3: Priorities
for funding
3.1 Background
The Trust consulted widely and through its networks has drawn on a wide range of sources to
develop its priority areas.
In setting the following priorities the Trust has also given adequate regard to the Waikato River
Independent Scoping Study (WRISS).
The key purpose of the WRISS was to provide the Crown and Waikato River Iwi with a sound and
objective basis on which to make decisions about the priority actions required to restore and
protect the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River for future generations.
3.2 Priorities
Priorities for funding fall into eight areas. The first three of these areas are geographically based.
1.
Karapiro Dam to Te Puuaha o Waikato (the mouth of the Waikato River) referred to in map
Area A (page 7).
Priorities for Trust funding for this area include projects that address:
• Improving connectivity between di erent parts of the ecosystem (both the Waipa and
Waikato rivers, feeder streams and lowland lakes), including between pump stations,
culverts and the like. Physical / chemical conditions are reliant on connectivity, and many
native species require access to areas they cannot currently reach
• Management of drainage canals and other linkages between water bodies (for example at
Lake Whangape and other similar lakes to improve habitat), including projects that involve
planting native ora, and creating sinuosity in canals
• Habitat enhancement at high priority lakes
• Restoration of inanga spawning sites, including artificial habitat in the short term until
native vegetation re-establishes. Projects may also consider changing hydrology through
removal of some tide gates to allow migration of iinanga
• Develop management action plans to restore key ecological values in significant riverine
lakes, and wetlands
• Stream headwater re-vegetation projects including fencing, planting and improving
connectivity with a view to improving the diversity of habitat.
• Restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.
Restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River
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