The Uretara Estuary Managers Group

Organisation Details

DescriptionIn 2004 a group of residents living near the Uretara Estuary at the end of Park Road in Katikati banded together to see if they could increase the number of native birds in the estuary. They started with laying rat bait stations and were rewarded the following year with an increase in native birds nesting and raising young in the area.

This was just the beginning of the work needed to improve the health of the estuary as a whole. Alongside pest control efforts, the group has undertaken major projects such as the removal of a destructive species of mangrove from the estuary, stream bank restoration in the vicinity of Rawaka Drive in Katikati, the planting of native trees along the river with the help of volunteers from the community, enhancement work along the Yeoman Bird Walkway and the restoration of wetlands in the estuary.

In 2007 the Uretara Estuary Managers won a prestigious Green Ribbon Award, presented to them by the Minister of the Environment at Parliament.

The Archives Room at Katikati Public Library has much more information about this very dedicated group of local volunteers. If you would like access to this, please use the contact facility on this web site, and quote folder #79. Last edited by: Sandra Haigh