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Wild for Taranaki Secures Wai Connection Funding for Another Year
Wild for Taranaki is pleased to announce the continuation of the Wai Connection programme, after securing funding from the Ministry for the Environment and Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust. This funding will support five regional roles for a further 12 months, enabling the programme to continue delivering valuable environmental outcomes across the region.
Since its commencement in July 2024, Wai Connection Taranaki has made significant progress in up-skilling kaimahi in their knowledge & capability in Freshwater Monitoring as well as Macroinvertebrate & Periphyton Monitoring, creating Community Action and Restoration, strengthening Partnerships and Collaborations Across the Region and educating the Next Generation. Originally scheduled to conclude in June 2025, the programme will now be extended, allowing kaimahi the opportunity to build on the strong foundations already laid to create lasting impact.
“This extension is a testament to the hard work of our kaimahi and the positive impact Wai Connection is having across Taranaki,” said Lisa Berndt, Wai Connection Regional Co-Ordinator at Wild for Taranaki. “With another year of support, we’re excited to continue embedding these outcomes and supporting communities in improving their freshwater health and catchment care.”
We will continue to take a region-wide, collaborative approach to freshwater health guided by the shared goals of our member organisations and Wai Connection partners Te Kāhui o Taranaki, Te Kaahui o Rauru, and Te Ihowai Ltd.
We were able to implement a new role aimed at providing tailored regional freshwater support. This flexible Wai Coordinator based at Wild for Taranaki will support with Freshwater Monitoring & Training as well as Capability Building & Workshops, Restoration Planning & Support and Catchment Coordination & Planning to empower communities to take collective action for the health of our waterways in Taranaki.
Overall, we will focus on strengthening regional coordination, expanding freshwater monitoring and restoration, deepening education and engagement, and supporting leadership in freshwater management across Taranaki.
