Film sparks interest in restoring biodiversity

• Published date: 23 June 2022
• Publication title: North Canterbury News

Over 40 people turned out to see the screening of Rohe Kōreporepo: The Swamp The Sacred Place, made by filmmaker Kathleen Gallagher who attended the event

The evening was organised by the Hurunui Biodiversity Trust, and its chairperson Dave Nicholls says the turnout indicates there is plenty of interest in the future of biodiversity in Hurunui.

‘‘We organised this screening to help people understand the importance and value of wetlands for Hurunui’s biodiversity,’’ he says. ‘‘The great attendance and keen interest bodes well for local wetland restoration.’’

The documentary tours around New Zealand visiting 60 communities of local iwi, farmers, fishers, scientists, artists, healers, teachers and students as they protect, restore and expand wetlands and explain their vital importance.

In the last 150 years over 90 percent of New Zealand’s swamps and wetlands have been drained to enable productive land uses, despite recognition of water in the Treaty of Waitangi as a taonga or treasure.

There was a discussion after the screening, with Tuhaitara Coastal Park Trust director Greg Byrnes and local wetlands ecologist John Preece commending the uniqueness of Tuhaitara being the only coastal conservation area between two braided rivers – the Waimakariri and Ashley/Rakahuri – in the country.

Greg Bennett, of Coastal Restoration Trust NZ, and Waimakariri District Council biodiversity officer Kate Steel discussed other wetland projects in North Canterbury.

Ms Steel described wetlands as ‘kidneys’, removing the nutrients and sediment that otherwise pollute and degrade the water.

In response to a question about the cost of...