Newspaper Article 2009 – Landmark rises from bog

Landmark rises from bog

Bay wetland gets cash to become education site

Joe Dawson
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For most people, the Pekapeka wetland, south of Hastings, is something to drive past on the way in and out of Hawke’s Bay.

But soon it will be a place to stop and enjoy as plans to make the area accessible and educational look set to come to fruition, thanks to a funding boost.

In 2005 the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council pledged $187,000 to the project but only on the provision that external funding matched it dollar for dollar.

Thanks to funding from the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board ($317,000) and the Hawke’s Bay Community Foundation ($50,000), work on an interpretation site within the wetland is poised to begin.

An architect-designed area, including 300m of boardwalks, lawns, viewing areas, bridges and information panels, has been settled on.  Work on the first stage, an entrance off State Highway 2, will begin later this month.

The interpretation site will be completely outdoors and will have display panels.  These will feature the value of wetlands, wetland ecology, rehabilitation of the Pekapeka wetland, the cultural significance to Maori, and the history of Pekapeka for Maori and Europeans including settlement, road, rail and agriculture.

The regional council’s operations environmental manager, Stephen Cave, said the project would take about two years to complete.

“We need to take a bit more time to complete this as we have to work around bird breeding season so we minimise disruption to wildlife, and other seasonal aspects such as fluctuation water levels,” he said.

He estimated about 16.000 plants would be planted around the interpretation site once it was complete, plus 30m of boardwalk and two bridges installed.  It is a significant step in returning an important cultural and ecological site back to its former glory after it became what was considered a stinky bog.

Council asset management committee chairman Kevin Rose said Pekapeka would become a major jewel in the Bay’s crown.

He said getting this far was the result of work by a number of groups, including the Department of Conservation, Hawke’s Bay Fish & Game, Genesis Afforestation Trust, New Zealand Historic Places Trust, Pukehou School and Waa Harris.

He singled Mrs Harris out for particular praise.

“She has been an invaluable supporter from the beginning, representing the Maori community at Pakipaki,” he said.

“Maori have been unhappy about the condition of what was once a healthy wetland and major food source with great cultural significance all through the East Coast, and are keen to help with its restoration.”

Environmental management committee chairwoman Eileen von Dadelszen said the wetland had come a long way in the past decade.

“Pekapeka wetland will soon become a landmark to be proud of and the interpretation site will be a great addition for everyone to learn about the values of this important wetland.

Photo caption – GUARDIANS: Waa Harris of Ngati Ngarengare Papatuamaro and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council operations environmental manager Stephen Cave to be developed Pekapeka Wetland, south of Hastings.   PICTURE/DUNCAN BROWN