Wharehine Technical Workshop ReportKaipara Moana Remediation Field Advisors
– Second Technical Workshop Thursday 4 December | 384 JV Grant Road, Wharehine
The second Kaipara Moana Remediation (KMR) technical workshop was a resounding success, bringing together landowners, neighbours, and partner organisations for a day of shared learning, practical insights, and connection. Delivered collaboratively by The Forest Bridge Trust, Future Ready Farms, and Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, the workshop was generously hosted by local landowners Hana and Dan, who opened their home and 47-hectare farm to participants from along JV Grant Road and the wider Wharehine area.
A locally focused day of learning
This workshop had a strong local focus, with neighbours invited to explore practical solutions around fencing, planting, and Kaipara Moana Remediation Landowner Grants. It quickly became clear during whakawhanaungatanga that there is a deep and enduring connection to the land in this community. Many attendees are in their third decade of kaitiakitanga, having independently protected bush, waterways and their soil for more than 30 years.
Participants represented a diverse mix of beef and sheep farmers, lifestylers and farm foresters, all bringing valuable experience and perspectives to the discussion.
Understanding KMR in practice
Katie Forno and Hamish Stewart, KMR Field Advisors, led a comprehensive session outlining how KMR supports landowners using science-based tools and methods to design effective remediation projects.
An interactive exercise invited participants to consider how they would approach areas of the farm that were slipping, slumping, wet or non-productive. This sparked robust, multi-layered discussion, followed by three mock project examples that demonstrated how KMR grants and support could be applied in real-world scenarios. The session prompted an energetic and wide-ranging Q&A, reflecting the strong engagement in the room.
Regenerative farming and soil health
Paul Candy and Stephen Newman from Future Ready Farms then shared insights into their regenerative farming initiative, highlighting the strong synergies between soil health, land remediation and long-term farm resilience.
This was followed by a practical and engaging Visual Soil Health Assessment in the field, offering participants a clear understanding of the soil’s current condition, along with its strengths and limitations.
Wetlands in action
The field trip concluded with a visit to the farm’s wetland, led by Hana Aickin of Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust and landowner of the property. Participants measured water clarity above and below the wetland, clearly demonstrating the wetland’s ability to filter sediment.
The results were striking water leaving the wetland was 50% clearer than the water entering from upstream, powerfully illustrating the role wetlands play in improving water quality.
Shared kai and next steps
The day concluded with a shared kai, providing space for conversations to continue and for participants to reflect on next steps in their restoration journeys.
Get in touch
If you’re interested in fencing, planting, or exploring Kaipara Moana Remediation Landowner Grants, our Field Advisors are here to help:
- Katie – katie@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz
- Angela – angela@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz
- Hamish – hamish@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz