Wharekawa Harbour and Catchment Management Plan

The Wharekawa Harbour and Catchment Management Plan was created from a desire by the community to protect and enhance social, cultural, environmental and economic values in the community. It was done with the foresight of future generations so that they too would be able to live, work and play in the catchment. This document has been prepared to provide a snapshot of the condition of the catchment at the time of inspection. It aims to provide sound recommendations for landowners, stakeholders and interest groups to remedy issues identified. The plan is not statutory but is influenced by local and national policies and plans. Significant features of the catchment include: •landscape values •recreational values and access •cultural and historical sites •flora and fauna – including threatened and rare bird species •coastal wetland areas •generally good water quality •a proactive community. Key issues current and potential are: •the perceived and actual impact of forestry activities •potential for urban development •declining aquatic and terrestrial •evidence of a general decline in water quality •changes in harbour vegetation – encroachment of mangroves into sea grass habitat and the expansion of Salt water Paspalum •impact of animal and plant pests. Recommended actions and implementation methods are: •retirement of riparian margins wetlands, forest fragment and harbour fringe •soil conservation and habitat enhancement planting in retired areas •pest control – Both plant and animal pest as identified in the Regional Pest Management Strategy •river management and maintenance •vegetation management in the harbour. Estimated total cost of works is $628,000.00 actual costs will depend on the uptake of work, landowner contribution and industry price increases. The success of this plan relies on the up take and good will of the landowners and interest groups within the Wharekawa catchment. A number of projects and initiatives are well underway within the catchment already, so, if a plan is only as good as the community that drives it then this plan and its community, are destined for great things.

From Table of Contents page: Acknowledgements i Executive summary v 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Objectives and outcomes 1 1.1.1 Vision 1 1.1.2 Objectives 1 1.1.3 Outcomes sought 1 1.2 Intention of the plan 2 2 Background 2 2.1 The Peninsula Project 2 2.2 An integrated approach 3 2.3 Wharekawa community process 3 3 Legislative and planning framework 4 4 Catchment description 4 4.1 Location 4 4.2 Physical characteristics of the catchment 9 4.3 Geological features 9 4.3.1 Land use and land cover 12 4.3.2 Forestry 15 4.4 Ecology 16 4.4.1 Ecologic region 16 4.5 Water quality 16 4.6 Harbour and estuary 17 4.6.1 Ecological features of the Wharekawa Harbour 18 4.6.2 Habitat in the harbour 19 4.7 Social 20 4.7.1 Tangata Whenua interests 20 4.7.2 A brief European history 21 4.7.3 Residential information 22 4.7.4 The Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint Project 22 4.7.5 Key Stakeholders 23 5 Catchment assessment 23 5.1 Values 23 5.2 Key issues 23 5.3 Assessment 24 5.3.1 Ohui and Opoutere 27 5.3.2 Tawatawa Block 28 5.3.3 Wharekawa River 29 5.3.4 Rangipo 31 5.3.5 Southern Headland 32 5.3.6 Harbour and Estuary 32 6 Methods and Outcomes 39 6.1 Land management 39 6.1.1 Methods 39 6.1.2 Benefits 39 6.2 Land Use Practices 39 6.2.1 Nutrients and Soils 39 6.2.2 Sediment Sources 39 6.3 Riparian enhancement 40 6.3.1 Methods 40 6.3.2 Benefits 40 6.3.3 Outcomes 40 6.4 River and flood management 40 6.4.1 Methods 40 6.4.2 Benefits 41 6.4.3 Outcomes 41 6.5 Animal Pest Control 41 6.5.1 Outcomes 42 7 Implementation 42 7.1 Implementation strategy 43 7.2 Responsibilities 43 7.3 Community process 43 7.3.1 Community involvement 44 7.4 Works programme 44 8 Costs 44 9 Funding 46 10 Monitoring and reporting 46 10.1 Monitoring 46 10.1.1 Monitoring objectives 46 10.1.2 Existing monitoring data 47 10.1.3 Recommendations for monitoring 47 10.1.4 Monitoring schedule 49 10.2 Reporting 49 Appendix 1: Legislative and Planning Framework 50 Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act (1941) 50 Resource Management Act (1991) 50 Regional Policy Statement 50 Waikato Regional Plan 50 Regional Coastal Plan 51 Department of Conservation 51 Whaia to Mahere Taiao a Hauraki – Hauraki Iwi Environmental Plan 51 Thames Coromandel District Council Community Plan - Whangamata 51 Appendix 2: Soil Classification and Description 53 Appendix 3: Soils and Agricultural Properties 54 Appendix 4: Consented activities 56 Appendix 5: Assessment of Wharekawa River October 2006 57 Appendix 6: Stage two assessment of Catchment 62

Wharekawa Estuary and Catchment

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Available as .pdf on Waikato Regional Council website at link below.

Guiding community and agency management of the catchment.

Public document.

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