Kawakawa wetland boardwalk construction gets underway

Our Northland field advisor attended a karakia this week to bless the start of a boardwalk construction for Ngā Papa Pa Orooro, a Ngāti Hine-led walking and cycling project in Kawakawa.  This boardwalk is the final phase of a larger wetland restoration project led by Ngāti Hine that has been going on for more than two years with the support of Jobs for Nature and DOC. Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa has been involved for over a year, supporting the boardwalk team with access issues.

The boardwalk traverses DOC land, unformed legal roads, and Kiwi Rail lands. It also intersects the Heritage Railway and the Twin Coast Cycleway (Pou Herenga Tai). Successfully restoring the native wetlands has been a source of pride for the young people involved, and Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa has been grateful to be part of the team.

The project team hopes to finish the boardwalk in May, but this depends on the weather. After all, they are working in a swamp!