Waiwhetū:
Star-reflecting stream
The Friends of Waiwhetū Stream is an active community group established in 2011 to work towards a healthy ecosystem for the Waiwhetū Stream in Lower Hutt. The Waiwhetū Stream starts in the Eastern Hutt Hills in the suburbs of Taita and Naenae and flows out to the mouth of the Hutt River. As the Hutt Valley was settled, the stream underwent changes which were often disruptive of its natural state. In places the natural stream was straightened with concrete channels, vegetation cleared and rubbish and pollutants entered the stream. To rehabilitate the stream Friends of Waiwhetū volunteers undertake many activities to improve the natural ecosystem. Planting native vegetation, eradicating weeds and clearing rubbish are some of the projects carried out. Contact us to learn more and get involved.
Volunteer efforts
We rely on volunteers! This year Gracefield School planted native trees and grasses South of Wainui Road Bridge, opposite Rishworth Reserve.
To protect the plants, a large pile of mulch was delivered by HCC.
This pile was first attacked by a group of year 9's from Chilton St James. They spread about a third of the pile of mulch. Then a group of five volunteers from Cutriss Consulting came along and after an hour an a half they leveled the pile of mulch and we now have plants that will grow over the summer.
Well done everyone - a very coordinated effort!
Gracefield School above and to the right.
Below, Chilton St James year 9s and to the right, Cutriss Consulting volunteers
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Awards
Hutt City Council and Wellington Airport Regional Community Award
The beautiful sculpture at the northern end of Te Whiti Park was funded in part through the money from the 2014 Wellington Community Awards. Hutt City Council also supported the installation. Created by Jason Dench (www.rawtiron.com) the sculpture is a kowhai tree and the stream. AWARD finalists Friends of Waiwhetu finalists in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Community Awards for 2019
The many stages of
Waiwhetū Stream
Data and monitoring the stream
Wikipedia Page
Several organisations monitor the water quality and general health of the stream:
The Waiwhetu Stream now has its own Wikipedia page, thanks to editor Marshall Clark.