Karamu River Catchments Collective

29/09/2026

As a catchment group just getting started, building relationships across a whole catchment feels like a big task. So when Brian McLay, through Rotary Club of Stortford Lodge - Hastings sourced 2,500 end of season riparian plants for us, he saw more than plants. He saw an opportunity to connect us with landowners and Councils across Te Karamū.

With BioRich helping the plants grow on in quality compost, and Rotary volunteers potting them up, those 2,500 plants have been rehomed to:
✅ Six subcatchments: Paritua, Maraekakaho, Twyford, Havelock Streams, Kererū and Raukawa
✅ Ten landowner sites
✅ A Hastings District Council park

What happens upstream affects what happens downstream, so restoring our waterways is something we can all contribute to. Thank you to Brian, Rotary Club of Stortford Lodge - Hastings, BioRich and the volunteers and landowners who made it happen.

Read the full story here

When you are a catchment group just getting started, building connections across a whole catchment can feel like a big task.

19/09/2026

We had some welcome help this morning from some local students.

They spent a few hours doing maintenance on our Irongate stream planting.
Maintenance is so important for plant success and is an integral part of all our projects.
Thanks guys you certainly got through a heap of work we really appreciate it!
Loving seeing so many people come together on this project over time.

08/09/2026

Have you noticed more Canadian geese around our catchment lately? 👀 We’ve been hearing a few observations about growing numbers, and we’re keen to know what you’re seeing.
Are they turning up in places you haven’t seen them before? Are numbers increasing where you live or farm?

Tell us what you’ve noticed in the comments 👇or email [email protected]

Your observations help us build a better picture of what’s happening across Te Karamū. 💚

Photo credit Tom Koerner/USFWS

07/09/2026

This is what wetland restoration looks like too🐀!
Only 4% of Hawke’s Bay’s original wetlands remain. Yet these small pockets support a greater concentration of wildlife than any other habitat in Aotearoa, offering a food source for fish, birds and other animals. At Waipuna Wetland, thanks to Biodiversity Hawke's Bay we’ve recently connected two urban wetland areas (one recently planted) with a trapline of 19 DOC 200 traps. Rats and mice are already being caught. Big thank you to our local volunteers servicing this trapline! Here’s hoping the birdsong gets louder. 🐦💚

04/09/2026

Thanks for coming out and spending the morning with us Catchment Communities Aotearoa and Ministry for Primary Industries. It was great to share whats happening on the ground and, importantly, the thinking behind it.

Irongate Collective is a great example of what can happen when businesses see themselves as catchment custodians and choose to invest in the health of the landscape that supports them.

Bringing landowners, industry, community and technical experts together creates opportunities that none of us can achieve on our own. Lots more to come from Irongate.💚
Lattey Group TUMU Group HB Homes & Commercial - Transportable & Off‑Site Builds

25/08/2026

There’s something progressive happening around Irongate.

Find out how the Irongate Collective is turning local business support into action for the stream and wider catchment.
Read the story →
https://karamucollective.nz/our-stories/irongatecollective

HB Homes & Commercial - Transportable & Off‑Site Builds
TUMU Group
TUMU Timbers
Lattey Group
TimberSpan
The Evergreen Foundation

24/08/2026

Thinking about planting poplars? Now is a good time because our mates at Plant Hawke's Bay Ltd have got a deal for you.

Poplars are great at:
• Slip stabilisation
• Shade and shelter for livestock
• Drought resilience
• Future fodder
• Earning carbon revenue

Three varieties are available.
Crowsnest: An upright, narrow growing poplar suited to riparian planting and as a specimen tree.
Kawa: Well suited to damper valleys and sites protected from strong winds.
Veronese: A good choice for tougher, drier and windier sites.

For a limited time, every poplar purchase includes free Soil Improver Powder/Tablets, plus 20% off orders over $100. Recent Hawke's Bay trials found rooted poplars had a 3–4 times higher survival rate than poles.

If you're thinking about planting this season, give Marie a call to talk through which variety could work best for your property.

14/08/2026

How many deer do you think are on your farm? Probably more than you realise. A recent Hawke's Bay study has found wild deer are placing pressure on both productive land and native ecosystems. Read the full article via the link below 👇

Wild deer in Hawke's Bay are costing farmers about $10,000 a year off gross margin, with properties carrying more deer than thought.

07/08/2026

Our rabbit control evening showed how many people are ready to control rabbits together.

Now it's time for the next step. We have launched the Collective Rabbit Reset project on Trap.NZ, and everyone in the Karamū catchment is invited to be part of it. Whether you are controlling rabbits on a farm, orchard, vineyard or lifestyle block, we would love you to record your rabbit numbers and control efforts.

Every rabbit recorded helps us understand where populations are highest, how they're changing over time, and where working together can have the greatest impact.

Join the Collective Rabbit Reset today - link below or email [email protected] if you need help getting set up.

https://trap.nz/project/38557902/info

04/08/2026

The Irongate industrial area is an important part of our regional economy, supporting businesses, growers and rural communities across Te Karamū. The Irongate Collective understands that environmental restoration and economic resilience are symbiotic. Businesses rely on healthy landscapes for clean water, productive land, thriving communities and places where people want to live and work.

Our new video communicates the commitment of our founding members and the collective action they are taking to care for the environment around them. By working together, industry can move beyond traditional sponsorship and take collective ownership of the places where their people live and operate.

What does environmental stewardship look like in the industrial are...