ACTION PLAN 2016-21 1 VISION Kei te ora te wai, kei te ora te whenua, kei te ora te tangata If the water is healthy, the land and the people are nourished GOALS Our goal is to improve the Manawatū River, the mauri (lifeforce) of the Manawatū River Catchment such that it sustains fish species and is suitable for contact recreation, in balance with the social, cultural and economic activities of the catchment community. This goal represents a community opportunity to develop leadership in catchment improvement and capture the social and economic benefits of such leadership. 1. The Manawatū River becomes a source of 3. The Manawatū Catchment and waterways regional pride and mana. are returned to a healthy condition. 2. Waterways in the Manawatū Catchment are 4. Sustainable use of the land and water safe, accessible, swimmable* and provide resources of the Manawatū Catchment good recreation and food resources. continues to underpin the economic prosperity of the Region. *Noting that some parts of the catchment by their nature are not safe for swimming. Background The first Action Plan was launched by As part of achieving these goals, leaders committed to WHO’S INVOLVED? the Manawatū River Leaders’ Forum in developing their first Action Plan made up of over July 2011 and led to a significant amount 130 actions. The Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord unites 34 diverse of collaborative effort right across the A significant amount of work was carried out under signatories representing a wide range of stakeholder organisations including: Iwi/hapū, local and central Catchment. This revised Plan aims to build the first Action Plan in both rural and urban areas. $5.2 million worth of funding from Central Government’s government, Massey University, major industry, farming, on that effort to further improve our river as Fresh Start for Freshwater Clean-Up Fund added environmental and recreational advocacy groups. These we look ahead to the year 2021. impetus to a suite of eight projects and a total of over signatories are collectively known as the Manawatū The Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord was signed in $30 million has been invested by all parties to date. River Leaders’ Forum. August 2010 when key Iwi/hapū, industry, farming, This second iteration of the Action Plan aims to refresh The Forum was originally brought together by environmental and council representatives from around and refocus efforts to improve the Manawatū River and Horizons Regional Council and is now facilitated by the Manawatū River Catchment came together to Catchment. It sets out the science, the process, the an independent chairperson. Members meet at least publicly pledge their commitment to the good health actions put forward by signatories and how you can get twice a year to report on progress, share ideas, discuss of the River as the Manawatū River Leaders’ Forum. involved in the journey. concerns and build relationships to benefit the River It marked a significant turning point in freshwater and Catchment. Since the Accord was signed in 2010, a management as the parties moved from apportioning number of new parties have sought a seat at the Forum blame to agreeing that there was a water quality issue table. Dairy NZ, Beef + Lamb NZ, Environment Network and a need for collaborative solutions. The Accord set a Manawatū and the Save our River Trust are all now clear vision and goals for the River. actively involved as part of collaborative efforts. dateOur journey to 1 Apiti Kimbolton POHANGINA Action points O¯ ROUA MANAWATU¯ RIVER BEGINS HERE Cheltenham Dannevirke REDUCE THE NUTRIENT REDUCE THE IMPACT OF PROTECT AREAS OF Feilding AND BACTERIA FLOOD CONTROL AND HABITAT FOR NATIVE UPPER MANAWATU¯ FROM POINT SOURCE DRAINAGE SCHEMES FISH, BIRDS AND TROUT Bunnythorpe DISCHARGES Rongotea Ashhurst MIDDLE MANAWATU¯ Woodville Palmerston North REDUCE SEDIMENT REDUCE THE RUN-OFF OF INCREASE AWARENESS LOWER MANAWATU¯ RUN-OFF FROM EROSION SEDIMENT, NUTRIENTS OF THE CHALLENGES PRONE FARMLAND, THE AND BACTERIA FROM FACED BY FRESHWATER Mangatainoka RURAL ROAD NETWORK, INTENSIVE LAND-USE AND ACTIONS THE AND AREAS OF MAJOR SUCH AS DAIRYING AND COMMUNITY CAN TAKE Pahiatua Foxton Tokomaru EARTHWORKS CROPPING UPPER GORGE COASTAL MANAWATU¯ - HOROWHENUA Shannon PREVENT OVER-USE OF WATER TI¯RAUMEA Levin Eketahuna MANGATAINOKA WHAT’S HAPPENING AND WHERE Apiti The Manawatū Catchment is broken down Kimbolton into nine areas that we call sub-catchments. POHANGINA ¯ This map outlines these sub-catchments and OROUA MANAWATU¯ RIVER provides an indication of work planned for BEGINS HERE each area. Cheltenham Dannevirke Feilding UPPER MANAWATU¯ Bunnythorpe Rongotea Ashhurst MIDDLE MANAWATU¯ Woodville Palmerston North LOWER MANAWATU¯ Mangatainoka Pahiatua Foxton Tokomaru UPPER GORGE COASTAL MANAWATU¯ - HOROWHENUA Shannon TI¯RAUMEA Levin Eketahuna MANGATAINOKA Contents 1 Background 3 Our Journey 4 A Snapshot of the Catchment 6 The Review Process 8 The Science Monitoring Water Quality Key Issues in the Catchment 12 Key Actions and Activities 20 Tasks to Support Accord Goals 21 Action List 44 Voluntary Actions vs. Business as Usual 45 Join the Journey 46 Our Commitment 2 OUR JOURNEY TO DATE FEB 2010 FEB 2012 MAR 2012 JUL 2012 SEP 2012 First AUG 2010 Release Leaders’ Hui ā-iwi First meeting of first Forum Forum round of of the progress receive established Manawatū Manawatū River report $5.2 million to River Community Leaders’ Forum accelerate clean-up Grants Manawatū River effort, matched by Leaders’ Accord $25 million locally signed JUL 2011 FEB 2013 JUL 2011 Horizons One introduces FEB 2014 of NZ’s new Manawatū Action Plan MAR 2014 largest River Accord rate launched Upgrades inanga spawning 98 Environmental underway at sites identified at Farm Plans wastewater Whirokino completed treatment plants under the Accord APR 2014 Publication of JUL 2013 comprehensive JUN 2013 science and progress River Accord 4,200 reports wins Green plants Ribbon Award planted at AUG 2014 Manawatū River AUG 2014 source A number 208km of of native fencing fish and installed whitebait habitat SEP 2014 and 66,240 plants restoration planted as part of projects completed under Clean-up NOV 2014 NIWA and Clean-up Fund Fund Horizons Oroua River, Regional a tributary Council undertake to the fish passage trial 2020+ Manawatū, at Upper Kingston receives NZ River Road Award for second Waterways are safe, accessible and provide most improved in for recreation and food sources, sustainable the country land and water resources continue to underpin the Region’s economic prosperity. Waterways are returned to a healthy condition, the River becomes a source of regional pride and mana. MAR 2015 MAR 2015 DEC 2014 Clean- Meeting of Horizons up Fund Science and MAR 2016 Regional commits to Mātauranga Māori Council’s further community Advisory Panel 2nd iteration One Plan becomes involvement to inform revised of the Action operative projects Action Plan Plan released 3 A Snapshot of the Catchment The Manawatū Catchment, in the lower North Island Over the decades, the River and its catchment LAND USE KM2 of New Zealand, measures approximately 5,900 km2 have been extensively modified as a result of land or 590,000 ha. This equates to around 2.2% of New Sheep and/or Beef 3,426 clearance and development, discharges and flood Zealand. The River itself varies considerably along its and drainage control works. Unfortunately, an length depending on the geography and use of the Dairy 1,058 unintended consequence of this development has been land through which it flows. For example, in the upper degradation of the River’s water quality and native Native Cover 1,018 Manawatū sub-catchment land use is 69% sheep and flora and fauna. Some of these changes have been beef, 17% dairy and 13% forest (native and exotic) Exotic Cover 234 incremental as land has been developed and farmed; while land use in the coastal Manawatū-Horowhenua others have been almost instantaneous such as the sub-catchment at the bottom of the Catchment is 37% Built-up/Parks/Others 63 introduction of point source discharges. However, just sheep and beef, 36% dairy, 21% forest (native and as changes to the River’s make-up have evolved over Cropping 48 exotic) and 1% urban. The following table shows how time, efforts to mitigate the impact of development land is used across the catchment as a whole. Other 23 have also been evolving. There are no longer any farms that discharge dairy shed effluent to waterways and Water Body 14 upgrades are being made to reduce the impact of wastewater treatment plants across the Catchment. The Horticulture - Veg 11 Manawatū Catchment is now one of the most heavily Horticulture - Other 6 monitored and studied catchments in the country, allowing us to better understand and respond to the Dairy Run-off 4 challenges it faces. The original Action Plan identified nine sub-catchments. These are the: Upper Manawatū, Total 5,905 Tiraumea, Mangatainoka, Upper Gorge, Pohangina, Middle Manawatū, Lower Manawatū, Oroua, and Coastal Manawatū- Horowhenua. The specific challenges facing each of these sub-catchments can be further explored online at www.manawaturiver.co.nz 4 Mā rau ringa e oti ai! Through the collaboration of the many the project will be completed! MANAWATŪ • There are 321 native bush remnants in the Catchment. Of these, 11% are actively managed CATCHMENT FACTS: and 25% are legally protected. • If a new wetland or bush remnant site is discovered and the landowners are willing, the site is surveyed • 618 dairy sheds operate in the Manawatū using the rapid ecological assessment survey and Catchment and are inspected annually by Horizons some degree of active management may occur. New Regional Council. Inspections include an assessment sites are surveyed to prioritise work. of dairy effluent storage and discharge systems. The compliance rate for 2015 was 97%.