecologicalhealthriver systemwith Kaitiakitanga seekstointegratethemanagement guardianship inaccordancewithtikangaMāori. and corridor.Kaitiakitangaisthepracticeof practice kaitiakitangaover theRiver environment gives themtherightsandresponsibilitiesto mana whenuaoftheWaikanae River Catchment The statusofTe Atiawa kiWhakarongotai as The naturalconnectionsand

Waikanae River River Corridor. consistent withtheinformalcharacterof should bemaintainedtoamorenaturalstandard, Therefore, partsoftheRiver Corridorwalkway Corridor tobecomehighlydeveloped parkland. the Waikanae River, theydonotwant theRiver The communityvalues theruralcharacterof • • • • are soughtforthisareaare: pressure isgreatest.Thelandscapequalitiesthat landscape onthecoastalplainwheredevelopment The Strategyisprimarilyconcernedwiththeriver variation inthelandscapeofcoastalplain. also significantasadistinctfeaturethatprovides between theTararua rangesandthecoast.Itis The Waikanae River isanimportantvisuallink 5.2.4 Minimal structuraldevelopment. rural landscape spaces andvisuallinkswiththesurrounding Variation, withamixofenclosedbush,open unbroken naturalfeature Sufficient vegetationtoenhancetheriver asan habitats andlandforms A largeproportionofindigenousvegetation, Varied Landscape Maintain aNaturaland 33 PART B: A Framework forPART Protecting B: A Framework and Improving for Protecting the River andEnvironment Improving / theMethods River Environmentfor Improving / theVision River and Environment Objectives 6. Methods for Improving the River Environment

This section details a number of actions that can be taken to improve and manage the river environment in line with the vision and objectives of this strategy. 6.1 Community Involvement Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae Community involvement in the management of the Waikanae River is crucial for long-term environmental protection and enhancement. Methods to enable this involvement are: • Councils and DOC to engage regularly with community groups working in the River Corridor and Estuary • GWRC to organise an annual walkover of the River Corridor to provide community groups, tangata whenua and the wider public an opportunity to inspect and discuss flood protection activities and other relevant matters. Friends of the Waikanae River Native Plant Nursery 6.1.1 Friends of the Waikanae River To ensure continued community involvement in 6.1.2 Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai the implementation of the Waikanae Floodplain Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai are the iwi that hold management Plan, GWRC established a mana wheuna status over the Waikanae River. community group called Friends of the Waikanae Subsequently they have a kaitiaki role in relation to River (FWR)52. The vision of the FWR is that the the Waikanae River. Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai Waikanae River and its environment is enhanced are represented by Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai and maintained in optimum condition for all to Charitable Trust. enjoy. To this end the FWR undertake restoration The Greater Wellington Regional Council and work, including operating a community nursery KCDC have established processes and principles to produce eco-sourced native seedlings which are for working with tangata whenua, and these planted in the River Corridor. should guide tangata whenua the implementation FWR is an advisory group. It has a Memorandum of this Strategy in regards to engagement with Te of Understanding with GWRC and a Terms of Atiawa ki Whakarongotai. Reference, which outlines the relationship with Greater Wellington Regional Council and the GWRC and functions of the group. FWR acts iwi of the Wellington region, including Te as a channel of communication between the Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, have a Memorandum community and the statutory bodies responsible of Partnership (MOP). The MOP establishes a for managing the river. GWRC Flood Protection structural and operational relationship between staff assist with the co-ordination of the group and the Council and tangata whenua. This relationship meetings are held on an agreed basis. is in the context of the Treaty of Waitangi, Te The group is reviewed every three years. Tiriti o Waitangi, and the legislation which The review looks at how things are working gives functions, duties, and powers to Greater and ways that GWRC can best support the Wellington, including the Resource Management efforts of the group. Act. The MOP is built on and replaces the Charter of Understanding. Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai have made a number of specific recommendations relating to enhancing their participation in the management of the Waikanae River, these are contained in section 1.6.

52 GWRC, 2013. 34 Key Recommendations–CommunityInvolvement River Corridor. discuss issuesregardingrestorationworkonthe It alsoprovidestheopportunitytoidentifyand everyone isinformedaboutanyproposedworks. for operationsontheWaikanae River andensures The walkover isrequiredaspartoftheconsent members ofthecommunityandtangatawhenua. Corridor withKCDC,FWR,DOC,interested GWRC holdsanannual‘walkover’ oftheRiver 6.1.3 Te Atiawa kiWhakarongotaiplantingday actions containedinSection1.6. of implementingtherecommended Whakarongotai toidentify means Engage withTe Atiawaki Waikanae River. recognises theirrole askaitiakiforthe Whakarongotai inawaythat Engage withTe Atiawaki enhancement works. flood protection andenvironmental and tangatawhenuatodiscuss river withtheFWR,community Hold anannualwalkoverofthe and GWRC. Reference (TOR)betweentheFWR Understanding (MOU)andTerms of as setoutintheMemorandumof Continue toworkwiththeFWR Recommended Action River Corridor Annual Walkover ofthe Tangata whenua KCDC GWRC Tangata whenua KCDC GWRC Tangata whenua FWR GWRC FWR GWRC Parties Involved To Sea’EcologicalCorridor Which ProvideFor A Greenbelt And ‘Mountains Key Recommendations:MaintainingLandUses in theRiver Corridorisnowdiscouraged. River Corridorhasprogressed,anddevelopment terms ofwhatisappropriatedevelopment inthe and oflowdensity.Ten years on,thethinkingin Corridor, providedthisdevelopment was discrete concept didnotexcludedevelopment intheRiver In 1999,theStrategystatedthatgreenbelt 6.2.1 • • • • providing foragreenbelt.Theseinclude: outlined intheStrategytomaintainlanduses Councils have implementedanumberofmethods Since the1999Strategywas published,the 6.2 River Corridor. Strategy forproperties within the Use LIMStoreference the Waikanae River. properties withinandadjacent tothe Plan features layerandon LIMS for ecological significanceonGISDistrict Continue toidentifysitesof These areas are intheRiverCorridor. habitats withothernaturalhabitats. wildlife corridorstoconnectremnant land –forthepurposeofestablishing by acquiringstrategicallylocated Provide forfuture habitatrestoration legally protected. with ratesremission forareas thatare entered intocovenantswithCouncil Support landownerswhohave way ofalandusecovenant. commit tolong-termprotection by ownership, encouragelandownersto Where habitatsremain inprivate Recommended Action Land InformationMemorandums(LIMS). Public landownership District planprovisionssuch asruralzoning Land usecovenants to Sea’EcologicalCorridor Greenbelt and‘Mountains Which Provide ForA Maintaining LandUses River Corridor Avoiding Developmentinthe KCDC KCDC GWRC KCDC KCDC GWRC KCDC Parties Involved

35 PART B: A Framework for Protecting and Improving the River Environment / Methods for Improving the River Environment 6.3 Protecting and Restoring Indigenous Vegetation In this way, the Strategy recognises that while restoration efforts should aim to restore and and Habitat enhance natural ecosystems that have been lost or damaged by human activity, rather than Within the River Corridor there are a number of create new ecosystems, these efforts must also sites where ecological restoration is taking place. take into account a range of present day factors. This restoration work supports the objective of These include the presence of non-indigenous enhancing the Waikanae River as a greenbelt and species in the catchment, and the use of the River ‘a mountains to sea’ ecological corridor. Corridor for recreational purposes and flood risk Appendix 1 provides general guidance on management activities. However the overarching restoration in the Waikanae River Corridor, and goal of restoration should still be to restore the Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae Appendix 2 provides guidance on selecting “indigenous values that have prevailed in the appropriate plant species for restoration of the ecosystem’s historical ecology”. River Corridor, based on the reaches identified in Part C of this Strategy. 6.3.1 Restoration: What Are We Aiming to Restore? The Ecological Strategy53 notes that “the essential meaning of restoration is a return to a previous condition.” However it also highlights the fact that it is unrealistic to attempt to re-establish the precise natural environment of the Waikanae River that existed prior to human habitation. The Strategy notes that ecological good practice for the restoration of the Waikanae River must recognise: • “The indigenous values that have prevailed in the ecosystem’s historical ecology and thus continue to shape any consideration of its intrinsic values, notably its ecological integrity There are many factors to consider when planning a restoration project • That as a River Corridor whose biota has been substantially re-constituted by exotic species, it now functions differently than it did when it 6.3.2 Selecting Restoration Sites was predominantly an indigenous ecosystem, The Ecological Strategy identifies priority areas for notably its ecological processes of seed restoration, based primarily on locations with high dispersal, competition, etc ecological values. These are generally reflected in Part C of this Strategy. • The various ecological realities that will continue because the River Corridor ecosystem In addition to the existing ecological value of a is part of a cultural landscape.” restoration site, factors which may make a site attractive from a restoration perspective include it’s accessibility for planting and maintenance work, its proximity to other sites, it’s cultural history, and the opportunity the site provides to enhance of the amenity values of the River Corridor. Health and safety and the avoidance of conflicts with flood risk management activities are also important considerations when selecting a site. Appendix 1 contains guidance on avoiding conflicts with flood risk management activities when planning a restoration project.

53 Park, 1999. 36 protection purposes. if thewillowsarenolonger requiredforflood Willows canalsobereplacedbynative species the willows. flood protectionactivities,suchasmaintenanceof native plantsmaybedamagedbyfloodsand circumstances itshouldberecognisedthatthe native speciesinsomelocations.However insuch opportunities totrialinter-plantingwillowswith front-line ofdefenceforriverbank edges,thereare part inprovidingfloodriskmanagementasa Although exoticspeciessuchaswillowsplaya 6.3.4 appendices 1and2. list ofsuggestedspeciesforeachreach,see For moreinformationoneco-sourcinganda (see Figure4). sea’ ecologicalcorridor,connectingprotectedareas riparian ecosystemthatispartofa‘mountainsto unique ecologicalvalues, beingamajor river and Corridor becausetheareahasimportantand ecological restorationworkintheWaikanae River currently undertakingandfundingsignificant unique orrelatively rareecosystems.Councilsare having highecologicalvalues, andmayrepresent have beenidentifiedashavingorpotentially undertaken aregenerallythoseplaceswhich planting. Areas whereecologicalrestorationis Ecological restorationisdifferentfromamenity across theregion. maintenance andenhancementofbiodiversity particular ecosystem.Thiscontributestothe helps tomaintaintheuniquequalitiesofthat ecological restorationprojectsisthatdoingso A rationaleforusingeco-sourcedplants River Corridor. plants forrestorationworkwithintheWaikanae seed. KCDCalsosupportstheuseofeco-sourced by theCounciluseplantsgrownfromeco-sourced restoration programmescarriedoutorsupported GWRC’s Eco-sourcingPolicy,whichrequiresthat eco-sourced plants.Thisisconsistentwith restoration plantingintheRiver Corridoruse The EcologicalStrategyrecommendsthat to therestorationsiteaspossible. relevant ecologicaldistrict),sourcedfromasclose populations oflocallynative plants(i.e.fromthe from seedcollectednaturallyoccurring Eco-sourcing referstotheuseofplantspropagated 6.3.3 Eco-Sourcing Native Vegetation Inter-Planting WillowsWith

54 volunteer group. be undertakeninconsultation withtherelevant by volunteers,eitherCouncil, shouldonly mature non-localnative plantsthatwere planted for otherreasons.Therefore,anyremoval of also valued bysome members ofthecommunity an ecologicalrestorationperspective, theyare Although theseplantsmaybeundesirablefrom to beautifyandenhancetheriver environment. were plantedbyvolunteers aspartofpastefforts removal ofmaturenon-local native plantsthat There hasbeensomecontentionregardingthe and pinesfromtheRiver Corridor. exotic treeweed speciesincludingmacrocarapas Protection Departmenthasremoved anumberof At therequestofcommunity, GWRC’sFlood control worktobedoneforaminimalcost. enabled ahugeamountofhighlabourcostweed using freelabourfromcorrectionsworkers,has corrections workersfor1dayaweek. Thismodel, funding toengageacontractoroversee GWRC’s FloodProtectiondepartmentprovides working ontheriver. to communityrestorationgroups,includingthose a Biodiversity Advisor toprovidetechnicaladvice Restoration officerstoprovidepracticalhelpand corridor. KCDCalsoemploystwoEnvironmental contractor toworkpart-timerestoringtheriver KCDC fundstheKERMTTrusttoemploya ecological values oftheriver environment. taking placeontheriver andmaintaintheoverall plant managementtosupportrestorationefforts the FWRandKERMTareallengagedinpest District Councilandcommunitygroups,including Greater Wellington RegionalCouncil,KāpitiCoast 6.3.6 in Appendix 1. restoration intheRiver Corridorcanbefound Further informationongoodpracticefor Biodiversity stafftoensuresuccessfuloutcomes. in closecollaborationwithKCDCand/orGWRC The restorationofwetlands shouldbeundertaken flood risk. wetlands playanimportantpartinmanaging absorb andcleansefloodwaters. Therefore, throughout thecatchmenthave theabilityto storage functionintimesofflooding. Wetlands those closetotheWaikanae River, performawater Natural wetlands inthefloodplain,especially Wetland habitatisnationallyunder-represented. 6.3.5

Inemergencysituations, GWRCFloodProtectionmay needto remove treeswithout consultation. Enhancement Work and OtherEnvironmental Controlling Pestsand Weeds Restoring Wetlands 54

37 PART B: A Framework for Protecting and Improving the River Environment / Methods for Improving the River Environment Preventing weed infestation in restoration areas 6.3.7 Further Opportunities is a particular challenge. However, experience Further opportunities to support the restoration of has shown that with appropriate site preparation the Waikanae River Corridor include: and follow up maintenance spraying, weeds can • Expanding weed control programmes largely be eradicated in these areas. Although, the potential for reinfestation via birds and animals, • Expanding pest animal control programmes as well as following floods, means that on-going • Removing willows and other exotic tree vigilance is necessary. species where they are being succeeded by indigenous vegetation and not needed to provide front-line riverbank defences

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae • Limiting the spread of invasive non- local species • Fencing remnant habitats and riparian margins of the river and its tributaries • Enrichment and maintenance of established restoration sites. • Establishing new restoration sites to: • Enhance riparian habitat • Link existing habitat remnants • Create a buffer around existing remnants. Weeds can smother native trees and prevent • Retaining open space areas where habitat could regeneration be developed in the future Garden dumping is a practice that originates from • Providing advice to landowners on adjoining landowners and from easy vehicle access riparian planting points. Garden dumpings are sources of weed • Restoration and environmental invasion and actions should be taken to identify enhancement projects and dissuade people from this practice. • Implementing the recommendations of the In 2012 GWRC in partnership with KCDC and Waikanae River Ecological Strategy Transpower ‘Greenlines Initiative” set up a possum and predator network along the Waikanae • Open space and conservation covenants River Corridor from SH 1 overbridge to the • Adhering to principles of best practice Waikanae Estuary. restoration when undertaking Central and Community groups working on the river also Local Government funded works undertake weed and pest control. • Encouraging landowner and community support for restoration projects.

38 contain andcarry away high flows. that theriver maintainsitsdesigned capacity to keep theriver withinasetalignment andensure edge protectionandgravel extraction areusedto roads. River managementmethods, suchasbank upgrading stopbanksand raisinghousesand Structural measuresincludebuildingand to existingdevelopment inthefloodplain. also beemployed tomanagerisk structural andriver maintenance methodsmust already significantdevelopment inthefloodplain, or isresilienttoflooding.However, asthereis floodplain issituatedaway fromfloodable areas methods toensurethatnewdevelopment inthe including communitypreparednessandplanning These methodsincludenon-structuralmeasures agreed level offloodprotectiontothecommunity. techniques which,takentogether,willprovidean selecting acombinationoffloodriskmanagement Floodplain managementplanninginvolves the Waikanae River. will taketomanagefloodriskassociatedwith agreed methodsthatGWRCandotherparties consultation withthecommunity,setsout (WFMP), whichwas preparedin1997 in The Waikanae FloodplainManagement Plan communities, whicharelocatedinthefloodplain. flood hazardtothe Waikanae andOtaihanga The Waikanae River createsasignificant recreational usesandfloodriskmanagement. other useslandintheRiver Corridor,suchas to ensurethatrestorationeffortsarealignedwith stepped upover thelastdecade,itisimportant As therestorationeffortin Waikanae River has 6.3.8 Pest controlintheRiver Corridor the RiverCorridor Restoration Activitiesin Management Activitiesand Co-Ordinating FloodRisk or neartheRiver Corridor. into accountwhenplanningrestorationplantingin about howtotakefloodriskmanagementactivities project. Appendix 1containsmoreinformation during theplanningstageofrestoration potential conflictswithfloodprotectionactivities advice fromtheFloodProtectionDepartmenton other formofenvironmentalenhancement)seek restoration workintheRiver Corridor(orany GWRC asksthatanyoneplanningtoundertake near theRiver Corridor. other environmentalenhancementactivitiesinor account whenplanningrestorationplantingand for gravel androck,whichneedtobetakeninto including survey sightlinesandstorageareas features criticaltofloodriskmanagementactivities The River Corridoralsocontainsanumberofother to buildupandovertop stopbanks. or densevegetation asthiscouldcausefloodwaters and overflow pathsarenotblockedbystructures It isimportantthattheRiver CorridorFlowPaths the floodplain. water away fromtheRiver Corridorandacross Very oftentheseoverflow pathsleadfastflowing inundated rapidlyduringamajorfloodevent. adjacent totheRiver Corridorthatwouldbe Overflow pathsarelandareasimmediately of River CorridorFlowPaths onrequest. Protection canprovideamapshowingthelocation identified withintheRiver Corridor.GWRCFlood Several River CorridorFlowPaths forhave been identified intheWFMP. as anyplannedalignmentorstructuralworks and repairstofloodprotectionassets,as well Protection stafftocarryoutroutinemaintenance takes intoaccounttheneedforGWRCFlood development inorneartheRiver Corridor Itisimportantthatanyrestorationworkor

39 PART B: A Framework for Protecting and Improving the River Environment / Methods for Improving the River Environment 6.3.9 Key Recommendations: Improving and Restoring Vegetation and Habitat Recommended Action Parties Involved

Continue to provide guidance on restoration planning and planting, controlling weeds in riparian margins, GWRC looking after urban/rural streams in the Wellington region and wetland restoration.

Continue to provide guidelines for growing native plants in Ka-piti and environmental guidelines KCDC for rural living.

Subject to the availability of funds, provide eco-sourced seeds to FWR as well as other community KCDC groups in Ka-piti.

Provide technical advice and information to landowners, developers and community groups on habitat GWRC protection, enhancement and creation of wetlands, backwaters and oxbows through the KCDC Biodiversity KCDC Advisor, GWRC groups and River Ranger opportunities. Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae Expand the current river hand position GWRC

Work with volunteer groups to ensure that restoration activities are aligned with this Strategy GWRC KCDC

Adhere to the Flood Protection Department Environmental Enhancement Policy when undertaking GWRC environmental enhancement works.

Ensure that all restoration activities are assessed for flood protection conflicts prior to the commencement GWRC of site preparation.

Continue to provide rates remission or direct grants from the Heritage Fund in exchange for habitat KCDC protection,55 and identify ecological sites in the District Plan Heritage Register as a mechanism to protect ecological features.

Continue to support weed and pest control programmes and consider expanding these programmes as GWRC funds permit. KCDC

6.3.10 Protecting and Enhancing 6.3.11 Maintaining Fish Passage Fish Habitat The majority of native freshwater fish species The Waikanae River provides valuable habitat for need access to the sea for part of their life cycle. both indigenous and sporting fish species. It is Structures such as culverts, floodgates and weirs listed in the Regional Policy Statement as having can obstruct upstream fish passage, presenting a high macro invertebrate community health, as significant problem to these species, as they cannot a providing habitat for threatened indigenous migrate to suitable upstream habitat. In accordance fish species including six or more migratory with the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations (1983), indigenous species and providing inanga DOC has a responsibility to ensure that fish spawning habitat.56 passage is maintained. Within the Waikanae River A number of methods are available to protect and catchment, DOC has surveyed in-stream structures enhance fish habitat including: to identify fish barriers. Ongoing surveys are likely to add further structures to this list. • Protection and enhancement of riparian vegetation A range of fish friendly design solutions are now available to mitigate the impacts of in-stream • Removal of barriers to fish passage structures on fish passage. These should be • Avoiding or mitigating the effects of in-stream applied in situations where fish passage is being works by GWRC and KCDC wherever possible obstructed. For example, the Waimanu lagoons floodgate now allows fish passage through a • Monitoring to observe trends and measure separate pipe containing a fish ladder. The pipe impacts eg, Fish and Game annual drift dives allows water from the estuary into the lagoons • Maintaining and enhancing water quality. at the peak of high tides, and from the lagoons to the sea at all times except for when the lagoon level falls below the level of the fish passage pipe, as sometimes happens when the pond levels are lowered to kill waterweeds.

55 Applicable where the site is identified as an ecological site in the District Plan. 56 GRWC, 2012.

40 • • • • these needtoprovideforfishhabitatby: structures suchasriprapandgroynesareused, a priorityindesign.Wherefloodriskmanagement including therestorationofbankedgesshouldbe Wherever possible,riparianmanagement and wetlands. variety ofriver flows,river edgetypes,backwaters This mayinvolve maintainingorrestoringa way thatpreserves orenhancesin-streamhabitat. Flood protectionactivitiescanbecarriedoutina or enhancedwherepossible. whitebait spawninghabitatshouldbemaintained to improve fishandinvertebrate habitat,and of pools,runsandriffles)shouldbemaintained A variety offlow velocities (includingthepresence requirements oftroutandnative fishspecies. account themovements and spawning Flood Protectionactivitiesshouldtakeinto 6.3.12 these areas. spawning habitatshouldbepromotedin the protectionandenhancementofwhitebait habitat forwhitebaitspawning.Therefore, The lower reachesoftheriver areimportant fish passage The Waimanu Lagoonfloodgatenowallowsfor restoring these. Incorporating unmodified riparianareasand planting between groynesandinriprap Providing calmspotsand areas forriparian against thehardenedsurfaces Creating poolsasaresultofthecurrentmoving with machinery Limiting theneedtodisturbbedofriver Flood Protection Works

• • • • • • • water qualityinclude: Methods available formaintainingandenhancing 6.3.13 flood protectionworks. methods tomitigatetheenvironmentalimpactsof The CodeofPracticecontainsmoreinformationon monitored byFishandGame. to meetminimumpoolandrifflecountsfortrout, GWRC hasparticularresourceconsentconditions River close-up (LIUDD) initiatives. Low ImpactUrbanDesignandDevelopment District Plan provisions Stormwater runofftreatment to restoreriparianmargins Support forlandownerandcommunityefforts and theProposedNaturalResourcePlan Regional planprovisionse.g.,Freshwater Plan management works sedimentation whenundertakingfloodrisk relevant resourceconsentconditionstoreduce Adherence totheCodeofPracticeand Riparian planting Water Quality Maintaining andEnhancing 41 PART B: A Framework for Protecting and Improving the River Environment / Methods for Improving the River Environment 6.3.14 Key recommendations: Protecting and Fish Habitat Recommended Action Parties Involved

Continue to provide advice on riparian management to private landowners. GWRC KCDC

Provide financial assistance for riparian projects through the Heritage Fund. KCDC

Encourage the storage of stormwater where possible on site, either on individual properties or KCDC within subdivisions (for example using constructed wetlands for water storage).

Where gravel and silt build up is occurring, consider a broad range of flood risk GWRC management options. Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae Restore existing wetlands where they are located in the River Corridor and in other areas in the GWRC catchment through mechanisms such as subdivision consents. KCDC

Where exotic species, such as willows are no longer needed for flood protection on riparian edges, GWRC replant riparian margins with appropriate native species to enhance river and ecosystem habitat.

Continue ongoing surveys of in-stream structures in the Waikanae catchment and implement DOC modifications where they create an obstacle to fish passage. Fish and Game NZ GWRC

Where practical identify and implement opportunities to enhance fish habitat as part of flood risk GWRC management works. DOC Fish and Game NZ KCDC

Monitor trout numbers in the Waikanae River by undertaking an annual drift dive survey. Fish and Game NZ

Manage the river and stream banks for whitebait spawning by planting appropriate species and not GWRC clearing the existing vegetation at spawning time (September-May).

Where practical, identify and implement opportunities to enhance fish habitat as part of flood risk GWRC management works. DOC Fish and Game NZ KCDC

Continue to monitor water quality and flows GWRC

6.4 Providing for Recreation The development of a walkway/cycleway from and Access Otaihanga to Mazengarb Park via the Mazengarb Stream has been a condition of subdivision consent Providing for recreation and access can involve in this area. Although polluted at present, this providing CWBs, improving public access to the waterway has potential to be improved and the river, the creation of swimming holes as part of riparian margins re-vegetated to make an attractive river works, providing facilities such as toilets and public access route. carparks within areas adjacent to the river, and providing location and interpretation signage. 6.4.2 Access and Esplanade Strips and Esplanade Reserves 6.4.1 Cycleways Walkways and KCDC has a policy of providing public access to Bridleways (CWBs) and along water bodies, such as the Waikanae The 1999 Strategy confined cycling and horse River, through the provision of esplanade riding to the south bank only, apart from access reserves, esplanade strips and access strips.57 across the river at Greenaway Road. Since that Opportunities occur where land adjacent to the time, there are some allowances for pedestrian river is subdivided, and reserves and strips can and cyclist access through private property, which be required as a condition of consent. has been negotiated with private landowners. As parts of the river walkway pass through private land it is important that the wishes of the owners be respected to ensure continued public access. Cycling is now well accepted on the north bank. Ongoing education is required to reinforce the

“share with care” message. 57 Kapiti Coast District Council, 1999. 42 6.4.5 • • • management works.Opportunitiesinclude: part oflargerdevelopment, forexamplefloodrisk government works-eitherasdistinctprojectsor esplanade stepscanbefundedbycentralandlocal Recreation facilities,CWBsandaccess 6.4.3 esplanade strips. with landownerstoestablishaccessand subdivision isunlikelyKCDCwillnegotiate Where publicaccessisahighpriorityand/or interpretation andfacilitiesmanagementofillegalaccess bymotorbikes. the developmentofmulti-usetracks andstandards forrecreational assetssuchastracks, Develop anopenspace/recreational StrategyfortheWaikanae River. Includedin thiswillbe various points. Continue tomaintaincleared accesswaystotheriverthrough densewillowplantingsat of theWaikanae catchment. Investigate thesuitabilityofanappropriate publicwalkway/cyclewaynetworkforupperareas signposted, andpublicaccesspicnicareas provided forwherever appropriate. management works.Knownswimmingholes(suchastheSH1and JCPsites)shouldbe Consider facilitatingthedevelopmentofswimmingholeswhendesigning floodrisk for thesafetyofwalkers,cyclistsandhorseridersusingtrack. Ensure that planting alongside the CWB and haul road takes into account the need to provide CWB programme andreserve contributionsfrom subdivisionanddevelopment. Continue thedevelopmentofrecreational facilitiessubject tofundingfrom the annual plan, the southbank. co-operation withlandownersandservicegroups, includingthecontinuationofCWBon Continue thebuildingandmaintenanceofcycleways,walkwaysbridleways(CWB)in ongoing maintenanceandduringtheimplementationofmajorriverworks. Where possible,undertakeimprovements torecreational facilitiesandpublicaccessaspartof Continue toprovide materials,technicalguidanceandsupervisionforcommunityprojects. of accesswaysandrecreational facilitiesontheirland. Provide informationandsupporttolandownersontheappropriate locationanddevelopment Recommended Action investment andpoliticalwill and maynotbefeasiblewithoutsignificant hinterland. Thisrequiresfurtherinvestigation of SH1especiallyfromthegorgeinto Enhancing thepublicaccessnetworkinland provide higherlevels ofservice Improvements totheexistingnetworks are beingcompleted practicable asandwhenotherworksorprojects both banksoftheWaikanae River where The introductionofseparatetracksalong Key Recommendations:Recreation and Access Funded Works Local/Central Government

community groups. materials providedbylocalgovernment and the encouragement,technicaladvice,labourand depends onthegoodwilloflandownerand upon theco-operationoflandowners.This Public accessways acrossprivate landdepend 6.4.4 • • • • interpretive signage. The development oflocationaland for floodriskmanagementpurposes downstream sideofrockgroynesputinplace Creating newswimmingholesonthe there isdrive-on access) confined totheareasofgreatestusewhere river. (Notethatpublicfacilitieshave been facilities atthevarious parkareasalongthe Providing moretoiletsandenhancingthe flood riskmanagementworks possible withoutcompromisingtheintegrityof willows. Corridorsofuptosixmetreswideare Creating newaccesscorridors throughthe Landowner andCommunitySupport KCDC GWRC GWRC KCDC KCDC GWRC KCDC GWRC KCDC GWRC GWRC GWRC KCDC (within theRiverCorridor) GWRC KCDC Parties Involved 43 PART B: A Framework for Protecting and Improving the River Environment / Methods for Improving the River Environment Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

44 PART C: PROTECTING ProtectingAND IMPROVING and Improving THE theRIVER River CORRIDOR Corridor Since the 1999 Strategy was developed, there have been a number of improvements to the different reaches of the Waikanae River Corridor. This section identifies the progress made and current issues in more detail, and makes recommendations for the future management of the Riverriver andCorridor. River Corridor. An additional reach has been created to demonstrate the importance of middle and upper catchment restoration work and to reflect the integration of the Ecological Strategy into this document. The areas for restoration earmarked by the Ecological Strategy are also identified to add valuable information for restoration efforts in the River Corridor.

45 7. Reikorangi/Water Treatment Plant Reach58 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

46 Figure 7:Reikorangi/WTPReach 47 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Reikorangi/Water Treatment Plant Reach 7.1 Situation The Ecological Strategy also notes that there is potential for riverbank collapse in this reach and This reach extends from the Water Treatment hence riparian management is needed to address 61 Plant downstream to the Rail Bridge. The any erosion. As a remedial action, this will help river is bounded on both sides by rural land, preserve existing remnant vegetation as well as including three areas of remnant bush with high future restoration work. ecological value. These are identified in the Some restoration work was undertaken in this District Plan’s Heritage Register.59 There are a reach in the early 2000s. Some of the trees planted number of high riverbanks on both sides of the have survived, however weed infestation has been river, which are prone to collapse. There is a high a problem. level of private ownership in this reach, which

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae KCDC and GW Biodiversity are working restricts public access. collaboratively with private landowners who 7.2 Vegetation Management have bush remnants on the south bank between SH 1 and the WTP, helping them control pest The following description of the ecological animals and weeds, as part of GW’s Key Native values of this reach has been taken from the Ecosystem program and as part of a KCDC Ecological Strategy: program to incentivize restorative management “This reach of the river is surrounded on both banks by of bush remnants. two remnants of lowland alluvial floodplain forests that predate the establishment of Waikanae as a settlement. The resultant situation of a major river with primary alluvial terrace forest on both banks and in close proximity to the riparian zone is one now regionally rare in the lower North Island; certainly on the Kāpiti Coast or Greater Wellington Region. The forest type is mainly of a well-drained alluvial terrace forest of pukatea, tawa, kohekohe and titoki with a residual element of kahikatea and matai that have survived 19th century timber extraction. Additional tree species include nikau, porokaiwhiri, kaikomako, rewarewa, ngaio, mapou, mahoe, mamaku and kawakawa. A wetter variant of the forest, tending to swamp forest occurs nearby on private land, and adjoins hill forest dominated by kohekohe, tawa, titoki and hinau. This is the site of highest natural ecological integrity on the entire Waikanae River Corridor. It is a vital site as a wildlife corridor in terms of the linking between forest remnants that enables seed-disperser birds and insect pollinators of forest tree species to move between areas for feeding and breeding. It is this principle that best enables natural forest succession across the landscape” (p.12). The Ecological Strategy states that the area surrounding the water treatment plant is the most viable area for the restoration of indigenous ecological values in the Waikanae River Corridor. This is because of increasing human pressure and 58 This reach was included in the 1999 Ecological strategy and has the expansion of potential weed species in the now been added to the area covered by the Environmental reach itself.60 Strategy. The majority of the Ma¯ori names given to the reaches in this document also come from the Ecological Strategy. These reach names are for the purpose of this Strategy only. Atiawa ki Whakarongotai note that identification of mana whenua place names associated with the Waikanae River is currently an unfolding piece of work. 59 The Ecological Areas defined on the maps in Fig 7-13 are taken from a GIS layer supplied by KCDC (KCDC 2007). That the Proposed Ka¯piti Coast District Plan 2012 may identify additional ecological sites in these areas. 60 Park, G, 1999, p. 12. 61 Park, G, 1999. 48 62 7.3.1 7.3 Park,G,1999. 440-upwards 440-540 440-540 440-540 440-540 440-540 River cross section(XS) Recommended Actions Vegetation Management control activities Continue tosupportlandownersinrestoration andweed/pestanimal ecosystem habitat. protection), replant riparianmarginswithnativespeciestoenhanceriverand Where exoticspeciesare notneededforriparianedges(forbankedge slopes ofthetributaryvalleysandonriverbanksReikorangibasin. Encourage re-vegetation orrestoration ofnativeforest coveronthesteeper margins toensure theirstability. Where forest remnants existorrestoration workiscarriedout,monitorriparian possible thenaturalindigenousforested riverbanksituation. Restoration: Create ofriverbankplantingsthatare apattern asclosetois Clear weedinfestationthatispresent inthisreach. North bank/Southbank Recommended Actions 62

GWRC KCDC GWRC KCDC GWRC KCDC GWRC GWRC KCDC GWRC KCDC Parties Involved 49 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Reikorangi/Water Treatment Plant Reach 8. Parikawau/Edgewater Park Reach Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

50 Figure 8:Parikawau/Edgewater Park Reach

51 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Reikorangi/Water Treatment Plant Reach 8.1 Situation 8.2 Progress

This reach extends from the Rail Bridge The recommended actions for this area in the 1999 downstream to Walnut Grove (on the Strategy were largely protection of the kohekohe northern bank). remnant, weed control and restoration planting. Extending the kohekohe forest type upstream of Edgewater Park is accessed from Fleetwood Grove. Edgewater Park remains an important action, with It includes picnic facilities, a toilet and playground some progress in this area of the River Corridor. equipment. Swimming holes are found in this area of the river. Both KCDC and GWRC have supported weed control and restoration in this area with the Access to the North Bank is via several access assistance of the volunteers and landowners.64 points from nearby residential areas. Access to the Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae South Bank is via a path, GWRC’s haul road and Walkway improvements have been made through a recently created path on top of rock lining. The land purchase and a new track negotiated at the River Corridor is bounded on the northern side bottom of Kebbel’s Cliff. Major landscaping work by residences. in Edgewater Park was completed in 2008 and KCDC has been improving tracks nearby since On the south bank a concrete works (Dricon) and a then. It is currently a dogs on-leads area. house removal storage site (Gold Coast Removals Limited) occupy the area immediately below the Interpretative signage has been provided at bridge. This site is somewhat screened from the Edgewater Park. Land ownership on the south riverbed by vegetation. The area south-west of bank (industrial land) has also been achieved this (between Dricon and Kebbels Cliff) is being through purchase (now leased to Gold Coast restored with funding from the Honda Tree Fund. Building Removals Limited and the Dricon Waikanae Premix Plant) to facilitate improved The Kāpiti Coast District Council has purchased River Corridor management. Public access is now approximately 60 hectares of land (the former possible above the riverbank around the outside Howarth Block and Turf Farm) which borders the of the industrial sites. River Corridor on the south bank of this reach from Kebbels Cliff and continues to approximately 8.2.1 North Bank XS 270, opposite Jim Cooke Park. This land has KCDC and GWRC plantings have been been gazetted as a recreation reserve. consistent with the methods suggested, although The Ecological Strategy identifies ‘Karu’ as a site there is opportunity for further restoration work within this reach63. It extends from Edgewater Park upstream of Edgewater Park to SH 1. This includes on the north bank to SH 1. wetland restoration and possible heritage trails through planting. Native vegetation is a feature of this reach with: • A remnant of kohekohe forest opposite 8.2.2 South Bank Kebbel's Bend GWRC has not yet achieved the alignment of the river at Kebbel’s bend. Hence the associated action • Patches of kohekohe and other natives mixed regarding the introduction of local native species among exotic vegetation on the higher ground (to link restoration in this reach on both sides of in the Corridor the river) will be investigated more fully when this • A forest remnant on the hill behind alignment work is complete. the highway. Gradual phasing out of poplar trees was The exposed cliff faces on the South Bank recommended in the 1999 Strategy and GWRC at river cross section 383 are a geological have undertaken some removals. feature and relatively rare in Kāpiti. These should be preserved.

63 Park, G, 1999, p. 22. 64 Kapiti Coast District Council, 2001, Section 7.1, p. 17. 52 be necessaryonmostoftheriver edge. stabilisation thistypeofplantingwillcontinueto river visuallyfromitsenvirons. Toensurebank character alongtheriver itselfandseparatesthe a very regularandpredictable vegetation planted withwillowandpoplar,whichcreates Most oftheriver edgeinthisreachhasbeen work hasbeguninhisarea. wetland upstreamofKebbel’sBend.Restoration On thesouthbank,thereisanareaofformer extremely productive hard groundandplanttrees.Thismodelhasbeen been abletomulchplants,cuttracks,digholesin trees have beenremoved. Correctionshave also weeds have beenclearedandanumberofexotic Bend, withexcellentresults.Thickinfestationsof on theSouthBank,between DriconandKebbel’s A particularfocusofthisworkhasbeeninthearea alongside correctionsworkersforonedayaweek. provided fundingtoengageacontractorwork GWRC’s FloodProtectiondepartmenthas species appropriateforthisarea. Therefore, itispossibletointerplantwithother the understoryonceweeds have beencontrolled. kohekohe providesthehabitatforrestorationof 65 possible northern endofEdgewater Park (‘Karu’site)is Strategy notesthatindigenousrestorationatthe ecological objective inthisarea.TheEcological enhancement oftheseremnantsistheprincipal comparative rarity.Therefore,protectionand reach areofhighecologicalvalue duetotheir The kohekoheforestremnantsinornearthis 8.3 Runner atEdgewater Park. Park,G,1999. Vegetation Management 65 . Theforestremnantisimportantasthe There areswimmingholesinthisreach. industrial sites. Public accessiscurrentlynotpermittedacrossthe users ofthisaccessway (e.g.cyclists,walkers). between operationalvehicles andnon-motorised Flood Protection.Thereisapotentialforconflicts not permitted,withoutpermissionfromGWRC Flood Protectionvehicles. Private vehicles are The haulroadisanoperationalusedby to flooding. path ontopofrocklining.Thisishowever prone Flood Protection’sHaulRoadandanewly created Further down,accessisprovidedalongGWRC alongside theriver’s edgeasawildernesspath. On thesouthbank,publicaccessisavailable linked byameanderingpath. residential areasonthenorthbank,whichare There areseveral accesspointsfromnearby 8.4 Swimming holebehindrockgroynes • • • 370, NorthBank)isadversely affectedby: downstream ofEdgewater Park (river crosssection The healthofthekohekoheremnantforest under planting. introduced toreplacewillowsorestablishedas only ataminimumdepth,native plantscanbe However, wherewillowsarenotnecessaryor Ground compactionfromtracks. Vines threateningtosmothertrees natural regeneration Groundcover weed speciesinhibiting Recreation andAccess 53 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Parikawau/Edgewater Park Reach 8.5 Interpretation

The significance of the kohekohe remnants in this reach justifies some on-site interpretation. They are a feature of interest and it is important to foster an understanding and appreciation of their ecological significance. The haul road and other access tracks are regularly used by Flood Protection vehicles carrying out river maintenance work. It has been suggested that signage be installed at walkway Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae entranceways alerting track users that Flood Protection operational activities may be taking place in the area. 8.6 Land Ownership

As noted above, public ownership of the industrial sites beside SH 1 has benefits for recreation and restoration. GWRC has purchased the industrial land that is part of the River Corridor on the south bank. As mentioned earlier, KCDC has purchased a large tract of the land bordering the River Corridor on the south bank and has gazetted it as a recreation reserve. 8.7 Flood Risk Management

The major bank edge protection works recommended by the WFMP in this reach have been implemented following the 1998 flood. No major new capital works are envisaged. Efforts will Walkers on the haul road at Kebbell's bend be focused on the maintenance of existing works. 8.8 Recommended Actions

8.8.1 Vegetation Management River cross section (XS) Recommended Actions Parties Involved

North bank

390-420 Upstream of Edgewater Park: Extend the kohekohe forest through KCDC interplanting and weed control to encourage self-seeding of native species GWRC beneath the canopy. Use the Ecological Strategy as a guiding document for restoration of this area66.

All areas Foster private landowner understanding of the ecological value of the KCDC local forest and potential weed problems from garden rubbish and garden GWRC escapes.

370-380 In several places the river berm has been extended (low ground has been GWRC reclaimed behind older rock lining of the bank and willow plantings). Introduce appropriate native species into these areas and gradually confine the willow/poplar mix close to the river edge.

All areas Where it is necessary to use trees for the protection of river banks, GWRC investigate ways of increasing the species diversity - interplant native species, so they can regenerate naturally under managed willows.

375-390 Retain the open character of Edgewater Park for its recreational value. KCDC Gradually remove the poplars and willows as the main tall trees and replace them with natives. Keep the planting of these to a minimum in the main park area to ensure adequate sunlight can penetrate during the winter. Ongoing weed control is needed. Properly formed tracks and/or boardwalks and fences have been constructed to define circulation routes and discourage uncontrolled exploration.

66 Park, G, 1999, p. 24. 54 8.8.3 Interpretation 8.8.2 Access All areas 390-420 375 380-390 360-370 350-365 All areas River cross section(XS) 350-430 River cross section(XS) All areas 350-360 All areas 360-400 native speciestoenhanceriverandecosystemhabitat. species are notneededforriparianedges,replant riparianmarginswith purposes (front linedefence)withsuitablenativespecies.Where exotic Replace anyexoticspeciesnotrequired forfloodriskmanagement 380, intolandcurrently ownedbyGWRC. Extend theKohekoheforest typeinthearea locatedbyrivercross section adjacent totherivercontrol bankedgeerosion. open glade,forinformalpicnicuse.Somewillowswillneedtoberetained Keep someofthelowerground where thepineshavebeencleared asan and beyondtotheforest remnant across SH1. terrace edgetolinkupwiththenativevegetationonprivateproperty the poplarplantingsandregenerate withnativespecies,extendingupthe Downstream ofrivercross section380,continuetograduallyphaseout Implement wetlandrestoration inthisarea. vegetation andacross therivertokohekoheremnant. native speciesatthebaseofcliff, linkingupstream totheterrace Following bankedgeprotection workatKebbel’s Bend,introduce local South bank native speciestoenhanceriverandecosystemhabitat. species are notneededforriparianedges,replant riparianmarginswith purposes (front linedefence)withappropriate nativespecies.Where exotic Replace anyexoticspeciesnotrequired forfloodriskmanagement Recommended Actions recreation reserve and walkingaccesstothenewKCDC Investigate optionstoprovide vehicle South Bank Recommended Actions locations fortheseontheRiverCorridor. interpretative signsandpotential Provide professional adviceon existing pathalongtherock lining). tothe the southbank(asanalternative walkingaccesson Investigate alternative undertaken inthearea. operational activitiespotentiallybeing Provide signagealertingtrack usersto grows anddevelops. standard,to awilderness ascanopy Kebbel’s Bend).Walkways are tobekept - separatetotheHaulRoad(eastof walkways asnativeplantsare established Introduce contoured alternative bush Parties Involved GWRC KCDC Parties Involved GWRC Tangata Whenua DOC KCDC GWRC GWRC GWRC GWRC River Corridor) GWRC (withinthe KCDC KCDC GWRC GWRC GWRC GWRC 55 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Parikawau/Edgewater Park Reach 9. Waipunahau/Jim Cooke Memorial Park Reach Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

Figure 9:Waipunahau/Jim CookeMemorial Park Reach 57 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Waipunahau/Jim Cooke Memorial Park Reach 9.1 Situation The dune on the south bank is a strong visual feature of this stretch with significant natural This reach extends from Walnut Grove to Paretai values. Also of geological significance is the area at Grove (on the north bank). In this reach there is a river cross section 298, which has been identified distinct contrast between each side of the river. as containing a 2500 year fossil forest. On the north bank, the berm opens out to a strip of semi-restored open ground above the river and then broadens to wide-open grounds, including the sports grounds at Jim Cooke Memorial Park (JCP). Upstream of JCP, there is a significant kohekohe remnant on adjacent private land. Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae Presently, the south bank has a rural or natural/ wilderness character to it. The walking track is alternately open to the adjacent farmland with views of the inland hills or screened by rural shelter plantings. Along the river, the dense undergrowth of tree lucerne and some blackberry and willow has been removed, leaving the area mostly open. Restoration planting has commenced. The Kāpiti Coast District Council has purchased approximately 60 hectares of land adjacent to There are popular swimming holes in this reach the River Corridor on the south bank, (known as the Howarth Block and the Turf Farm). This 9.2 Progress section, currently referred to as the Otaihanga East The recommended actions in this reach in 1999 Riverside Reserve Area, was purchased for public included the removal of pine trees, retaining use and enjoyment including; sport and recreation, open areas, the protection and enhancement of and a network of cycle, walking and bridle paths significant native remnants, weed control and the connecting surrounding communities as well as for introduction of more native species. Many of these its ecological values. The section has been gazetted actions have been progressed. as a recreation reserve. A management plan for this area is currently under production. Other actions were maintenance of the haul road for public access. This is an ongoing action. The The prominent dune seen downstream in this kohekohe remnant was protected through the reach (river cross section 260) provides a natural District Plan in 2000. backdrop to the River Corridor. According to the Ecological Strategy, the area between river cross The Te Arawai footbridge upstream of JCP (across sections 250-280 is distinguished (topographically) the Waikanae River) was constructed in 2009. The as the inland limit of where coastal sand dunes JCP open area has been retained for recreation. adjoin the River Corridor. KCDC and GWRC plantings have been consistent The Ecological Strategy identifies this area as ‘Te with the methods suggested. The pine trees Aorere’, a name derived from an old kainga site. noted have been removed and this area replanted Te Aorere was selected as one of five priority sites in natives. for restoration in the Ecological Strategy because The desired character of JCP will be considered of the native dune forest and groves of kahikitea, in landscape designs for flood risk management ti kouka in this area67. improvements (as part of stopbank reconstruction works - to facilitate compatible use for both formal and informal recreation). The area containing existing pines in front of the private kohekohe forest remnant has been cleared and planted with natives by the landowner (XS 322-330). The rural/natural character of the south bank has been considered in development.

67 Park, G, 1999. 58 the volunteergroupsandCouncils. part oftheecologicalareathat isbeingrestoredby outside oftheRiver Corridorand isthereforenot The majorityoftheKCDCrecreationreserve is released forpublicconsultationin2014. A draftmanagementplanforthisareawillbe which hasbeengazettedasarecreationreserve. adjacent totheRiver Corridor onthesouthbank, KCDC haspurchasednearly60hectaresofland 9.4.2 community regardingthesepotentialchanges. GWRC willconsultwithKCDCandthe may resultinchangestotheplayingfields. The upgradeofthestopbankatJimCookePark 9.4.1 9.4 south bank Transpower 'Greenlines'restorationsiteonthe and furthernative treeplanting. being usedforsignage,pestcontrol,walkways, Corridor. Transpower ‘Greenlines’fundingisalso planting over 2500native plantsalongtheRiver In 2013,Transpower volunteersassistedin township tothebeach. bridleway thatrunsalongsidetheriver, linkingthe vegetation andfurtheringtheexistingcycle/walk/ groups. Thisprojectinvolves restoringnative Coast DistrictCouncil,supportedbycommunity a “Greenlines’projectinpartnershipwithKāpiti On thesouthbank,Transpower areimplementing high ecologicalvalue duetoitscomparative rarity. bank, between river crosssections320-330)isof The kohekoheforestremnant(locatedonthenorth 9.3 Recreation Facilities Vegetation Management South Bank KCDC Recreation Reserve– Jim CookePark Appendix 1). be consultedduringtheplanningstage.(See to floodflows,andGWRCFloodProtectionmust low lyinggrassesandflaxestoprevent blockages new plantingintheseareasshouldberestrictedto has beenidentifiedbetween 250andXS320. Any On thenorthbankaRiver CorridorFlowpath other thanroutinemaintenance. No moreriverbank protection workisenvisaged Major river realignmentwas implementedin2006. Consultation onthisoptionwilltakeplacein2014. Jim CookePark isproposedintheWFMP. downstream fromNimmo Avenue West through Reconstruction ofthestopbankextending 9.5 Site ofKCDCRecreationReserve Flood RiskManagement 59 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Waipunahau/Jim Cooke Memorial Park Reach 9.6 Recommended Actions

9.6.1 Vegetation Management River cross section (XS) Recommended Actions Parties Involved

North bank

315 Downstream from the FWR nursery, retain large open areas as a contrast to KCDC the enclosed character upstream. Consider developing picnic facilities. GWRC

310 As far as possible, keep the area currently occupied by the exaggerated KCDC meander as low ground and revegetate with suitable native species to form GWRC a small wetland. Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae All areas Where the bank has hard edge protection (rip rap), consider using toetoe or GWRC another native plant as an alternative to willows behind this so that willow plantings do not screen the natural outlook across the river.

250-320 Ensure that River Corridor Flow Paths are preserved. GWRC KCDC

All areas Replace any exotic species not required for flood risk management GWRC purposes (front-line defence) with suitable native species. Where exotic species are not needed for riparian edges, replant riparian margins with native species to enhance river and ecosystem habitat.

All areas Educate property owners about the need to avoid planting on stopbanks. GWRC

330-320 Interpretation explaining the significance of the privately owned kohekohe GWRC remnant should be considered. Negotiate with private landowner.

South bank

310-330 Rough open areas alongside the haul road can be cleared and shaped for GWRC restoration. KCDC Ongoing weed control will be needed in places, especially blackberry.

270-290 Replace the existing poplars with suitable natives widely spaced as a feature GWRC around the bend encircling JCP.

298 Create interpretive signage at river cross section 298 about the 2500 year GWRC old fossil forest identified in this area.

250-280 Put effect to an indigenous link between the existing kohekohe remnant GWRC (K083) and the river’s riparian zone, in a way that respects its cultural values KCDC to tangata whenua. This may include particular plant species or other heritage/restoration initiatives. Tangata Whenua

298 Consider adding area containing the 2500 fossil forest area to the Heritage KCDC Register in the District Plan - for Sites of Geological Significance.

60 9.6.5 9.6.4 Interpretation 9.6.3 9.6.2 Access River cross section(XS) 250 River cross section(XS) River cross section(XS) 250-340 230-300 River cross section(XS) All areas 250-340 230-300 Flood RiskManagement Recreation Facilities Recommended Actions Recommended Actions Recommended Actions Recommended Actions stopbank upgrade and thecommunityonJCP Undertake consultationwithKCDC feature oftheRiverCorridor. kohekohe remnant asitisavisual significance oftheprivatelyowned Provide interpretation explainingthe North bank North bank for publicsafety. standardmaintained toawilderness and Ensure thattheoldhaulroad is South bank Facilities below). and accessible(seeRecreation ensure thewalkwayroute isobvious because ofthestopbankreconstruction, If theplayingfieldarea ismodified North bank interpretative signs. Provide professional adviceon recreation reserve in thedevelopmentofKCDC Take thisstrategyintoconsideration KCDC Recreation Reserve. bank duetotheTe Arawaibridgeand informal recreation activityonthesouth Consider thepotentialincrease of South bank and informalrecreation. facilitate compatibleuseforbothformal of thestopbankconstructionworks,to river intheJimCookeParkarea aspart Redesign theopenspacebeside Parties Involved Parties Involved Parties Involved Parties Involved GWRC GWRC KCDC GWRC KCDC GWRC DOC KCDC GWRC KCDC KCDC GWRC (partofmajorworks) 61 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Waipunahau/Jim Cooke Memorial Park Reach 10. Pukekawa Reach Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

Figure 10:Pukekawa Reach

63 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Pukekawa Reach 10.1 Situation

The north bank of this reach contains an attractive rural landscape enclosed by a low river terrace with mixed vegetation to the north and a narrow strip of willow and poplar along the river edge. This open character then passes into a narrow stretch. It is enclosed between dense garden plantings on adjacent private properties and tangled willow in a backwater formed by a former river channel. The upstream end of this reach is

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae privately owned land (river cross section 230) which contains an equestrian facility. The Ecological Strategy identified the area on the north bank between river cross section 175-202 Livestock grazing on the north bank as ‘Kaiwharehou’ and notes that it is the main opportunity to restore the indigenous wetland character found in this part of the river68. The 10.2 Progress Ecological Strategy notes that the low-lying The recommended actions in the 1999 Strategy nature and former wetland characteristics and included land purchase, restoration planting potential for natural swampiness are part of the and restoration of wetland areas. These actions ‘Kaiwharehou’ site. continue to be important within this reach. The Ecological Strategy also notes that the diverse Land within the River Corridor (river cross mosaic of natural estuarine landforms in this section 215-250 in this reach) remains in area have indigenous ecological values which private ownership. have been degraded by past pastoral land use. Chief amongst these in the River Corridor are the The main significant remnants of native vegetation prominent high dune and a lagoon. occur on the sand dune on private land (at river cross section 260, south bank; and at the Downstream from Greenaway Road at Pukekawa western end of Pukekawa reach). The kohekohe Reserve, the corridor opens out on to a wider open forest remnant on the eastern side of the dune is area. Here there is opportunity for a picnic/parking identified in the Heritage Register of the Kāpiti area, screen planting and groves of larger native Coast District Plan70. A Kahikatea-Puketea Swamp trees to be developed. forest located at the western end of Pukekawa On the south bank, the river bends around Reach is also identified in the Heritage Register71. a prominent sand dune (included in the So far, the proposed private stopbank in this Waipunahau Reach). On the east side, the River reach has not been constructed (private property, Corridor is a comparatively narrow strip, passing south bank, river cross section 175). The fence close below the dune with a line of poplar and around the triangular paddock near this property cypress on the inland side and willow along the has been removed72. river. On the west side, low-lying paddocks lie between the river and the dune. The poplar walkway on the south bank has been under-planted with natives. The kohekohe forest remnant on the east side of the dune is protected in the District Plan.69 On GWRC and KCDC now own a large part of the land the western side, there are scattered specimens inside the River Corridor on the south bank within of cabbage trees and kahikatea. Opportunities this reach (between river cross section 175-250). to protect and develop vegetative links to Restoration has been undertaken on the these remnants should be explored, along with wetland area opposite Pukekawa Reserve on restoration of wetland or low-lying areas. the south bank.

68 Park, G, 1999. 69 Kapiti Coast District Council, 1999, Section I, Heritage Register, E82. 70 Kapiti Coast District Council, 1999, Section I, Heritage Register, K083. 71 Kapiti Coast District Council, 1999, Section I, Heritage Register, K082. 72 Kapiti Coast District Council, 2001. 64 erodible banks. to highfloodflows.Itisbestplanted away from chunks ofstreamandriverbanks whensubjected not be used in this way as it tends to lever out large shown thatthelocalvariant ofharakekeshould 73 Shared pathatPukekawa Reserve protection measure’. (cabbage tree)inthisreach,as‘analternative flood harakeke (Phormiumtenaxflax)andtikouka The EcologicalStrategysuggeststrialling swamp forestswouldhave occurred. conditions whereformernative wetlands and ground withahighwater tablepresentthe habitats inthisreach,whereareasoflower lying There isconsiderableopportunitytodiversify remnants arebeingprogressed. to protectanddevelop vegetative linkstothese of cabbagetreesandkahikatea.Opportunities On thesouthbank,therearescatteredspecimens species alreadyevident. is valuable backwater habitatwithsomewetland privately ownedland(atriver crosssection220) The formerriver channeldownstreamfrom cabbage trees. by FWR-aswell asvestiges, suchasscattered the formofisolatedplotsthathave beenplanted On thenorthbank,native vegetation ismainlyin south bank. and inter-plantingwillowswithnative treesonthe via furtherrestorative plantingandbythinning and strengthentheamountofnative vegetation the river. Therearealsoopportunitiestodiversify which have thepotentialtoimpactonaccess willow alongbothsidesoftheriver inthisreach, poplar andpine.Therearesignificantstretchesof uses withassociatedexotictreeplantingssuchas This reachischaracterisedprimarilybyruralland 10.3 VegetationManagement Park,G,1999. 73 However, experiencehas support fortheirprotectionandrestoration. understanding oftheirsignificanceandencourage Interpretation ofhabitatsinthisreachwouldfoster 10.6 Interpretation access. A picnictableislocatedinthereserve. passive recreationareawithlimiteddrive-on Pukekawa Reserve hasbeendeveloped asa Facilities 10.5 Recreation Waikanae andWaikanae Beachcommunities. to theRiver Corridor,accessiblefromboththe Greenaway Roadprovidesacentralaccesspoint Reserve downstream. has alsobeendeveloped acrossthePukekawa dogs (unlessonalead)permitted.The walkway pedestrian andcyclistsonly,withnohorsesor the northbank,onconditionthatthiswillbe private property(river crosssection220-250)on this reach.Publicaccesshasbeennegotiatedacross developed asharedpathalongthenorthbankof With thehelpofRotaryClub,KCDChas 10.4 Access Appendix 1). be consultedduringtheplanning stage.(See flood flows,andGWRC flood protectionmust lying grassesandflaxesto prevent blockagesto planting intheseareasshould berestrictedtolow identified between XS210and260. Anynew south bankaRiver CorridorFlowPath hasbeen 250 andXS320(intheupstreamreach).On have beenidentifiedat XS 220andbetween XS On thenorthbank,River CorridorFlowPaths gravel extraction. deposition andislikelytobeafocusforfuture This reachisakeyareaofnaturalgravel river crosssection175(south bank). been proposedtoprotecttheprivate propertyat activity inthisreach. A localisedstopbankhas although gravel extractionhasbeenamajor No furthermajorcapitalworksareplanned, works. Two newstopbankswere alsoconstructed. associated riprapandwillowbankprotection of thisreachwas realignedandprotected with In 1997,theformersharpbendatlower end 10.8 River Corridor. is significantbecauseitoccupieslandinthe north bankbetween river crosssections217-258 Within thisreach,theprivate property onthe Ownership 10.7 Land Flood RiskManagement

65 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Pukekawa Reach 10.9 Recommendations

10.9.1 Vegetation Management Recommended Actions Parties Involved

River cross section (XS) North bank

217-250 The private property (equestrian facility) occupies a former river meander. If this GWRC land comes in to public ownership, retain the natural character but investigate KCDC the potential for the lower lying ground near the river terrace to be restored as a wetland area. Landowner

220, 250-320 Assist the development of a wetland habitat by thinning of the willows and KCDC planting with appropriate native species in the former river channel Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae GWRC

175-200 Monitor, maintain and interplant recent plantings in the Pukekawa Reserve with GWRC additional species as plantings become established.

220 Ensure that River Corridor Flow Paths are preserved. GWRC KCDC

All areas Trial wetland riparian planting with appropriate natives as an alternative flood GWRC risk management measures for bank edge protection.

South bank

185-250 Remove the poplars along the walkway over time and establish an avenue of KCDC native tree species. GWRC

210-260 Ensure that River Corridor Flow Paths are preserved. GWRC KCDC

All areas Remove exotic tree species not needed for front line defence flood risk GWRC management between the haul road and the river and plant out in natives. KCDC

190-240 Establish native plantings along the inland side of the walkway KCDC GWRC

200 Revegetate the proposed walkway along the small stream (located across from KCDC river cross section 200) from the river to the proposed subdivision site on the east side of the dune, with native wetland/swamp forest species to tie in with the scattered remnants near the stream.

210-220 Address weeds and prepare area for restoration with appropriate KCDC wetland species. GWRC

All areas Trail wetland riparian planting with appropriate natives as an alternative flood GWRC risk management measures for bank edge protection.

66 75 74 10.9.6 10.9.5 10.9.4 Interpretation 10.9.3 10.9.2 Access KapitiCoastDistrict Council,2001. KapitiCoastDistrict Council,2001. 200 165-200 River cross section(XS) 217-250 217-250 River cross section(XS) Consider providing publictoiletfacilities Recommended Actions range offloodriskmanagementoptions. Where gravelandsiltbuild upisoccurring,considerabroad Recommended Actions 217-258 (northbank)forpublicownership. Purchase theprivateproperty betweenrivercross sections Recommended Actions the northern end. the northern circleadjacent totheturning onGreenaway Road,towards River CorridoronGreenaway Road.Apotentialsiteis Flood RiskManagement Land Ownership Recreation Facilities South bank Provide interpretation ontheheritagevaluesofarea. Recommended Actions Recommended Actions Provide interpretation ofthekohekoheremnant onthesanddune. in thearea andtheobjectiveofrestoring asimilartype ofhabitat Reserve withinformationabouttheformerhabitatsthatwere common Provide interpretative signageaboutthewetlandhabitat inPukekawa North bank Enforce therestrictions asrequired toretain ongoingaccess. restrictions onthetypeofpedestrianaccesspermitted(seeabove). private property -stressing thatthelandisprivateproperty with Develop andmaintainthesignswhere theshared pathentersthe continuous shared pathonthissideoftheriver. to ensure thattheirneedsare beingmet.Thisiscrucialtoachievinga Maintain accessacross theprivateproperty. Liaisewiththelandowners North bank 74 outsidethe Parties Involved GWRC Parties Involved GWRC Parties Involved GWRC KCDC 75 . Tangata whenua DOC GWRC KCDC Parties Involved Parties Involved Tangata whenua DOC GWRC KCDC KCDC GWRC KCDC 67 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Pukekawa Reach 11. Te Aorere/Waikanae Christian Holiday Park Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

68 Figure 11:Te Aorere/Waikanae ChristianHolidayPark Reach 69 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Te Aorere/Waikanae Christian Holiday Park 11.1 Situation

This reach extends between the western end of Pukekawa Reserve on the north bank, downstream to residences at the eastern end of the settlement of Otaihanga on the south bank. The majority of the north bank is set in a rural parkland landscape with mature poplar and macrocarpa trees and is occupied by the privately owned Waikanae Christian Holiday Park (El Rancho). A wetland area at the upstream end Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae of the reach (XS 160) has been the subject of a significant community restoration project. The lower end of the reach is defined by a stream that flows out round an old river meander to the Construction of the Expressway bridge river (located at river cross section 112). There is potential to enhance the wetland plant species in 11.2 Progress the stream. Recommended actions in this reach included: The river, visually, is part of this rural landscape Inter-planting natives and poplars amongst because its edge is much more open here than willows (where they were thinning naturally or many stretches of the river. Rounded river boulder not required for flood risk management purposes riprap permits a grassy edge close to the river and, on the river76); encouraging the holiday park further down, a line of poplars along the bank landowner to take part in restoration of wetland gives different visual access to and from the river. areas; retaining access across the holiday park land On the south bank, a significant amount of effort for public use77; increasing public land ownership has been directed at environmental restoration in this part of the River Corridor; and providing along the River Corridor. The majority of this signage identifying access points. restoration work has been implemented behind The interplanting of willows has been flood risk management (front-line defence implemented, although GWRC preference is plantings) on the south bank along this reach. for interplanting with natives rather than exotic These plantings are now maturing. Near XS poplars. This continues to be an important action 150, the Muapoko Stream enters the river. A in this reach, as does the restoration of wetland pond/lagoon on private property is also featured areas on public and private land. at XS 115. Access through this reach has been improved and The MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway (M2PP) signage is being developed by both KCDC and gained resource consent from the Environmental GWRC through this reach. Access through the Protection Agency (EPA) in early 2013. The Holiday Park has been retained. project involves construction of a bridge over the Waikanae River in this reach. The project is Part of the River Corridor (in front of private expected to be completed in 2017. As a condition of property at river cross section 165, south bank) consent, NZTA will undertake restoration planting has been purchased by KCDC. This area is now and other environmental enhancement in this available for public access. reach. Further information is available in the Site Specific Management Plan, available from NZTA.

76 Kapiti Coast District Council, 2001. 77 Kapiti Coast District Council, 2001 70 78 ecological restorationareaonthesouthbank The sharedpathway runsthroughtheestablished This reachcontainsRiver CorridorFlowPaths, south greenbeltthatlinkswiththeriver. these provideanopportunitytodevelop anorth- The roadwillhave significantbufferareas, and are finalised. road andassociatedenvironmentalenhancements delayed untilplansfortheconstructionof enhancement ofexistingvegetation shouldbe to have amajorimpactonthevegetation, any through thisreach. As constructionislikely The MakaystoPeka Peka Expressway passes be beneficial. riparian plantingalongMuaupokoStreamwould Park onthenorthbank.OnSouthbank, plant speciesinthestreamwithinHoliday There isapotentialtoenhancethewetland 11.3 GWRC FloodProtectiondepartment. Any newplantingintheseareasmustbeapproved on boththenorthandsouthbanksofriver. SeeAppendix1. Vegetation Management 78

shared pathadjacenttotheholidaypark. improvements arecurrentlybeingmadetothe installed togive accessacrossthestream.Further beside theriver. A small footbridgehasbeen control. At thelower end,astreamimpedesaccess provided thatdogsandhorsesarekeptunder riverside walkway topassalongtheriver here Holiday Park ownershave agreedtopermitthe On thenorthbank,TheWaikanae Christian opportunities forRiver Corridoranditsusers. there wouldbeanumberofpotentialaccess Waikanae River inthisreach. As aresultofthis, The newexpressway bridgewillcrossthe 11.4 Access opportunities tocarryout planting. Public ownershipofthisland wouldincrease Stream hasparticularecological value). corridor haspotentialtobe restored(Muaupoko land intheRiver Corridor.Onthe southside,the significant becauseitoccupiesalargepartofthe Within thisreach,theholidayparklandis Ownership 11.6 Land picnics, swimming,canoeing,tubing,andrafting. Visitors totheholiday parkusetheriver for Facilities 11.5 Recreational breaks extendforsignificantdistances. Access totheriver isimpededwheredensewillow use shouldbeencouraged. Alternative pathshave beendeveloped andtheir and shouldbekeptunchanged. path addstothecharacterofriver walkway undulating path.Thedifferentcharacterofthis upper partbutfurtherdownitnarrowstoan provides awildernessstandardaccessalongthe A vehicle track(haulroad)onthesouthbank Bridge atElRancho 71 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Te Aorere/Waikanae Christian Holiday Park 11.7 Flood Risk Management The Waikanae Christian Holiday Park (private property) buildings are set well back from the The sharp meander at the upper end of this reach river. However, these buildings can still flood as has been realigned with associated riprap and they are within the River Corridor. willow bank protection works. This realignment On the north bank, a River Corridor Flow Path has has cut a new river channel across the tip of the been identified between XS 175 and XS 90 (in the paddock in the bend on the south side. downstream reach). On the south bank, a River The realignment has had a significant effect by Corridor Flow path has been identified between XS straightening the river from its natural meander 120 and XS 140. Any new planting in these areas pattern and, on the south side, introducing a long should be restricted to low lying grasses and flaxes stretch of willows along the new alignment. This to prevent blockages to flood flows, and GWRC Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae significantly reduces the visual interest of the river flood protection must be consulted during the here. It has required re-routing the walkway for a planning stage. (See Appendix 1). short distance. Although additional bank edge protection is not indicated here, river dynamics may change. If more bank edge protection is required in the future, methods other than willow planting such as rock groynes may be used.

11.8 Recommended Actions

11.8.1 Vegetation Management Recommended Actions Parties Involved

River cross section (XS) North bank

140-155 Replace the exotic species not required for flood risk management purposes KCDC with suitable native species. Plant species far enough back off the tracks to GWRC ensure horse riders and cyclists have clear vision ahead.

140-155 When the MK2PP road is constructed, identify the buffer zones KCDC as a greenbelt. GWRC

110-170 The recreational use of the River Corridor (rather than increased density GWRC through residential use) at the holiday park should be supported. KCDC

112 Introduce more local native wetland plant species into the margins of the GWRC backwater located here to diversify this habitat and to act as a suitable KCDC medium for Inanga spawning habitat.

130 Encourage the owners of the holiday park to restore/enhance the GWRC wetland habitat around the stream on their property and provide assistance KCDC where possible.

110 - 170 Ensure that River Corridor Flow Paths are preserved. GWRC KCDC

River cross section (XS) South bank

175 If it happens, ensure that there is landscape design input to the private GWRC property stopbank design. The structure should be visually integrated in its setting through contoured mounding rather than being an angular engineered embankment.

120-140 Ensure that River Corridor Flow Paths are preserved. GWRC KCDC

115 Introduce more local native wetland plant species into the margins of the GWRC backwater located here, to diversify this habitat and to act as a suitable KCDC medium for Inanga spawning habitat.

All areas Support community groups by removing willows where they are no longer GWRC needed for flood risk management purposes and either inter-planting or replacing with natives.

72 11.8.3 11.8.2 Access Corridor intopublicownership. Aim toeventuallybringtheprivatelyownedlandinRiver Recommended Actions 110-155 River cross section(XS) All areas Public Ownership Recommended Actions points tothesouthbank. Provide signageidentifyingaccess South bank side oftheriver. continuous shared pathonthenorth protected. Itiscrucialforachievinga and wishesoftheproperty ownersare camp landisretained andtherights Ensure thataccessacross theholiday North bank at theexpenseofvegetation. forcing routes peopletoseekalternative gravel where muddyconditionsare clear ofthehaulroad andpath.Add Limit maintenancetokeepingvegetation KCDC GWRC Parties Involved Parties Involved KCDC GWRC KCDC KCDC GWRC 73 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Te Aorere/Waikanae Christian Holiday Park 12. Arapawaiti/Otaihanga Reach Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

Figure 12: Arapawaiti/Otaihanga Reach 75 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Arapawaiti/Otaihanga Reach 12.1 Situation The Ecological Strategy identifies the ‘Arapawaiti’ site in this reach. The Arapawaiti site comprises On the north bank, this reach extends from Te both banks, but mainly the northern bank between Aorere Reach to the point where the dune comes the old cut-off meander downriver to the high close to the river (river cross section 50). This dune dune. The Ecological Strategy notes that the defines the inland part of the river, from the open diverse mosaic of natural estuarine landforms estuary landscape. This area, from the channel that (namely the prominent high dune and two unique runs in from El Rancho is part of the Waikanae wetland habitats being the lagoon and an oxbow) Estuary Key Native Ecosystem (KNE). GWRC is have potential for ecological restoration.79 working in partnership with KCDC and DOC to protect the biodiversity values 12.2 Progress

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae inherent in this area. Recommended actions included the protection of There is a backwater area with some wetland the Oxbow as an ecological area, rather than a plants - this is an oxbow in a former river meander recreational area. (XS 95, north bank). A significant restoration project has been undertaken to restore the area’s In 2009, the FWR obtained funding from the ecological values and enhance habitat for DOC’s Community Conservation Fund for the whitebait spawning. restoration of the Oxbow. This has contributed to achieving the recommendations from the Weed control on the northern bank has not only Ecological Strategy regarding protection and the included protecting the estuarine edge, but KCDC 2009 Strategy regarding restoration initiatives in in partnership with GWRC has also extended this location. Kāpiti Coast District Council and ecological weed control well beyond this area KERMT have since also become involved in the to include the riparian margins, dune faces, and restoration of the Oxbow. GWRC have upgraded dune slope buffers in this area. In addition, the the culverts between the river and the oxbow, to KCDC have been working with FWR and KERMT increase water levels. in controlling ecological weeds and restoration planting around the Northern Oxbow with The Management Plan for Otaihanga Domain was assistance of the Ministry of Environment funding. reviewed by KCDC in 2004. The Otaihanga Local Outcomes Statement was published in 2004 and On the south bank, the river berm is bounded updated in 2009. This contains recommendations at the upstream end of the reach by Otaihanga relating to the Otaihanga domain and boating Domain, which has a parkland character. club, as well as recommendations relating to other Further downstream, the river berm is narrow sections of the river. and is bounded by the main residential area of Otaihanga. At the lower end of the reach the tidal influence in the river marks the end of riverbank willow plantings. The Otaihanga oxbow (south bank) and surrounding land has high conservation values, as well as playing an essential role in flood risk management as a water storage area. Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai note that this reach is of particular cultural significance as there are various mahinga kai sites and taonga species populations. There are also several wahi tapu sites in this area. The riverbanks and the oxbow in this reach of the river are spawning grounds for Inanga (whitebait). North bank oxbow has recently been restored Therefore, it is important that suitable conditions for spawning are maintained or enhanced.

79 Park, G, 1999, p. 27. 76 Otaihanga Domain. from MakoraRoadattheeasternboundaryof bridleway isnowviatheofficialbridleway link the landowner.Horseaccesstosouthbank been formalisedwithsignageinconsultation Access totheriver over private landfromtherehas eastern perimeteroftheDomaintoMakoraRoad. riders totheendofMakoraRoadandaround Domain. SignageattheDomaindirectshorse Horse ridingisprohibitedwithinOtaihanga Estuary walkways. which willeventually connectuptotheWaikanae Otaihanga DomainwiththeBoatClub, Pedestrian onlyaccessonthesouthbanklinks end andaconcretepipeontheeasternside. bank hasaservicevehicle bridgenearthewestern Otaihanga Domain.Theoxbowareaonthenorth bank viathesuspensionbridgeacrossriver at Weggery Drive withMakoraRoadonthesouth The sharedpathonthenorthbanklinks 12.4 Access Domain ontheSouthbankistobemaintained. The semi-ruralparklandcharacterofOtaihanga planting ofspeciesnative tothearea. have beenremoved aspartofpreparationfor Oxbow restorationproject,someofthesepines role aspartoftheriver system. As partofthe River Corridor.Thisinturnmaskstheoxbow’s affect visualaccessbetween theoxbowand roosting habitatforbirds.Thepinesdo,however, riverbank fortheirvisualquality,shelter,and The localresidentsvalue thepinesalongside the KCDC andcommunitygroups. high ecologicalvalues andisbeingrestoredby On thenorthbankoxbowatXS95-105has 12.3 VegetationManagement

natural values. should bekeptprincipallyasawalking areawith of recreationonthisside.Thissidetheriver beach inthenextreachareprincipalfocus on thenorthbank,asWaimanu Lagoonand Additional recreationfacilitiesarenotenvisaged covers managementofOtaihangaDomain. The OtaihangaDomainManagementPlan (2004) Facilities 12.5 Recreation Otaihanga Domainandoxbow planning stage.(See Appendix 1). Flood Protectionmustbeconsultedduringthe to prevent blockagestofloodflows,andGWRC should berestrictedtolowlyinggrassesandflaxes XS 90and100. Any newplantingintheseareas Corridor FlowPath hasbeen identifiedbetween reach) andXS90.Onthesouthbank,aRiver been identifiedbetween XS175(intheupstream On thenorthbank,aRiver CorridorFlowPath has river realignmentworks. south bankneartheboatingclub,alongwithsome protection usingrockriprapwas usedonthe Domain, alongitssouthernedge.Bankedge A floodwall hasbeen constructedatOtaihanga 12.7 on thenorthbank. restoration projectattheOxbowhasbeenerected Interpretation ofthewetland habitatsand 12.6 Interpretation Flood RiskManagement 77 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Arapawaiti/Otaihanga Reach 12.8 Recommended Actions for This Reach

12.8.1 Vegetation Management River cross section (XS) Recommended Actions80 Parties Involved

North bank

95 Protect the oxbow as an area of ecological significance, not a KCDC recreational area. GWRC

All areas Investigate, and where suitable, implement methods to improve GWRC whitebait spawning habitat Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae 95 When the pines come to the end of their life, do not replant so that KCDC the oxbow has a more evident relationship to the river. Gradually GWRC replace the pines around the oxbow with suitable large natives.

90-175 Ensure that River Corridor Flow Paths are preserved. GWRC KCDC

All areas Recognise the particular significance of this area for tangata GWRC whenua and their interest in the in the management of this reach KCDC (see Section 2 of this Strategy)

River cross section (XS) South bank

All areas Foster an understanding of revegetation objectives and weed GWRC problems that can arise from garden rubbish and garden escapes KCDC for private landowners. Private Landowners

All areas Investigate and where suitable implement methods to improve GWRC whitebait spawning habitat.

90-100 Ensure that River Corridor Flow Paths are preserved. GWRC KCDC

All areas Recognise the particular significance of this area for tangata GWRC whenua and their interest in the in the management of this reach KCDC (see Section 2 of this Strategy)

105 Investigate methods for reducing the contaminant loading in water GWRC discharging from the holiday park duck pond and ‘Bridge Pond’ (located immediately north of the Otaihanga bridge).

12.8.2 Access River cross section (XS) Recommended Actions Parties Involved

70-90 Upgrade shared path on north bank to commuter standard KCDC between Weggery Drive and the suspension bridge to asphalt or concrete surface

80 Both the Environmental Strategy and Ecological Strategy support these recommendations. 78 79 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Arapawaiti/Otaihanga Reach 13. Kenakena/The Estuary Reach Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

80 Figure 13:Kenakena/theEstuary 81 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Kenakena/The Estuary Reach 13.1 Situation

This reach extends from the Mazengarb Stream on the south bank to the river mouth. Much of the estuary environment is a DOC managed Scientific Reserve. The unique qualities of this environment derive from the combination of tidal sand flats, sand dunes, salt marshes, and lakelets. At Waikanae Estuary, freshwater from the Tararua Ranges meets the saltwater of the Kāpiti coast. This mixing of the waters and the ever shifting river

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae mouth create an environment of rich plant and animal communities. The Waikanae Estuary and associated wetlands are of national significance, with the Scientific Reserve Banded Dotterel supporting the only substantial population of the nationally vulnerable plant shore leptinella The Otaihanga Oxbow, located at the eastern (Leptinella dioica monoica) and the at risk and end of the Scientific Reserve (on the south bank), threatened sea sedge Carex litorosa. The estuary has high conservation values and importance has also been identified in GWRC’s Key Native for flood management as a water storage area. Ecosystem (KNE) programme as being one of the This Oxbow is bisected by an extension of highest value biodiversity sites in the region . As the Mazengarb Stream, which has altered the part of the biodiversity programme, a KNE Plan hydrology of the area. will be written for the estuary in 2014. A feature of note on the northern side of the river More species of coastal and aquatic birds visit is the Waimanu Lagoon. This is registered in Waikanae Estuary than any other site on the the Kāpiti Coast District Plan Heritage Register Wellington coast. Nationally vulnerable dabchick (K175). Even though the site is highly modified, (Poliocephalus rufopectus) and banded dotterel it has linkages to the Waikanae River mouth and 82 (Charadrias bicinctus) are present along with at provides continuation of open water habitat. It risk species white fronted tern (Sterna striata) and has high use by water bird species. The Waimeha the north island fernbird (Megalurus punctatus). Lagoon is located further north and is also More than 60 species of birds breed in the estuary, identified in the Heritage Register (K112), as with many seeking out areas which offer relative wetland habitat. The river berm near the Waimanu protection from mammalian predators, such as the Lagoon is maintained as mown grass for passive sandspit, where the river affords some protection recreation and boat launching. from the increasing numbers of cats, ferrets, The Scientific reserve is located on the south bank, dogs, and trail bikes, and the Puketewhainoa where the river opens out to a wide flat landscape lakelet which is surrounded by a dense fringe of in which estuarine flats and swamplands are blackberry and scrub. the dominant features. Kāpiti Island provides a The Department of Conservation is undertaking prominent backdrop in the distance. ecological restoration in the southern part On both sides of the river, on-going housing of the estuary within the scientific reserve, development has the potential to compromise the complemented by the restoration work being area’s visual and ecological integrity. To the north undertaken by Waikanae Estuary Care Group of the River Corridor, housing has advanced on the (WECG). The Waikanae Estuary Restoration Plan81 remaining undeveloped sand dunes by the river provides a vision, objectives, and detailed plans for and around the Waimanu Lagoon. restoration work in the scientific estuary and in the This reach has particular significance for tangata northern estuary. whenua. There are various mahinga kai sites and On the north bank, the river flows close to extremely significant taonga species populations. sand dunes where there is a narrow strip of There are also wahi tapu sites in this area. ecologically significant estuarine vegetation. In the area of the northern bank administered by Kāpiti Coast District Council, KCDC, and GWRC biodiversity advisors work alongside community groups to support pest control operations and restoration planting.

81 Gabites, I (2010). 82 Kapiti Coast District Council, 1999, Section I, Heritage Register. 82 of recreationalandinterpretationfacilities. reach includedprovidingforahighstandard Recommendations fromthe1999Strategyforthis 13.2 Progress edges clearedandmowed. strong residentialmandateforkeepingthewater Rather thisarearemainsanamenitywith Waimanu Lagoonhave largelynotbeenachieved. Recommendations fromthe1999WRESfor planting ofbufferareas. north bank.Thishasbeenachieved includingthe was theprotectionofestuaryvegetation onthe west. Another recommendationinseveral areas efforts have beenwithinthescientificreserve tothe done ratherwoodyweed controlandplanting planting oflocalnative species.Thishasnotbeen oxbow (southbank)andintroducingbuffer species fromtheriver bermbelowtheOtaihanga removing tallergrowingintroducedwoody about vegetation management.Theseincluded There were recommendationsintheWRESof1999 visual impactwithintheRiver Corridor. around theKotukuPark subdivisiontoreduceits Further screenplantinghasbeenimplemented KCDC, GWRCandDOC. restoration workcarriedoutbygroups, transformation becauseofthepestcontroland of theestuaryareexperiencingecological recommendations oftheStrategy.Largeareas estuary, insomecasesgoingwell beyondthe change hasoccurredonbothsidesofthe Since the1999WRESmuchpositive ecological the northernsideandachieved goodresults. profile. KCDCandGWRChave beenworkingon native totheareaandcreateamorenaturaldune species suchaspingaoandspinifex,theseare replacing themarramgrasswithmoreappropriate In themorestableareasofEstuary,DOCare maintain birdhabitat.Thishasbeenachieved. included leavingahighlevel ofsandonthespitto for wheretheriver mouthwas beingcut.This Recommendations alsoincludedrequirements of Conservation (DOC). signs have alsobeeninstalledbytheDepartment western sideoftheEstuary.Various interpretative Oxbow throughtoManlyStreet,onthesouth- boardwalks hasbeenbuiltfromtheOtaihanga such, awalking trackwithassociatedbridgesand 83 As rats andhedgehogs. target ofmustelids(Stoats,ferretsandweasels), estuary onbothsidesoftheriver withthekey Integrated pestanimalcontroloccursinthe in ajointprojectwithDOC,KCDCandWECG. The ScientificReserve iscurrentlybeingrestored new housing. provide bufferscreeningbetween theriver and near Waimanu Lagoon,todiversify habitatsand is thepotentialtoincreaseplantingonberm dune (river crosssection50)hasbegunandthere Restoration andrevegetation oftheriver faceofthe at theriver’s edgehasconservation value. On thenorthbank,astripofestuarinevegetation 50-60) andnearbyhousing. Otaihanga oxbow(southbank,river crosssection potential tointroducebufferplantingbetween the the Estuaryenvironment.Thereis,however, cover shouldberetainedasitisincharacterwith On thesouthbank,lowgrassandshrub 13.3 VegetationManagement 84 83 habitats there. in theoxbowwithpotentialadverse effectsonthe Otaihanga oxbowhasalsoalteredthehydrology stream viaadraincutthroughthemiddleof recreational activitiesandecology.Extensionofthe issue ofconcernbecauseitsimpacton Pollution oftheMazengarbStreamisamajor Stream 13.4 Mazengarb remains animportantrecommendation. Environment have beenactive inthisareabutit Mazengarb streamtoenhancehabitat.GWRC to advocateforimproved water qualityinthe recommended actionfromthe1999Strategywas With regardstoMazengarbStream,aparticular Boffa MiskellLtd,1992,p.11. DepartmentofConservation, 1996. 84 83 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Kenakena/The Estuary Reach 13.5 Recreation and Access 13.6 Interpretation

The Scientific Reserve has high recreational use DOC aims to encourage greater public and already has tracks to direct public access. appreciation of the conservation values of Whitebait fishing from the mouth of the Waikanae the Scientific Reserve through high quality River is traditional and has been allowed by interpretation signs. There is also the potential gazette notice. Other fishing at the Waikanae River to foster a general understanding of the natural mouth, within the Scientific Reserve, is in conflict values of the area on the north side of the Estuary with its classification as a Scientific Reserve. even though the main focus of interpretation opportunity lies within the Scientific Reserve. There have been problems with vehicular damage to dune and saltmarsh environments and with 13.7 Land ownership Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae dogs disturbing bird life. This disturbance of wildlife could potentially increase with the The possible extension of the Scientific Reserve encroachment of new housing around the Estuary. is the main land ownership opportunity in the People are encouraged to use leads for dogs within estuary reach. Opportunities to further protect the Estuary area. the estuary area from housing development have already been significantly reduced. There is The Local Government Act (LGA) only very little extension possible given the adjacent provides for enforcement of the KCDC Beach residential development. Bylaw 2009 through prosecution. As this is not a cost effective method, KCDC has implemented However, there remains undeveloped land with a permit system, whereby whitebaiters apply to ecological value along the south side of the river KCDC for a permit to use a vehicle on the beach. outside the Scientific Reserve. This includes a small The system has been working well over the last area of estuarine vegetation. two years and has resulted in self-regulation To date, sections at the south eastern end of (e.g. Whitebaiters telling others to get a permit), the reserve have been purchased by DOC. This which is a positive outcome. land is located in the River Corridor between Facilities for recreation are currently confined to river cross sections 45-70. Additionally, a smaller a boat-launching ramp near the Otaihanga Boat area has been purchased at the western end of Club and Waimanu Lagoon, and picnic tables and the reserve. The Otaihanga oxbow is currently in toilets at Waimanu Lagoon. Facilities appear to private ownership. meet current demand so further provision is not For consistent ecological management, it would recommended at this stage, with the exception of make sense for all of the estuarine habitats to be extending the pedestrian network from the Estuary included in the Scientific Reserve. The Otaihanga wakways to the Otaihanga Boat club on the south Oxbow is important as an overflow area for the side of the river. The bridge across the river at river, is a probable whitebait spawning site and is Otaihanga Domain has recently been upgraded habitat for some rare plants. and now caters for wheel chair access.

Whitebaiting

84 is consideredbeneficialforit through theestuaryandperiodicflushingthat Cutting theriver mouthaffectstheflowof water the northofgroyne. migrated morethan500mtothesouth,or200m cutting themouthiswhenexittoseahas cutting ofthemouth.Thecurrenttriggerpointfor from progressingtoofarsouthward byperiodic southward. GWRCintendstokeeptheriver mouth in turn,causestheriver mouthtomove gradually Longshore driftcausesabuildupofmaterialthat, 13.8.2 administered bytheDOCinScientificReserve. influenced bythecurrentregimeofmanagement Report in2010.Theseoptionswillbeheavily contained intheoutcomesofGravel Analysis alignment/pattern, byconsideringoptions intends tokeeptheriver withinapreferred river channelarepossibleinamajorflood.GWRC eroded. Consequently,largemovements inthe riverbed andbanksishighlymobileeasily The finesandymaterialwhichmakesupthe 13.8.1 13.8 impact ontheestuary’secology. estuarine influence.Thiswouldhave anegative mouth anditsinteractionwiththeEstuary-or in gravel inthereserve may'stabilise'theriver the amountofgravel intheEstuary. An increase (upstream ofcrosssection60-70)isinfluencing The buildupofgravel inthemiddlereaches implementation ofthisoption. existing propertydevelopment hasaffected the estuarine dynamicstobemaintained.However, compromise becauseitwouldpreferthenatural and thecurrentregimeassomethingofa DOC seesthecurrentmanagementpractice DOC’s managementisongoing. Restoration oftheScientificReserve under monitoring andconsultationisrequired. influence areconstantlychanging,continued As thedynamicsofriver andcoastal 13.8.3 more water againbytidalflushing. river flowsfurthertothesouth,lagoonreceives in themidpartofitssouthward migration. As the then becomesdrierandstagnantwhentheriver is is closertothenorth(throughriver backwash), in theestuaryholdswater whiletheriver mouth Flood RiskManagement Cutting therivermouth River bankedgeprotection Management atthemouth 85 . Themainlagoon of peakflow to performthefunctionofwater storageintimes floodplain) aremaintainedintheirnaturalstate and, otherareasoftheRiver Corridor(and It isessentialthatthenaturalwetlands inthis Otaihanga oxbowandtheEstuary. inundating thewetlands associatedwiththe stopbanks donotprevent floodwaters from 87 86 85 The beachatWaikanae by constructingtrainingworksatthemouth” Estuary, andnotattempttoconstrainsuchmigration a naturalprocess…asitrejuvenates theWaikanae the migrationcycleofriver mouthtocontinueas “recognition shouldbegiven by[GWRC]toallow for carried outbyDrGibbwhichstatesthat: itself. DOC'spositionissupportedbyresearch would workto'divorce'theriver fromtheEstuary Any stabilisationofthecurrentdynamicprocesses Waikanae River, intermsofdynamicprocesses. for theEstuary'sfunctionandrelationshipwith protection inthemouthreachisnotappropriate Additionally, DOChave indicatedthathardedge Boffa MiskellLtd,1992,p.50. Gibbs,2002,p.22. Boffa MiskellLtd,1992,p.50. 87 . Itisalsoimportantthatanynew 86 . 85 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Kenakena/The Estuary Reach 13.9 Recommended actions

13.9.1 Vegetation management Recommended Actions Parties Involved

River cross section (XS) North bank

30-40 Revegetate the river face of the dune inland of Waimanu Lagoon with KCDC local native species typical of the dune environment. Consult with Tangata whenua Tangata Whenua about this first, as this may affect the site of the former Waimeha Pa.

35 Plant a buffer of local coastal species near the riverside boundaries KCDC of new houses currently being developed beside Waimanu Lagoon Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae (northeastern side of lagoon).

25 Introduce more groups of flax and cabbage trees around the KCDC margins of Waimanu Lagoon to provide more bird habitat (northwestern side of lagoon).

All areas Recognise the particular significance of this area for tangata whenua GWRC and their interest in the in the management of this reach (see section 2) KCDC Tangata whenua

River cross section (XS) South bank

20-50 Remove exotic woody species from the river berm below the Otaihanga DOC oxbow, south bank).

55 Introduce buffer planting of local native species on the wider berm DOC adjacent to the Otaihanga oxbow (river cross section 55) GWRC KCDC

All areas Recognise the particular significance of this area for tangata whenua GWRC and their interest in the in the management of this reach (see section 2) KCDC Tangata whenua

All areas Protect the estuarine vegetation on the north bank and control weeds. KCDC GWRC

13.9.2 Mazengarb Stream Recommended Actions Parties Involved

Advocate for improved water quality in the Mazengarb Stream to enhance the habitat for freshwater DOC fish, birds and indigenous plant communities.88 GWRC

Any discharge of treated wastewater from the KCDC treatment plant complies with resource consents KCDC issued by GWRC.

88 Department of Conservation, 1996, p. 88. 86 92 91 90 89 13.9.4 Interpretation 13.9.3 DepartmentofConservation, 1996,p.88. DepartmentofConservation, 1996,p.89. DepartmentofConservation, 1996,p.89. DepartmentofConservation, 1996,p.89. 10-70 River cross section(XS) 10-70 River cross section(XS) 30 30 River cross section(XS) 10-70 All areas 60-90 10-70 10-70 Recreation andAccess Recommended Actions Prepare asiteplanfortheScientificReservetominimisevisitorimpacts. South bank the naturalcharacterofsetting. Club areas andtherest ofthisreach keptundevelopedinkeepingwith facilities shouldbeconfinedtothe Waimanu LagoonandOtaihangaBoat Outside theScientificReserve,anyfuture developmentof recreational Otaihanga BoatClub Formalize pedestrianaccessbetweentheEstuarywalkwayand of allowingfishingwithintheScientificReserve. Investigate andconsultwiththepublicoverappropriateness on leashonly. vehicle accessonthebeachandinScientificReserveallowdogs Enforce ActorReservestorestrict bylawsundertheLocalGovernment of recreational andinterpretation facilities thesiteplanforScientificReserveprovide forahighstandardWithin South bank Waimeha Pasite. Consult withtangatawhenuaaboutpossibleinterpretation ofthe the Ka includes theEstuaryandriver, theWaimanu andWaimeha Lagoonsand interpretation andmapofthelocalhabitatstheirsignificance.This Maintain theviewingpointnearWaimanu Lagoonincludinggeneral North bank Recommended Actions in particularoninterpretation andmanagementofhistoricresources. Consult withtangatawhenuaonmanagementoftheScientificReserve, - piti MarineReserve. 90

91 . 92

89 Parties Involved DOC KCDC DOC KCDC KCDC DOC DOC DOC Tangata Whenua KCDC DOC GWRC KCDC Parties Involved DOC 87 PART C: Protecting and Improving the River Corridor / Kenakena/The Estuary Reach 13.9.5 Land ownership Recommended Actions Parties Involved

Investigate and negotiate the extension of the reserve boundaries or management of adjacent area DOC to establish buffers for the reserve, for example through covenants.93 KCDC

Discuss management responsibilities with KCDC regarding the land that it owns. KCDC

Investigate and negotiate the inclusion of the Otaihanga oxbow area in the Scientific Reserve for Private landowner management purposes. DOC

13.9.6 Flood risk management

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae Recommended Actions Parties Involved

River cross section (XS) North bank

All areas Develop a Memorandum of Understanding with DOC based on GWRC ensuring flood risk management is integrated with the existing DOC Management Strategy at the Scientific Reserve.

10-30 Continue ongoing liaison between GWRC and DOC regarding the GWRC ecological effects of the river mouth management regime. DOC

10 Balance the need to maintain a flat fore dune for flood risk GWRC management purposes with the need to leave a sufficient level of sand on this spit to maintain bird habitat.

10 Manage the Scientific Reserve to allow water to flow through the GWRC lagoon, which lies in part of the old river course. The river mouth DOC can still be cut straight through to the sea periodically as required for flood risk management purposes.

All areas In the first instance, consider the use of vegetation to ensure bank GWRC edge stabilisation.

93 Department of Conservation, 1996, p. 88. 88 APPENDICES

89 14. Appendix 1 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

90 functioning ecosystem. and restoredinordertorecreateafully the River Corridorthatcouldbefurtherlinked Environmental Strategy,thereareareasin In linewiththevisionandobjectives ofthe groups andarangeofagencies. areas, witheffortcontributedbycommunity made intheprotectionandreplantingofsome the river’s course.Over time,advances have been of indigenousvegetation andmodificationsto functioning hasbeenaffectedbyhistoricclearance the Tararua rangestotheseabutitsecological The Waikanae River naturallyformsalinkfrom river andbetween importantsitesforbiodiversity. and potentialecologicalcorridors,bothalongthe adjacent areas.Thesecanincluderiparianreserves types, bothwithintheRiver Corridoritselfandin identified to restore habitats or diversify vegetation Throughout theStrategyvarious opportunitiesare 14.1.2 Background restoration listedintheFurtherReadingsection. planting, riparianmanagementandwetland Please refertoGWRC’spublicationsonrestoration River asamountains-to-seaecologicalcorridor. that helpfocuseffortsonenhancingthe Waikanae comprehensive buttoprovideasetofguidelines These guidelinesarenotintendedtobe important floodmanagementfunctions. the Waikanae River Corridorwithoutdisrupting native vegetation andassociatedhabitatswithin with informationthatsupportstherestorationof community groupsandprivate landowners These guidelinesareintendedtoprovide 14.1.1 Purpose 14.1 RestorationGuidelines depending onthesituation. Each techniquehasitsstrengths andweaknesses such ashandweeding, toremove orkill the plant. chemical herbicidesprays or physicalmethods, established areasofvegetation. Itcaninvolve management tomaintainexistingandnewly native revegetation andwillrequireongoing Weed controlisessential tothesuccessof 14.2.2 Reading section. or otherpublicationsreferredtointheFurther information pleasereferto‘RestorationPlanting’ River EnvironmentalStrategy.Forfurther contribute totheoverall visionoftheWaikanae achieved inrestoringnative ecosystemsthatwould unrealistic. However, agreatdealcanandhasbeen and thatestablishingpristinepre-humanforestis the river nowflowsthroughamodernlandscape restoration objectives itisimportantrecognisethat available resources.Inparticular,whensetting objectives oftheproject,budgetandother planning accordingtothesiteconditions, Every restorationprojectrequiresspecific Species below). times oftheyear (seeSitePreparationandPlant of plants,inparticular,arebestdoneatcertain the Methodssection.Weed controlandsourcing be factoredinforvarious tasksoutlinedbelowin the creationofvaluable habitat.Timewillneedto that thenewplantingdoesnotfailandtoachieve Plans shouldcover atleast3-5years toensure available fromGWRC. River Corridorflowpathsandoverflow pathsare the locationoffloodprotectionassets,sightlines, operational activities. Aerial imagesshowing management assets,overflow pathsand are appropriate,given presenceoffloodrisk to ensurethatplantconfigurationandspecies department onacasebybasisinorder will beassessedbytheGWRCFloodProtection Each plantingsitewithintheRiver Corridor and reachagreement. measurable objectives willhelptoguidetheproject each sitebeforeitisestablished.Settingclear, of plants,andmaintenancerequirementsfor restoration toconsiderpreparation,procurement groups onplanting.Ithelpsthoseinvolved in for collaborationbetween councilsandcommunity beginning workonaprojectcanprovidemeans projects. Writingarestorationplanbefore Good planningisthekeytosuccessfulrestoration 14.2.1 Planning Planting 14.2 Restoration Site Preparation

91 APPENDICES / Appendix 1: Restoration Guidelines Lack of weed control is the most common cause of • Willow replacement is the process of gradually restoration failure. The weed burden at a site may clearing areas of planted willow where erosion require between one and three years to address. control is no longer needed and using this If weed control and site preparation result in as new ground for planting. In some areas, delays to planting, this time can be used as an underplanting or thinning and planting may opportunity to establish eco-sourced plants. be more appropriate. Where willows are being used as a front-line defence for flood Throughout the River Corridor weed infestation risk management (closest to the riverbank), is a serious problem. Species such as Tradescantia there may be an opportunity to interplant with (wandering willy) are widespread beneath the natives. Depending on the level of flood risk, cover of existing vegetation and this prevents willows can be removed (behind the front-line the regeneration of native vegetation that would

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae of defence) and replaced with natives otherwise occur. Because of the necessity for weed control, planting should be carried out in small, • Node planting focuses efforts on a small manageable areas so that these can be readily manageable area to ensure successful maintained and monitored. establishment. These nodes can then expand over time either by planting or natural For further information, refer to ‘Pest Plants of the regeneration and join together. Alternatively, Wellington Region’ (see Further Reading section) if they remain separated they could be used as or contact GWRC Biosecurity department. stepping stones for species moving along the 14.2.3 Planting Techniques River Corridor Summarised below are a number of techniques that • Dense planting is recommended to ensure can be used to improve the success of planting: growth quickly blocks out light to the ground, • Natural regeneration may be possible in supressing weed growth. This may need some areas if there is evidence of seedlings and/ thinning later on for additional planting to or a source of seeds from nearby mature trees increase species diversity or vegetation • Mulching and tree collars are useful non-chemical • Nurse planting greatly assists the establishment methods to help new planting establish whilst of native vegetation by sheltering young plants keeping weeds at bay. Mulching keeps the soil helping them to establish. These fast growing, moist around new plants, while tree collars hardy “pioneer” species quickly establish prevent the growth of weeds close to the plant vegetation cover that supports the growth of • Guards are important for protection against slower and more sensitive plants. Eventually, browsing and bark stripping by rabbits which these “secondary” species will become are prevalent along the river, particularly on the established and overtop the pioneers.. There south side. These are simple plastic or netting are a number of native pioneer species that sleeves that can be placed over young plants can be used as nurse crops recommended as and secured with small stakes the ‘first fifteen’ in Restoration Planting (see Further Reading). The use of exotic nurse crops • Ground conditions such as soil type can is not recommended unless using existing often affect the success of planting. You may mature trees need to take account of this when planning how to plant. For example, stony soils can be • Underplanting where some tree cover is already difficult to dig, dry soils will have an effect on established with desirable long-lived woody the need to create water depressions around species is a common recommendation in plants or apply aqua gel and poor soils may the Strategy. This provides advantageous need fertiliser conditions for many native species and reduces the chance of theft or vandalism because • Planting seasons can differ depending on the underplanting is less obvious than new location and type of revegetation. Most planting plantings on open ground. It also adds to the sites should be planted in autumn or winter diversity of existing vegetation when slow growth and moist soil allows plants to get established. However, on wet sites close to the water, or where a new wetland is being created, it may be more appropriate to plant in summer when water levels are lower. In this situation see ‘A beginner’s guide to wetland restoration’ in Further Reading

92 particular site. Foxton EcologicalDistrictandappropriateforthe they shouldbespeciesthatarenative tothe been eco-sourced.FortheWaikanae River Corridor River Corridorshouldcomefromseedthat has Plants usedinrestorationplantingtheWaikanae plants inordertogetthebestresults. species andfindinglocalsuppliersofeco-sourced planning yourplantingsite,selectingappropriate Biodiversity staffcanprovideadvicetoassistin water tableandtidalinfluence.GWRCKCDC vegetation typesappeartobethelevel ofthe the mainenvironmentalfactorsthatinfluence planting. Within theWaikanae River Corridor, the speciesthatshouldbeselectedforrestoration A rangeofsiteconditionsoccurwhichinfluence Species 14.3 Plant Reading section). found inotherGWRCpublications(seeFurther More detailonsomeofthesetechniquescanbe • • • metre back. from thepath,andtreesshrubsatleastone Flaxes shouldbesetatleasttwometresback the plantsdonotgrowover andblockthepath. should besetbackfromthesharedpathsothat blind cornersorisundesirable.Planting areas is aheadofthem,soplantingwhichwillcreate riders inparticularneedtobeableseewhat cyclists, andhorseriders.Cyclists users ofthepath,includingwalkers, runners, it isimportanttobesensitive totheneedsofall Shared pathsWhenplantingnearasharedpath, by sitebasis KCDC officerscanprovideadviceonasite account whenplanningasite.GWRCand Ease ofmaintenance shouldbetakeninto exposed towind drier edges,andareasthataremoreorless permanently wet marginsinawetland with damp hollowsbelowawell-drained slope, be selectively located.Examplesinclude site conditionsforwhichplantsshould planting site,theremightbearangeof Eco-siting recognisesthatwithinanyone

Biodiversity team. weeds” inFurtherReading orcontactGWRC’s For furtherinformation,see“Controllingproblem biodiversity visitingyoursite. minute birdcountstotrackchangesintheavian may alsobeinterestedinundertakingfive- points toshowprogressover time.Keenbirders It maybehelpfulandrewarding totakeusephoto forest species. the opportunitytoincludespecialslower-growing and providespacesfornewplanting.Thismaybe overcrowding, increasestructureinthecanopy Thinning maybebeneficialafterfive yearstoavoid as early‘nurse’plantingsbecomeestablished. that involves monitoringandsuccessive planting In general,restorationisalong-termundertaking continue tobrowsetheplants. be necessarytocarryoutpestcontrolifrabbits plants outgrow.Ifnoguardswere useditmay problems, itwillbenecessarytoremove theseas To prevent guardsfrom contributing tolitter trying toprotect. control toavoidkillingthenative plantsyouare Care needstobetakenwhenapplyingchemical plants whentreatmentwillbemuchmoredifficult. are smallthantoallowthemsmotheryoung better totackle weeds atanearlystagewhenthey needed forthefirsttwoorthree years. Itisalways Releasing plantsfromcompetingweeds willbe and tacklethethreatswhichyoungplantsface. it isessentialinthefirstfive yearstofollowthisup After investing time,moneyandeffortinplanting management 14.4 Ongoing covering allofthereaches. 2 providessuggestedplantinginfourthemes become invasive andshouldbeavoided. Appendix Some non-localnative speciessuchaskarohave from publicconservation land. from theDepartmentofConservation ifcollecting is localandbearinmindthatapermitrequired site. Ensurethattheoriginalsourceoftheseplants gathered fromplantsgrowingneartherestoration Where possible,plantsshouldbegrownfromseed 93 APPENDICES / Appendix 1: Restoration Guidelines 14.5 Aligning Restoration and 14.5.2 Risks of undertaking restoration Flood Risk Management in the river corridor. Activities The river corridor is a dynamic environment and there is a risk that flooding events and Restoration activities in the River Corridor need to erosion may damage restoration plantings. In be aligned with flood risk management activities, these situations GWRC Flood Protection bears no to prevent an increase in flood risk to the Waikanae responsibility for reinstatement or protection of and Otaihanga communities. For this reason any restoration plantings. any new planting sites need to be assessed and In addition, there is a risk that currently approved by GWRC Flood Protection staff before unforeseen future flood protection measures may site preparation commences. require the removal or alteration of restoration Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae The following factors should be taken into sites. If such measures are proposed, GWRC will account when planning restoration planting in consult with the relevant restoration groups before the River Corridor. final decisions are made.

14.5.1 River Corridor Flow Paths and 14.5.3 Stopbanks Overflow paths No planting is allowed on or within 5 metres of Overflow paths are the areas where water will stopbanks as tree roots can damage the stopbank. spill out from the river and over the surrounding floodplain in a large flood event. These are shown 14.5.4 River cross sections in the District Plan. River cross sections or sight lines (see Diagram 2) are required so that the river channel can be River Corridor Flow Paths are areas within the surveyed for hydraulic modelling purposes and river corridor that have been identified as carrying to monitor gravel movement in the river bed. a significant proportion of the flow in a major Surveyors need to be able to see from one marker flood. If they become blocked, the risk of flood to the other marker on the opposite bank of the waters overtopping flood defences increases. river. In order for accurate readings to be taken, a Note that the XS references in this Strategy clear space of two metres is needed on either side are approximate, The GWRC Flood Protection of the cross section/sight line. Department can provide maps to show the locations of River Corridor Flow Paths. The risks associated with blockages of both overflow paths and River Corridor Flow Paths mean that planting restrictions are necessary. Grasses and flaxes are generally suitable in these areas, however planting trees and shrubs should generally be avoided.94

It is important that planting does not block survey sightlines

94 River Corridor Flow Paths were modelled by GWRC in 2014. Some planting has been undertaken or approved in these areas prior to the definition of these Flow Paths. This planting can remain, however the management of the planting is under discussion and low branches may have to be cleared once the planting is mature to allow flood waters to flow through. 94 may needtobesetback. metres widemeaninginsomeplacesplantings from theriver. Thehaulroadneedstobefive maintenance and,inplaces,forextractionofgravel Waikanae River isanoperationalareausedfor The haulroadonthesouthbankof 14.5.7 being damaged. be keptwell backfromtheworkareatoavoid surface. Any native plantingsintheseareasshould either bekeptasshortgrassorhave ametal area mayalsoberequired.Theseareasshould vehicles tocarryouttheiractivities. A stockpile need tobewideenoughforheavymachineryand the river atdesignatedaccesspoints.Theseareas At timesFloodProtectionstaffneedtoaccess 14.5.6 machinery accessisrequired. restoration plantinginthisareamaybelostwhen flood damage,orona very infrequentbasis,any out repairs. Although thismayonlyhappenafter for machinerytoaccesstherockliningcarry installed, alevel area,setintothebank,isneeded riverbank toprevent erosion.Whererip-rapis This techniqueinvolves useofrockstolinethe 14.5.5 in theseareas. survey removed. Onlylowgrassescanbeplanted vegetation thatwillgetintheway ofthe Sight linesareclearedperiodicallyandany Haul road Access points Rock lining/rip-rap from www.Kāpiticoast.govt.nz. (Kāpiti CoastDistrictCouncil,1999),available Also available isGrowingNatives inKāpiti website atwww.gw.govt.nz. These areallavailable todownloadfromour • • • • the followingpublications: Greater Wellington RegionalCouncilproduces Reading 14.6 Further Pest plantsofthewellington region. Wellington regionalnative plantguide(2010) A beginner’s guidetowetland restoration(2009) Restoration planting(2014) 95 APPENDICES / Appendix 1: Restoration Guidelines 15. Appendix 2 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

96 suitable foraparticularsite. can provideadviceonselectingspeciesthatare 95 List Ward, 2102,KāpitiDistrictEndemicFloralSpecies in theFoxtonEcologicalDistrictcanbefound suitable forplantinginriver marginenvironments Corridor. A morecomprehensive listofspecies for restorationplantingintheWaikanae River exhaustive listofallspeciesthatareappropriate This isintendedtobeusedasaguide,itnotan 15.1 Appropriate PlantSpecies Ward, 2012. 95 . Inaddition,GWRCandKCDCofficers by Reach 97 APPENDICES / Appendix 2: Appropriate Plant Species by Reach Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

98 99 APPENDICES / Appendix 2: Appropriate Plant Species by Reach Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

100 REFERENCES

101 Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae

102 Reference List REFERENCES

103 Atiawa ki Kāpiti (date unknown) Some Aspects Heritage NZ, 1999. Arapawaiti. Available: http:// of Ati Awa ki Kāpiti History. Available: http:// www.heritage.org.nz/the-register/details/4967 teatiawakiKāpiti.co.nz/iwi-history/ Heritage New Zealand (2012) Heritage Impact Atiawa ki Whakarongotai (2014a) Personal Assessment; New Zealand Transport Authority’s Communication. Mahina-a-Rangi Baker and Hemi Proposed Wellington Northern Corridor –SH1 Sundgren. Expressway: Mackays crossing to Pekapeka on the Kāpiti Coast. Available: http://www.epa.govt.nz/ Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, (2014b), handout from Publications/NZ-Historic-Places-Trust-Heritage- Iwi bus tour of Waikanae cultural sites. Unpublished Impact-Assessment,%20-0647.pdf document. Kāpiti Coast District Council, (1999). Kāpiti Coast Boffa Miskell Ltd. (1992).Waikanae Floodplain

Waikanae River Environmental Strategy River Environmental Waikanae District Plan. Coast District Council. Available: Management Plan - Environmental Investigations. http://www.Kāpiticoast.govt.nz/Planning/District- Wellington: Wellington Regional Council. Plan1/ Dawe, I. (2014) Personal Communication. Senior Kāpiti Coast District Council. (2001). KCDC 10 Policy Advisor, Hazards. Greater Wellington Year Action Alan - Waikanae Strategy. Paraparaumu: Regional Council. Kāpiti Coast District Council. Department of Conservation. (1996). Conservation Kāpiti Coast District Council (2012) Open Space Management Strategy for Wellington 1996-2005. Strategy. http://www.Kāpiticoast.govt.nz/ Wellington: Department of Conservation. Documents/Downloads/Strategies/Open-Space- Department of Conservation (2014) New Zealand Strategy.pdf Threat Classification Lists 2012-2014. Available: Kāpiti Coast District Council (no date) Heritage http://www.doc.govt.nz/publications/conservation/ Trails Paraparaumu. Available: http://www. nz-threat-classification-system/nz-threat- Kāpiticoast.govt.nz/Documents/Downloads/ classfication-system-lists-2012-14/ Heritage/heritage-trail/brochures/Heritage-Trail- Gabites, I (2010) The Waikanae Estuary Restoration brochure-Paraparaumu.pdf Plan. Prepared by Natural Textures 115 kaitawa KCDC (2007) Designated Ecological Sites within Road, RD 2 Otaki for KCDC. GWRC and DOC. Kapiti Coast District Council 2007. GIS layer. Greater Wellington Regional Council (1997). Copyright Owner: Kapiti Coast District Council. Waikanae Floodplain Management Plan. Wellington: Milne, J and Perrie, A. (2005). Freshwater Quality Wellington Regional Council. Available: http:// Monitoring Technical Report. Greater Wellington www.gw.govt.nz/waikanae-river-floodplain- Regional Council, Publication No. GWRC- management-plan/ RINV-T-05/87. Greater Wellington Regional Council (1999). Ministry for the Environment, (2010) Preparing Waikanae River Environmental Strategy. Wellington for Future Flooding. Available: https://www.mfe. Regional Council Flood Protection Department. govt.nz/publications/climate/preparing-for-coastal- Greater Wellington Regional Council, 2012 The change-guide-for-local-govt/preparing-for-coastal- Memorandum of Partnership. Available: http:// change.pdf www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Democratic-Services/ Ngaia, B (2011) Cultural Impact Assessment, the MemorandumofPartnership2012.pdf Takamore Trust Mackays to Pekapeka Espressway. Greater Wellington Regional Council, 2012/2013 Available: http://www.epa.govt.nz/Publications/ Our Environment at a Glance. Environmental Takamore-Trust-Appendix-B,%20-0703.pdf Science Annual Summary Report. Available: NZ Bridleways (2010) Waikanae River Bridleway. http://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Our-Environment/ Available: https://sites.google.com/a/nzhorseriders. Environmental-monitoring/Environmental- info/nzbridleways/Home/NorthIsland/wellington/ Reporting/Annual-Summary-Report-2012-13-web- Kāpiti pdf.pdf Park, G. (1999). A Strategy for Restoring the Waikanae Greater Wellington Regional Council (2013) River Corridor’s Indigenous Ecological Values. Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region. Wellington: Wellington Regional Council. Available: http://www.gw.govt.nz/rps/ Perrie, A. (2007). The State of Water Quality in Selected Rivers and Streams in the Wellington Region, 2003-06. Greater Wellington Regional Council, Publication No. GWRC/EMI-T-07/218.

104 Perrie, A. (2009). Annual freshwater quality monitoring report for the Wellington region, 2008/09. Greater Wellington Regional Council, Publication No. GWRC/EMI-G-09/235. Perrie, A and Cockeram, B. (2010). Annual freshwater quality monitoring report for the Wellington region, 2009/10. Greater Wellington Regional Council, Publication No. GWRC/EMI-G-10/163. Tonkin and Taylor ltd (2013) Resource Consent Applications Operations and Maintenance Activities in the Waikanae River and Waimeha Stream. A report prepared for Greater Wellington Regional Council. TRC Tourism (2013) Wellington Rivers Recreational and Tourism Assessment. Report prepared for Greater Ellington Regional Council Urlich, M (2014) Personal Communication, GWRC Biodiversity Co-ordinator. Ward, M (2012) Kāpiti District Endemic Floral Species List. Available http://www.kapiticoast.govt. nz/Documents/Downloads/Biodiversity/Kapiti- District-Endemic-Floral-Species-List.pdf Warr, S. (2002a). Rivers State of the Environment Monitoring Review. Wellington Regional Council, Publication No. WRC/PRW-G-02/64. The Greater Wellington Regional Council promotes Quality for Life by ensuring our environment is protected while meeting the economic, social and cultural needs of the community

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Flood Protection Prepared by: In conjunction with: Follow the Wellington October 2014 Greater Wellington Greater Wellington Regional Ka-piti Coast District Regional Council Regional Council Council Council PO Box 11646 Investigations, Strategy and 175 Rimu Road Wellington Planning Paraparaumu Flood Protection Group [email protected] T. 04 384 5708 Catchment Management www.gw.govt.nz F. 04 385 6960 W. www.GWRC.govt.nz