Jobs for Nature

Hāpara Takatu Jobs for Nature project

What is this project about?

Hāpara Takatu literally translates as ‘Shovel Ready’. The Regional Council and central Government contributed $2.1 million each to a collection of riparian fencing projects that were deemed to be shovel ready with the potential to generate employment at the end of the Covid-19 lockdown.

We work in partnership with landowners across the region to understand and support them in their vision to develop sustainable strategies and good practice on the farm. The Jobs for Nature funding has enabled us to accelerate our existing projects to a wider scale.

Fencing waterways at scale is a crucial step toward preventing excessive nutrient levels and restoring water quality.

We anticipate that as a result of the J4N programme many farmers will go on to plant their riparian margins. This will help to filter sediments and nutrients before they enter waterways, prevent land erosion and increase the habitat for native wildlife.

This project has also provided employment opportunities for local fencing contractors.

Case study

Hawke’s Bay credits Jobs for Nature project for step towards wetland ecosystem restoration

Wairua Dairies owner Ivan Knauf has been able to deer fence a 90-hectare wetland surrounded by native bush on his farm, thanks to Hāpara Takutu Jobs for Nature funding.

He has established four kilometres of fencing around the wetland to keep out feral deer and other animals from feeding on native plants and trees.

To find out more about Ivan Knauf’s project, watch the video:

Hawke’s Bay threatened native bush protection

What is this project about?

This project involves working closely with landowners and QEII National Trust to deer fence at least 14 sites of acutely threatened native bush.

Feral deer have increased in numbers and cause significant destruction to native vegetation. In the short term, the biodiversity value of areas is reduced and in the long term, feral deer browsing can lead to extinction of species and canopy collapse.

This is concerning given the small size and threat status of existing lowland indigenous remnants in Hawke’s Bay. These remnants act as lifelines for the ecosystems and native species.

Restoring existing remnants is seen as the best value for money, and significantly cheaper than trying to recreate these ecosystems through planting.

This project will allow the Regional Council to fast-track planned protection of these vulnerable areas.

Media release