In this first episode of the New Year, we are telling a story about renewal. A project in 1950s New Zealand called the Kaituna Cut re-diverted a river, draining wetlands to create pasture. 

But working against nature can have negative consequences. The process caused the Maketū estuary to silt, and biodiversity to crash. 

Now, following a multi-decade campaign led by local Maori groups, a re-diversion of the river has begun the process of restoring the land and water to its former health.

Opening music credit: copyright control of this work is controlled by Viking Sevenseas NZ Limited, P.O. Box 152, Paraparaumu, New Zealand

Resources

For more information on this project on WSP’s website, click here

For the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s project page, click here

For a video of the Kaituna River re-diversion opening ceremony, click here

For a video on the project’s archaeological work, click here

Guests

Stephanie Brown, Technical Principal – Planning and Environment, WSP

Pim de Monchy, Coastal Catchments Manager, Bay of Plenty Regional Council 

Liam Tapsell, Ngati Whakaue ki Maketu

Partner

The partner for this episode is WSP. As one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consultancies, WSP brings clarity and vision to complex challenges. Its team of global technical specialists and strategic advisers ensure innovative solutions solve complex problems for its clients and the communities they serve, meeting both the needs of today and addressing the challenges of the future.