This past Saturday, over 30 volunteers gathered along the banks of Ngatoe Stream in Vaima’anga to take part in a successful community planting day.

The riparian stream restoration was a collaboration between traditional leaders, land leaseholders, and local NGOs — Muri Environment Care (MEC) and Te Ara o te Akau Inc. — united by a shared goal of improving lagoon health through lowering stream erosion.

In recent years, coral degradation near the mouth of Ngatoe Stream has become an increasing concern. Heavy rainfall events wash excess sediment and nutrients into the lagoon, smothering coral and blocking the sunlight it needs to survive. This runoff also fuels algal blooms that can overwhelm coral colonies, causing long-term damage to the reef ecosystem.

Coral is essential to lagoon health, providing critical habitat and shelter for fish and other marine life. After major rain events, Te Ara o te Akau often finds their coral nursery frames overrun with algae and silt, requiring constant cleaning to keep the coral alive. By improving stream health through riparian planting, the group hopes to give the reef a fighting chance to recover and allow their coral nurseries, located downstream of Ngatoe Stream, to continue contributing to coral conservation.

For several months, MEC has been monitoring the health of streams in the Takitumu District and identified Ngatoe as a high-priority site due to significant erosion. Their findings shaped Saturday’s planting strategy, which focused on stabilising erosion-prone banks using strong-rooting species such as vetiver and sedge.

Over the course of the morning, volunteers planted nearly 1000 plants, restoring around 50 metres of streambank. All plants used in the restoration were sourced from MEC’s conservation nursery.

To stabilise the collapsing lower bank, volunteers planted a line of vetiver and sedge grasses along the stream edge. The mid-bank area was planted with more established native trees such as Candle Nut (Tuitui) and Coral Trees (Ngatae), whose deep roots will anchor the upper bank and prevent further land loss.

The entire area was laid with natural hemp and wool weed matting, which will help retain moisture, suppress weed growth, and reduce future maintenance needs.

The benefits of this riparian planting extend beyond erosion control. By shading the stream, these plants will help lower water temperatures, creating a healthier habitat for native aquatic species supporting the return of biodiversity to the stream.

This restoration initiative is a reminder of the vital role communities can play in protecting their environment. When people come together with a shared purpose, real and lasting ecological change becomes possible.

The planting day also highlights the intrinsic link between streams, lagoons and coral reefs, and how degradation in one area can negatively impact others. Conversely, restoration efforts in any part of this connected system can bring broad environmental benefits.

Muri Environment Care continues to support local stream planting projects and is always looking for volunteers. They encourage anyone interested in restoration work to reach out for support.

For updates on future planting days and conservation efforts, follow MEC on Facebook.