Working with nature key in crisis
The Shetland St Community Gardens, the Kaikorai Stream and Kaikorai estuary restoration work (near the Araiteuru Marae) are wonderful examples of this, restoring biodiversity in the urban environment. Further out on the Taieri Plain, Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau/Sinclair Wetlands is home to wetland birds such as the Australasian bittern (matuku), marsh crake (kotoreke) and shy fernbirds (mātātā) and well as a host of wetland creatures, such as tuna (eels) and galaxias, many invertebrates and insects like dragonflies and butterflies. Both places are well worth a visit.
In Wānaka, the restoration of the Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs is ensuring a healthy spawning area for freshwater fish right in Wānaka itself. Meanwhile I've been lucky enough to visit the Maitai River and Valley near Nelson/Whakatū in between two major flood events. We saw how river planting stabilised river banks and helped slow run-off. In New Plymouth/Ngāmotu a collaboration between the New Plymouth District Council and Otaraua and Manukorihi Hapū is under way to restore the Tangaroa Stream to a healthy state with thousands of native plants and wetland restoration. Great progress has been made, thanks in part to Jobs for Nature funding.
What all these projects have in common is that they are not only helping to restore biodiversity and repair damage. They are also providing nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises and connecting communities. Nature-based solutions are actions and projects inspired by natural processes to work with, rather than against, nature. As climate impacts increase in frequency and intensity we simply can't afford to ignore the need to work with nature.
Recent global flash flood events, from torrential rains in South Korea and in the US state of Texas, have resulted in many fatalities. Back on home shores, in Nelson, a person died after being hit by a tree while clearing flood damage. Here in Ōtepoti Dunedin sewage once again flowed out on to the streets during recent flooding — something that is becoming all too familiar for local residents. While no fatality was the direct result in Ōtepoti Dunedin, raw sewerage in our streets is a very real public health risk.
Our infrastructure is ageing, much of it built when sea-levels were lower and extreme weather events were infrequent and unusual. That's no longer the case. We're now in a climate crisis, with climate impacts hitting thick and fast. Yet citizens around the world have often chosen to elect Governments that are intent on fuelling the climate fire. Here in Aotearoa, our own Government is opening coal, oil and gas fossil fuel projects and has cut emissions reduction programmes, such as the clean car discount and the decarbonising industry fund.
However, there's better news locally. Council leadership (both the Otago Regional Council and the Dunedin City Council) has invested in the South Dunedin Future Programme, and the South Dunedin Future team have been working with the community over the past few years, not only to address immediate impacts together, but to co-develop long-term solutions. Some of the options to reduce flood risk involve protection through building physical measures, such as dedicated water storage areas — detention basins (like the old Forbury Park), ponds and wetlands, and "daylighting" streams and waterways that have been piped underground, creating more blue-green space in the urban environment to capture, retain and absorb excess stormwater.
What is clear through all this mahi is that there is no simple engineering fix, but there are many options to both manage risk and adapt, summarised in the "South Dunedin Future Context Summary Report" as the Protect, Accommodate, Retreat & Avoid framework. "Protect" means building stuff — like detention basins. "Accommodate" means making changes — like daylighting waterways to reduce vulnerability. "Retreat" means moving, repurposing/rewilding and establishing somewhere else, while "Avoid" means staying away from risk.
The work by the South Dunedin Future team is inspiring other councils and regions facing similar challenges, such as Westport/Kawatiri, Nelson/Whakatū and the New Plymouth District Council. We now need some central government leadership and for central government to learn from, and invest in, local government initiatives.
The Green Budget released in May shows what a future Green government would invest in, including delivering urban nature support to councils, iwi and hapū and community groups to restore nature in our local communities; reinstating Jobs for Nature to create nature-based jobs supporting the protection and restoration of te taiao/the environment, and; delivering a Green industrial strategy, with a "Ministry of Green Works" for large-scale green infrastructure that benefits our communities and supports our climate goals.
Nature-based solutions simply make sense, whether for climate change adaptation, healthier cities, or general wellbeing. In an increasingly unstable world — both in a climate sense and a geopolitical sense — there is something wonderful in being able to hear the birds and the buzz of insects, see the splash of a fish and smell the earthy smell of healthy undergrowth. We can have more of this public good, and in doing so, accept we are part of nature and the decisions we make now, matter, not just for humanity, but for all the wealth of nature and Papatūānuku.
Each week in this column writers addresses issues of sustainability.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Third-annual national wild goat hunting competition gets underway
Wild goats are are believed to occupy around 14 percent of Aotearoa. Photo: Supplied / Department of Conservation Hunters are targeting thousands of wild goats in a nationwide competition in efforts to protect farmland and the environment. Wild goats were prolific breeders that threatened native biodiversity, forests and farmland, and were believed to occupy around 14 percent of Aotearoa. The third-annual national wild goat hunting competition begins today, running into November. The Department of Conservation (DoC) and New Zealand Deerstalkers Association event aims to address the growing population of wild goats, estimated to be several hundred thousand. Association board member and its Hutt Valley branch president, Trev Gratton said in the first year they totalled 10,000 goats, 12,500 last year, and now they hoped to exceed that figure. "Goats are an issue throughout the country and it's something that we've identified along with our partners at DoC as something that we want to be involved in, with trying to help mitigate those numbers," he said. "They are a pest and they need to be managed. And one of the ways of doing that is looking holistically and working with partners within the community to actually start getting those numbers under control." Gratton said there were 5000 hectares of huntable private land it was working to get hunters onto this year for goat removal. He said its landowner assist plan will give both hunters and landowners like farmers confidence about the hunting operations in the coming months. "We've had a tremendous response from landowners from one end of the country," Gratton said. "Particularly when it comes to going onto private land like that, it's a very considered operation. It's not done where you're posted on a Facebook page and say, 'hey show up there and feel free to go on.' "It's done via the local branch and the local branch management in conjunction with the landowners, so that everyone's comfortable with how things are going to progress going forward. So it is a very considered, very methodical process." Gratton said the plan detailed insurance coverage around NZDA hunters and health and safety to mitigate any concerns, and it held future possibilities. "We're looking at obviously bringing these relationships further field and doing it all year round with other problems with deer and what-not onto this land. "So it's a collaborative effort to talk to landowners and to build those ongoing relationships within the community." Ten landowners have already registered their interest. The event was also being supported by Federtaed Farmers, Hunting and Fishing and Te Tari Pūreke Firearms Safety Authority. The Department of Conservation said on its website, goats arrived in Aotearoa as early as the late 1700s when Captain James Cook released them in the Marlborough Sounds during his second voyage - and the government has run wild goat control operations for about a century. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
27-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Man on mission to deter fly-tipping, littering
A South Otago man wants to inspire greater respect for the country's shared natural spaces. Kaitangata retiree John Castel said he had been lobbying regional authorities since 2021 in an attempt to reduce fly-tipping and other littering in the area's remote beauty spots. Mr Castel said the district had several less-frequented locations which he believed were easy for officials to neglect or ignore, as they were "out of sight, out of mind". Following a health issue he began regular dog-walking four years ago, and discovered tracks near Kaitangata and on nearby Inch Clutha appeared to have been neglected for several years, and fly-tipping had become rife. "One spot I walk regularly is the Clutha Mouth 150th Anniversary Walk, on Inch Clutha. If you've never heard of it that's not surprising, because the sign was completely overgrown when I found it, and it's not really promoted anywhere. "I've cleared up truckloads of rubbish from here and other sites at both branches of the Clutha River mouth, including animal carcasses, used diapers, glass and tyres. There was a burnt-out car once. "I just don't understand the mind-set of spoiling such a beautiful place for everyone by dumping your s... here." He said after an initial "run-around" Clutha District Council appeared to be listening to his appeals. However, the situation was complicated by some areas falling under Otago Regional Council (ORC), meaning responsibility for cleanup was not immediately obvious. Mr Castel believed fly-tipping required a broader, "educational" approach. "Part of it is keeping it clean and tidy, so people don't think it's a dump to start with. Then you need to educate people and promote proper litter disposal so they show respect for our shared natural spaces. It's not just a local issue, it's nationwide." Clutha District Council deputy chief executive Jules Witt said Mr Castel had provided input for council publicity regarding fly-tipping. The council responded reactively to dumping, either when alerted by the public, or by the council's ranger and freedom camping officer. "Monitoring is not specifically for littering or dumped rubbish [but] in conjunction with other regular patrol duties. The Inch Clutha parking areas were given higher focus for a period of time during 2024, and this resulted in council staff removing dumped rubbish once and contractors removing rubbish twice. "As a general rule, rubbish dumped below the high-water mark is the responsibility of ORC, whereas anything above the high-water mark is handled by [us]. All dumped rubbish is checked for any identifying information that may lead to the offender." Mr Witt said people could report dumping to the council, which could attract fines of up to $400.
Otago Daily Times
25-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Working with nature key in crisis
Birdsong flowing from the trees and along waterways is one of the real benefits of ecosystem restoration projects. The Shetland St Community Gardens, the Kaikorai Stream and Kaikorai estuary restoration work (near the Araiteuru Marae) are wonderful examples of this, restoring biodiversity in the urban environment. Further out on the Taieri Plain, Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau/Sinclair Wetlands is home to wetland birds such as the Australasian bittern (matuku), marsh crake (kotoreke) and shy fernbirds (mātātā) and well as a host of wetland creatures, such as tuna (eels) and galaxias, many invertebrates and insects like dragonflies and butterflies. Both places are well worth a visit. In Wānaka, the restoration of the Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs is ensuring a healthy spawning area for freshwater fish right in Wānaka itself. Meanwhile I've been lucky enough to visit the Maitai River and Valley near Nelson/Whakatū in between two major flood events. We saw how river planting stabilised river banks and helped slow run-off. In New Plymouth/Ngāmotu a collaboration between the New Plymouth District Council and Otaraua and Manukorihi Hapū is under way to restore the Tangaroa Stream to a healthy state with thousands of native plants and wetland restoration. Great progress has been made, thanks in part to Jobs for Nature funding. What all these projects have in common is that they are not only helping to restore biodiversity and repair damage. They are also providing nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises and connecting communities. Nature-based solutions are actions and projects inspired by natural processes to work with, rather than against, nature. As climate impacts increase in frequency and intensity we simply can't afford to ignore the need to work with nature. Recent global flash flood events, from torrential rains in South Korea and in the US state of Texas, have resulted in many fatalities. Back on home shores, in Nelson, a person died after being hit by a tree while clearing flood damage. Here in Ōtepoti Dunedin sewage once again flowed out on to the streets during recent flooding — something that is becoming all too familiar for local residents. While no fatality was the direct result in Ōtepoti Dunedin, raw sewerage in our streets is a very real public health risk. Our infrastructure is ageing, much of it built when sea-levels were lower and extreme weather events were infrequent and unusual. That's no longer the case. We're now in a climate crisis, with climate impacts hitting thick and fast. Yet citizens around the world have often chosen to elect Governments that are intent on fuelling the climate fire. Here in Aotearoa, our own Government is opening coal, oil and gas fossil fuel projects and has cut emissions reduction programmes, such as the clean car discount and the decarbonising industry fund. However, there's better news locally. Council leadership (both the Otago Regional Council and the Dunedin City Council) has invested in the South Dunedin Future Programme, and the South Dunedin Future team have been working with the community over the past few years, not only to address immediate impacts together, but to co-develop long-term solutions. Some of the options to reduce flood risk involve protection through building physical measures, such as dedicated water storage areas — detention basins (like the old Forbury Park), ponds and wetlands, and "daylighting" streams and waterways that have been piped underground, creating more blue-green space in the urban environment to capture, retain and absorb excess stormwater. What is clear through all this mahi is that there is no simple engineering fix, but there are many options to both manage risk and adapt, summarised in the "South Dunedin Future Context Summary Report" as the Protect, Accommodate, Retreat & Avoid framework. "Protect" means building stuff — like detention basins. "Accommodate" means making changes — like daylighting waterways to reduce vulnerability. "Retreat" means moving, repurposing/rewilding and establishing somewhere else, while "Avoid" means staying away from risk. The work by the South Dunedin Future team is inspiring other councils and regions facing similar challenges, such as Westport/Kawatiri, Nelson/Whakatū and the New Plymouth District Council. We now need some central government leadership and for central government to learn from, and invest in, local government initiatives. The Green Budget released in May shows what a future Green government would invest in, including delivering urban nature support to councils, iwi and hapū and community groups to restore nature in our local communities; reinstating Jobs for Nature to create nature-based jobs supporting the protection and restoration of te taiao/the environment, and; delivering a Green industrial strategy, with a "Ministry of Green Works" for large-scale green infrastructure that benefits our communities and supports our climate goals. Nature-based solutions simply make sense, whether for climate change adaptation, healthier cities, or general wellbeing. In an increasingly unstable world — both in a climate sense and a geopolitical sense — there is something wonderful in being able to hear the birds and the buzz of insects, see the splash of a fish and smell the earthy smell of healthy undergrowth. We can have more of this public good, and in doing so, accept we are part of nature and the decisions we make now, matter, not just for humanity, but for all the wealth of nature and Papatūānuku. Each week in this column writers addresses issues of sustainability.
