About us

It is all about the water

Cleaning up and protecting our waterways has become a hot political topic. Economic development must go hand in hand with addressing environmental issues. Voters are now insisting on that. But it is also about who pays.

Whilst our group cannot solve all the issues, we are committed to establishing a high standard of water for the Tokarau - Doubtless Bay catchment. Addressing pollution and silting issues takes a community effort in order to be truly effective.

Our main objectives (Pou), are all directed at generating cross community participation and interest in cleaning up our waterways.

Committed to the Restoration, Maintenance and Protection of a High Standard of Water Quality within all the Waterways of the Tokarau - Doubtless Bay Catchment.

Water quality needs to be watched, checked, addressed and protected so that our land and our waterways can sustain the full range of aquatic life. The intrinsic value of freshwater waterways is largely based on their ability to sustain healthy aquatic ecological systems and the species that live within them.

Ecological (aquatic) systems are linked to lands, vegetation and marine areas that they border. It is therefore of utmost importance that this relationship between land and our waters ways, both fresh and marine is guarded. New Zealand has over 425,000 kilometres of rivers and streams. There are over 30 major river catchments in the North Island alone. Species move between land and water throughout their life cycles. That is why looking after their intrinsic relationship is so important.

Clean Waters to the Sea - Tokarau Moana Charitable Trust wishes to impart (kaitiakitanga) guardianship to all those who enjoy the benefits of good quality water. We want to do that by; sharing and broadening our knowledge of best practices in riparian planting and sustainable agricultural practices, highlighting for our community topical issues that may impact on our waterways, engaging our local community (schools, businesses, landowners, groups and individuals) in local projects where they can make a difference, working alongside local and national bodies to both inform and learn from current research, and raising awareness of what can be achieved at grassroots level.

Partnerships

We recognise that building strong partnerships is key to succeeding in sustaining what is achieved. The Trust wants to create and contribute to opportunities for shared understanding. We are committed to building relationships based on trust, respect and mutual benefit. Currently the Trust has working relationships with; Department of Conservation, Northern Regional Council, Far North District Council, Dairy NZ, Land Corp, Local Schools, Local Business, Local farming community and many others.

The Strategic Plan

The trust operates under a strategic plan focused under four pillars. These are called pou, as they mark our direction, guide us in our annual plans and keep us true to what we have set out to achieve.

The Four Pou are:

  • Pou One: Community engagement and participation
  • Pou Two: Provision of recommended riparian planting
  • Pou Three: Supporting sustainable land use practices
  • Pou Four: Sustaining what we set out to achieve

Download our Strategic Plan to read more.

Charitable Status

Clean Waters to the Sea - Tokarau Moana Charitable Trust is incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 and was granted trust status on 20 March 2014. Its certificate of incorporation number is 2599724.

The Trustees

The trust is currently made up of six trustees and they each bring a special set of skills and enthusiasm to the Trust. Lead trustees are aligned to each of the POU so as to maximise the skills, experience and networks that they bring to the work of the Trust.

Our Logo

Created and Crafted by Theresa Reihana for Clean Waters to the Sea.

The Blue symbolises our fish. Green is the leaf and represents our flora, our habitats along our rivers.

The pattern between the blue and the green symbolises the path of water (river). It comes from the maunga (koru pattern), which is the spring.

Tokarau is the "Bay of many plentiful fishing rocks". Now known as Doubtless Bay. Toka, meaning rock and Rau, meaning many or hundreds. In times gone by, each fishing area - a rock, or reef - was associated with one hapu where they would fish. One of these is Nuku Taurua or Fairway Reef. As it was a very plentiful fishing 'rock' it was a shared fishing ground by all hapu in the area.

 

download documents

the trustees

Pou One: Community engagement and participation

Arthur (Tiger) Tukariri
Unuhia te rito o te harakeke kei hea ra te komako e ko ki mai ki a au he aha te mea nui o tenei ao? Maku e ki a nei he tangata,he tangata,he tangata.

If you pluck the centre shoot of the flax where will the bellbird go? If you were to ask me what is the most important thing in this world I would reply tis man, tis man, tis man. Taku whakaaro pera te whakatauki

My use of this proverb says to me if something is not right it is people that can fix it that's my commitment to cleaner waters and an abundance of kai in the rivers and the moana as our people have grown up with. Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) is only realised when you see it in the actions, in the talk and in the way things are done. Demonstrated by a good group of committed; locals, schools and businesses, who with their many hands makes light work of being guardians of our water ways for the now, and for the near and distant future.

Trudy Crerar
Trudy’s participation in the Trust focuses on many of our priorities. She works closely with all of the trustees with valuable input into each of the Pou. Trudy has a long history in Botany, landscaping, environmental protection and community engagement and participation. Her role within the trust is driven by a desire to see change at grassroots level, involving local community members and businesses to be aware of our environment and the impact we individually and collectively have on our water ways. Innovation and getting people enthused are her strengths. Great partnerships with local schools and businesses have been developed as result. Trudy is an acclaimed landscape designer with a vast knowledge of native planting and regeneration with a particlar focus on eco-sourcing and sustainable ecologies. She brings a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm, tenacity to the trust and makes sure that future generations have real input into the things we do.

Pou Two: Provision of recommended riparian planting

Wayne Parsonson (Chair)
Wayne is an ardent follower of local and national government policy that impacts on our local environment. He works tirelessly in support of the trust's strategic plan, by informing local networks of up to date strategies, thinking, research and success stories of what can be achieved when riparian planting is planned, researched, well executed, monitored and sustained. Wayne's input in this area has resulted in Clean Waters to the Sea being invited to sit on local and national advisory groups as a key stakeholder representative, strong partnerships forming with DOC and other locally based networks. Wayne and his partner Yvonne live on their 155 hectare permaculture land project which they began in 1990. It includes edible landscapes, native forest conservation, sustainable forestry, and eco buildings for hosting visitors. Wayne is also very handy with a spade on planting days!!

Pou Three: Supporting sustainable land use practices

Andreas Kurmann
After attaining his BSc in Biological Science, Andreas worked for many years for a Regional Council in Switzerland, overseeing waste-water treatment stations and controlling waterways for pollution. After moving to New Zealand and gaining further qualifications, Andreas wanted to continue to be involved in the improvement of our water and waterways at a local level as he saw that New Zealand was heading towards the same issues that Europe had faced. Andreas provides guidance, support and know how to local land owners, councils and anyone interested in how they can actively support sustainable land use practices. He provides environmentally friendly recommendations on how to get you soil back into balance and also achieve heightened fertility. Ask Andreas about his bio-reactor that turns sludge into reusable fuel and you will be sold! He has the children of Mangonui School hooked on science through his easy approach to bio-sustainability (…or is it his retro car run on his own production of biofuel made out of kiwifruit?)

Pou Four: Sustaining what we set out to achieve

Jill Garrett
What is the point of doing all this work, if we can't sustain it over time because no one follows behind us? Jill's role has been pivotal in gaining our trust status, creating clear concise strategic plans and doing all the 'business type work' that a lot of us shied away from. Jill puts all our great ideas down on paper, ensures that plans are made, budgets are set and funders found so that the work we get started, continues and grows. Jill comes from a project management background and has worked in Northland across the district on projects where the main objectives have always been; lifting our game, producing quality work to be proud of and ensuring what gets achieved, sustains the test of time. (She also keeps us all to task so woe be tied if you miss an action point assigned to your name in the meeting minutes. Softy at heart and makes great cookies!!)