Together, Aka Aka is building a healthier, more connected catchment

Aka Aka sits within a unique landscape of farmland, bush valleys, wetlands and waterways that provide important habitat for native birds, fish, insects and plants.

Introduced predators and invasive weeds place significant pressure on these ecosystems, reducing biodiversity and limiting the ability of native species to thrive. But protecting the health of the catchment also means looking at how water moves through the landscape and how changes to waterways can affect the species and habitats that depend on them.

The Aka Aka community is working together to create a connected predator-control network, regenerate habitats and better understand the wider environmental pressures affecting the catchment. This includes an interest in the effects of floodgate management on tidal flows, fish passage, water quality, sediment movement and the health of waterways. The community is exploring practical approaches that could support both productive farmland and a healthier, more naturally functioning catchment.

Together, these efforts can help create a landscape where taonga species such as Australasian Bittern, pekapeka tau-roa (long-tailed bat), kākā, kererū and tūī can thrive now and into the future.

Every trap checked, weed removed, native tree planted and conversation about the health of our waterways contributes to a more connected, resilient catchment for future generations.