Major step for mahinga kai project in former Kaiapoi red zone

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

From local democracy reporter David Hill:

Kaiapoi’s multimillion-dollar mahinga kai project is set to take a major step forward with the signing of a new trust deed agreement.

The Waimakariri District Council last week approved a co-govenance agreement with Te Kohaka o Tuhaitara Trust to manage the Huria Reserve, heritage and mahinga kai area.

The initiative is a key project from the Waimakariri Residential Red Zone Recovery Plan and comprises eight hectares of land in the Kaiapoi south regeneration area.

The reserve is located to the south of Kaiapoi River, straddling the south bank, and continues south to sit between the proposed Kaiapoi Community Hub and Courtenay Lake.

It is a partnership between the council and Te Runanga o Ngāi Tūāhuriri.

The council is contributing $1.74 million over five years to the project, which was established in the 2018 long-term plan, and will retain ownership of the land.

Waimakariri District Council community and recreation manager Chris Brown said the trust would manage the area under a lease agreement and would seek additional funding from other sources.

Mayor Dan Gordon said the project was an important part of Kaiapoi’s ongoing regeneration.

‘‘It’s a fantastic partnership and I'm in full support of it. It’s good to see this finally coming to fruition.

‘‘The project will create a public reserve with walkways and board walks through native planted areas, opportunities for mahinga kai, natural play areas, educational zones and interpretive signage to tell the local stories and history.’’

Representatives from the council, trust and runanga have formed a joint working group to work on the project design and construction.

Construction is under way, with work on the pathways tendered and awarded to Citycare Property in May and due to be completed this month.

The first round of planting was completed on June 30, with 4000 native plants and shrubs planted.

‘‘This included five totara trees that will greet visitors to the entrance of the reserve area and lead them through the paths,’’ Gordon said.

Landscape design and master planning for the second stage of works is under way.

The reserve area design takes into account the interim licence to occupy held by the WHoW Charitable Trust for the Kaikanui Aqualand NZ aqua play park facility on Courtenay Lake.

The name Huria recognises the Huria whanau, which fished the local Cam and Waimakariri rivers and has a long history in the area.

It also recognised the loss of land, which was taken from the whanau to allow the motorway to be built.