Healing Aotearoa’s Waterways, One Stream at a Time

New Zealand’s freshwater ecosystems are in crisis with 76% of native freshwater fish species threatened or at risk of extinction.  

WWF-New Zealand, in partnership with the Tindall Foundation, is proud to support freshwater restoration projects through its Community Conservation Fund. 

This year that includes the Endangered Species Foundation’s Awhi Awa | Embrace a Stream and Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki’s Mangapouri Stream Restoration projects. 

Awhi Awa is working hard to inspire communities across the country to take action to stop the degradation of streams and help endangered freshwater fish that rely on healthy wai/water to thrive. 

Since its launch, Awhi Awa has flourished, engaging schools, communities, and businesses from as far north as Te Taitokerau, Northland to Ōtakou, Central Otago. 

The group has created a kete of resources to help communities, schools and businesses restore their local waterways. The kete includes bilingual educational resources, endangered fish signage made from sustainable materials, classroom modules, and tools for stream restoration. 

“It’s been very heartening to see so many people embracing their local waterways, learning about the species that depend on them, and taking real steps to make a difference,” says the Foundation’s General Manager, Natalie Jessup. 

The project holds workshops with tamariki to inspire action. Students learn how everyday actions can have a huge impact on the health of our waterways and students develop practical plans to engage their schools in ongoing restoration work. 

A cafe in Kirikiriroa Hamilton is the first business in Aotearoa to ‘embrace a stream’ with Awhi Awa. Hayes Common Café is helping educate customers and restore the habitats of endangered native freshwater species with Awhi Awa kete.  

Meanwhile in Ōtaki , the Mangapouri Stream Restoration Project is working to restore the mana and mauri of the Mangapouri Stream alongside Te Kura o Hato Petera Kaniera (St Peter Chanel School). The Mangapouri Stream runs through the school boundary. 

The Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki initiative is also bringing the story of the Mangapouri Stream into the classroom and teaching the importance of ecological restoration.  

The project uses a holistic taiao approach—bringing together both mātauranga Māori and Western science. 

“Students are getting stuck into real-world monitoring and restoration work, picking up some awesome skills and knowledge along the way,” says Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki’s Tiana Hakaraia Morgans. 

Teachers and students have worked together to shape a local curriculum that helps tamariki build a stronger connection to their environment.  

“It’s really important to us that this work is helping to restore the mana and mauri of the awa. That’s something that means a lot—not just to mana whenua, but to everyone in the wider Ōtaki community.” 

The team has completed its first round of environmental monitoring, which has provided some useful information to help plan the next steps in the restoration work. 

They have also identified native plants to plant near the stream to help the area thrive and recently held a successful kura planting day with support from school whanau. 

“It’s exciting to see how it’s growing—not just in terms of planting and gathering data, but in how our mahi is building knowledge, connection, and care for the awa. We’re proud of what’s been done so far and are looking forward to what comes next,” says Tiana. 

The WWF Community Conservation Fund supports local communities to run projects that conserve and restore Aotearoa’s natural environment, while also educating New Zealanders about its importance.