Ki uta ki tai, from the mountains to the sea, is more than a guiding principle for Te Hoiere Project. It describes how the landscape actually works: rain falling on the ridgelines above Havelock moves through the hills, gathering sediment and nutrients as it goes, flowing into streams and rivers before arriving at Motuweka/Havelock Estuary - the place where the cumulative health of the whole catchment becomes visible. The Estuary is under significant pressure. Seagrass, one of the clearest indicators of a healthy estuary, has declined sharply with 21 hectares lost since 2014, leaving just 1.1 hectares remaining in 2024.
Marlborough District Council coastal scientist Katie Littlewood, who is helping lead the science behind the estuary restoration programme, says the stakes are high. "Estuaries sit at the boundary between land and sea, and that makes them one of the most important, and most vulnerable, environments we manage. They filter water, trap sediment, provide nursery grounds for wildlife and protect our coastline from storms and floods. Giving them the conditions to recover isn't just good for nature — it protects the community too."
A community-led estuary restoration plan, developed through Te Hoiere Project, has now been finalised. It sets out a roadmap for action — from immediate steps like planting and weed control to longer-term responses to sea-level rise. The upcoming planting day is one of those immediate steps.
Building on the success of a planting day held in September last year, there are an additional 2,500 native rushes to plant at the margins of the estuary. These saltmarsh specialists stabilise the shoreline, filter sediment, and create habitat for birds and coastal life. MDC's coastal science team will be on hand to share what they know about the estuary and what it will take to restore it.
