Category: News

  • Turning fire mitigation into ecological restoration

    Turning fire mitigation into ecological restoration

    Can a firebreak also deliver biodiversity, flood resilience, and landscape amenity? The Wairau Nature Network is answering this at Thomsons Ford Reserve. By establishing a 10m green break, the team is testing how low-flammability native species can replace flammable nurse plants like kānuka to reduce wildfire risks near urban areas.  

    In winter, volunteers densely planted 1000 eco-sourced trees of marbleleaf, lancewood, five finger, karamū, and kanono. The strategy uses moisture-retentive plants with supple leaves to build a dense canopy that reduces fuel and acts as a “spark-arrestor”. All trees were fitted with cardboard guards and  EcoWool mats, and larger-leaved species received frost-protection spray.  

    Just three weeks later, the project faced a set-back: the Opaōa River surged from under 1 m³/s to over 400 m³/s in six hours, stripping topsoil, exposing roots, and sweeping away guards, followed shortly by heavy frosts. Volunteers rallied within three days to rescue and replant roughly 75% of the trees.  

    Despite the chaotic start, observations are promising. Marbleleaf achieved 100% survival, while lancewood, karamū, five finger, and a few donated wineberry showed impressive resilience. Only kanono struggled, proving it requires an established canopy to protect it from frost. Unprotected plants suffered higher losses, highlighting frost spray (~5c per tree) and guards as vital establishment tools.

    We recommend that in high fire-risk areas, landowners consider protecting infrastructure and forest fragments with a green firebreak, and that all restoration practioners increase the proportion of low flammabily species in their planting mix.  

    Read the full report.

  • Profiling our Working Group: Rob Besaans

    Profiling our Working Group: Rob Besaans

    Next in our working group profiles is Rob Besaans. Rob first connected with the Wairau Nature Network after hearing about our vision and offering to help create our Wairau EcoMap. It didn’t take long before we realised Rob’s skills, enthusiasm and shared vision would be a great fit for the working group and decided he should join us!

    What inspired you to become involved in the Network?

    I’m drawn to people and initiatives that set out to create massive change in the world. The sheer scale of the Network is inspiring, but what really gets me is the bold, ambitious people behind it who believe we can make that change happen. They make me believe it too. We need a bit of crazy ambition right now to create hope: hope that change is possible, and hope that we can turn the tide.

    What’s the biggest environmental challenge you think the Wairau catchment faces right now?

    A close friend told me years ago that the environment isn’t actually an environmental problem – it’s an economic one. I think that still holds. The political and economic climate is the biggest challenge, because it hits the funding that powers conservation and biodiversity mahi. So much of the planting, trapping and weeding relies on volunteers and grants. Finding a way for conservation to scale beyond sponsorship, philanthropy and volunteer effort is an ongoing challenge for the Wairau. And let’s not discount Marlborough’s roasty-toasty summers, which make for some very thirsty young plants!

    Can you share a project or achievement from the network that you are most proud of?

    I’ve been to countless environmental events over the years, but it wasn’t until the team mapped restoration activity across the Wairau that I saw the full picture. The mapping has made visible all the amazing effort people are putting in across the catchment. It’s also introduced me to projects I had no idea existed, which have got me so excited about the potential of our region.

    How do you see the role of community partnerships in restoring and protecting local ecosystems?

    People are at the heart of change – they’re the ones that make things happen. Win their hearts and you’re halfway to lasting, intergenerational environmental change. Community partnerships are how we win those hearts, so to me they’re essential.

    What is your personal connection to the Wairau area – what makes it so special to you?

    I stumbled into the Wairau quite by chance over a decade ago whilst on holiday, and it’s grown on me the way a place does once you call it home. I love watching the mighty Wairau River carry enormous amounts of water from the mountains out to sea, and feeling the wind come down the valley at the start of spring. I love the crunch of frost underfoot on winter mornings and the long, hot, dry summers that ripen the grapes. More than anything, though, it’s the community: people who pull together and make things happen fast. And the deeper you dig, the richer the stories you’ll find woven into the landscape. 

  • Our birthday celebrations and networking night

    Our birthday celebrations and networking night

    Happy 3rd birthday, Wairau Nature Network! 🎉

    Three years ago today, we started with an idea and a bunch of passionate people who thought we could do something bigger by working together.

    Our birthday celebration ticked all the boxes of what we set out to achieve: fantastic conversations, new connections and partnerships, inspiration from others, and a little bit of reaching for the stars!

    A huge thank you to everyone who has been part of the Wairau Nature Network journey so far. You are what makes this network work.

    We were lucky to hear from two fantastic speakers:

    Mike Aviss from Marlborough District Council dug deep into the past in his talk “Looking Back to Move Forward”, helping us imagine what the Wairau lowlands might once have looked like. And it’s a sobering story – with very little original vegetation remaining, there are just seven pre-European-aged kahikatea trees left on the lowlands. Seven. That really brings home how much has been lost.

    Robbie Holdaway from Mount Impey Conservation Estate then blew us away with what can be achieved when you combine vision with intensive management. Across 3,000 hectares of remnant and regenerating forest, the family-run project is restoring an incredible landscape – one that absorbs an estimated 7% of Marlborough’s viticulture carbon emissions, and tomtit are now fighting over territories!

    Here’s to the next three and to seeing just how far we can take this.

    Many thanks to our event sponsors Small Town Winery and Marlborough District Council

  • Profiling our Working Group: Alice Boyce

    Profiling our Working Group: Alice Boyce

    Next in our working group profiles is Alice Boyce. Alice is one of the Networks’ biggest cheerleaders! Over to you, Alice!

    I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and I am fully confined to a wheelchair. Always remember I was here first and the MS crashed my party. Nothing is insurmountable.

    What inspired you to become part of the Wairau Nature Network (WNN)?

    I was inspired to become part of the Wairau Nature Network because I care about protecting and appreciating our local environment. I also wanted to connect with others who share a passion for nature and making a positive difference in our community.

    What do you think is the biggest environmental challenge Wairau faces?

    Marlborough faces major environmental challenges, including water pollution, biodiversity loss, climate change, and pressure on rivers and coastal areas from farming and development. Protecting, planting natural habitats and managing water resources sustainably will be essential for the region’s future.

    What is an achievement of WNN which makes you proud?

    The WNN group is fantastic to be part of. The group is all encompassing. Teamwork at WNN brings people together, combining skills, ideas, and passion to protect and enhance our natural environment.

    How do you see the role of community partnership in restoring and protecting our local ecosystems?

    Community enhances WNN by bringing people together to share knowledge, ideas, and a passion for protecting nature. By working together, the community can create stronger connections and make a greater positive impact on the environment.

    What makes your connection so special to the Wairau area?

    I was born and grew up in Blenheim. The Wairau area is very special to me because it is a beautiful place where I feel connected to nature, the community, and the people around me. I value its peaceful surroundings, strong sense of community, and the opportunity to help protect and enjoy Marlborough.

  • Profiling our Working Group: Wendy Sullivan

    Profiling our Working Group: Wendy Sullivan

    Back to profiling our working group members – meet Wendy Sullivan, our Project coordinator. Wendy is passionate about connecting people, sharing knowledge and finding practical ways to make environmental restoration part of everyday life. 

    What inspired you to become involved in the Wairau Nature Network?

    I love that the Network is focused on collaboration across the landscape rather than working in isolation. Unfortunately, because of the funding environment, I sometimes sense a competitiveness between conservation efforts – people can end up competing for the same limited resources! The Network breaks those down – your neighbour’s win is everybody’s win.

    What’s the biggest environmental challenge you think the Wairau catchment faces right now?

    Climate change will have the biggest impact. We’re already seeing more extreme weather events, but the speed of climate change is just as concerning. Ecosystems have evolved to respond to gradual change, and the pace we’re seeing may be too fast for many species and ecosystems to adapt. The global scale of the problem can also feel overwhelming, leaving people feeling there’s nothing they can do. But if we can be world champions in rugby, why can’t we aim to be world leaders in climate mitigation?

    Can you share a project or achievement from the network that you are most proud of?

    Seeing it grow from an idea, to a project with over 200 supporters, hosting two impactful websites (Wairau Information Hub | Tamata and Wairau EcoMap | Haumi ) …. and eaves dropping people connecting and collaborating over a spade!

    How do you see the role of community partnerships in restoring and protecting local ecosystems?

    I think they’re absolutely fundamental. No single organisation owns or can solve the environmental challenges of a whole catchment. Landowners, iwi, community groups, schools, businesses, councils, agencies and volunteers all bring different knowledge, resources and connections.

    The Network is really about making those connections stronger, bringing the right people together, sharing knowledge or helping someone get a project started. When people feel that they’re part of something bigger, I think you get much more lasting change.

    What is your personal connection to the Wairau area – what makes it so special to you?

    I love its vastness! Standing on a mountain overlooking majestic ranges, rolling high country and patchwork plains. There is an enormous opportunity to bring more native vegetation and biodiversity back into the landscape, and I find it really motivating to be part of that.

  • Planting Plan Template

    Planting Plan Template

    Planning your planting is critical to success. This template guides you through site preparation, maintenance and monitoring as well as planting design.

    View and download the template

  • Profiling our Working Group: Xander Kingii

    Profiling our Working Group: Xander Kingii

    We are very lucky to have Xander on our working group, and he brings not only his enthusiasm (obsession?) for plants but his energy and drive to the team. Meet Xander:

    What inspired you to become involved in the Wairau Nature Network?
    The Wairau is the artery of Marlborough, this unique and amazing place we all get to call home. Its health reflects the health of everything around it: the land, the people, the birds and the bees. I wanted to be part of something that sees the catchment as a whole living system, not just a series of isolated problems to fix.

    What’s the biggest environmental challenge you think the Wairau catchment faces right now?
    The hardest challenge is one of imagination. We tend to see land as parcels; yours, mine, the council’s, DOC’s. But a catchment doesn’t work that way. Water doesn’t stop at a fence line. Native birds don’t read property titles. The biggest challenge is shifting from a title-by-title mindset to a landscape-scale one. It’s as much about people and relationships as it is about ecology.

    Can you share a project or achievement from the network that you are most proud of?
    As the native plant manager for Trees for Marlborough, I’m a bit biased! Growing locally sourced native plants which were then planted locally by locals (and the Selmes volunteers) was a real highlight for me.

    How do you see the role of community partnerships in restoring and protecting local ecosystems?
    One landowner planting a few hundred natives is great. A network of landowners, a community nursery, and council working together across a whole catchment – that’s landscape-scale restoration! Partnerships let us share knowledge, share costs, and avoid duplicating effort. None of us has the resources to do this alone. Together, we actually have a chance.

    What is your personal connection to the Wairau area – what makes it so special to you?
    I arrived here by chance almost four years ago. Pretty much stumbled into the Wairau without any prior thought other than a simple job offer. But there’s something special about this place that I just can’t put my finger on. Maybe it’s because it’s the longest continuously inhabited settlement in the country. Or maybe it’s just the sheer overwhelming beauty of this place. I don’t know what it is, but I’m drawn to it, and I don’t intend to leave.

  • After the flood

    After the flood

    The past few weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster for the Wairau Nature Network.

    It began with an incredible high. Over two community planting days, 240 volunteers came together to establish 1,100 native trees at our new Thomsons Ford Reserve demonstration site. The energy, enthusiasm and generosity of everyone involved was inspiring, and together we created the beginnings of what will become a thriving example of community-led ecological restoration.

    Just three weeks later, disaster struck.

    A one-in-15-year flood tore through the reserve, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Seeing the site devastated after so much hard work and aroha was heartbreaking. I have to admit, I cried when I first saw the damage.

    But as we looked more closely, there was hope. Although every single plant guard had been swept downstream, around 800 of the trees had survived. Many had lost the soil around their roots and were buried beneath flood debris, but they were still there.

    We put out a call for help, and once again our community stepped up. Eighteen dedicated volunteers joined us over two working bees to rescue and re-establish the planting. We also received incredible support from Advance Landscape Systems, who generously supplied replacement guards and weed mats at a heavily discounted price. To top it off, we managed to recover a couple of hundred of the original mats and stakes that had become tangled in downstream fences.

    Restoration is never easy. Nature constantly reminds us that there are no guarantees, and climate-driven extreme weather events are making the work even more challenging. Yet these moments also reveal something just as powerful—the resilience of both nature and our community.

    The flood may have knocked us back, but it hasn’t changed our commitment. If anything, it has strengthened it. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has rolled up their sleeves to help restore the site, and we look forward to watching these trees continue to grow for years to come.

    Giving up has never been an option. Together, we’ll keep restoring, learning and building a more resilient landscape.

  • Profiling our Working Group: Nic Dann

    Profiling our Working Group: Nic Dann

    Another powerhouse of our working group is Nic Dann. Nic can always be relied on to make things happen and tends to shy away from the spotlight – but not this time, Nic!

    What inspired you to become involved in the Wairau Nature Network?

    Having a passion for the continuous enhancement of our natural environment led me to Wairau Nature Network. I love the idea of providing habitat for our song birds and the loveable Kereru across the Wairau plain.

    What’s the biggest environmental challenge you think the Wairau catchment faces right now?

    With so few areas of land available to create native trees, we need a community response to fulfill the vision of hearing and seeing our native birds, invertebrates, lizards on the Wither Hills and beyond into South Marlborough. I’m optimistic that we can all do a little, and often to achieve this lofty goal.

    Can you share a project or achievement from the network that you are most proud of?

    The Wairau Nature Network has been extremely collaborative with the Marlborough community, and I’ve been so excited to see a huge diversity of people wanting to lend a hand and support projects. I’m most grateful for businesses, vineyards, small landowners and the Council for looking at spare corners of land and committing to creating biodiversity.

    What is your personal connection to the Wairau area – what makes it so special to you?

    I’ve lived in Marlborough for close to thirty years, and love the landscape, love the outdoor opportunities, and love the people that make this region so special. 

  • Junior Landcare Planting – day 2!

    Junior Landcare Planting – day 2!

    Our second Junior Landcare planting day, delivered in partnership with Wairau Nature Network, brought together 120 students from Wairau Valley, Springlands and Rapaura Schools.

    As well as planting more than 500 native trees, the tamariki enthusiastically took part in a Crazy Yoga session led by Pilates instructor and physiotherapist Miranda Vriend. While the Junior Landcare programme is about creating lasting environmental benefits through planting, it’s also about giving young people tools to support their body, mind and wellbeing, and making nature restoration fun. Miranda’s Crazy Yoga certainly delivered on that front, and it was great to see plenty of adults joining in too!

    It was also wonderful to have the Trees for Marlborough team alongside the tamariki on the day. The plants had been lovingly grown by the team, so it was especially rewarding for them to see the process come full circle, from seed to planting in the ground.

    Huge thanks to NZ Landcare Trust’s Junior Landcare sponsors Bupa Foundation, for enabling this legacy planting to happen.