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A collaborative conservation project in Ashley Clinton has brought new life to the Tukipo catchment, with the unveiling of a 1.6-hectare constructed wetland designed to reduce farm runoff and enhance biodiversity.

The wetland—funded by Fonterra and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC), in partnership with NIWA and the Tukipo Catchment Care Group (TCCG)—is a milestone in improving both water quality and habitat diversity. It also serves as a research site to help scientists understand how well wetlands filter out nitrogen and other farm-related contaminants.

The site, once an underused paddock donated by the White family, now supports a thriving wetland ecosystem featuring 24,000 native plants. It sits beside a 7-hectare remnant bush, boosting the area’s ecological value.

Engineered using NIWA’s modular wetland design, the system treats water from 180 hectares of catchment land. A mix of shallow planted zones and deeper water cells allows natural bacterial processes to break down pollutants. A high-flow bypass protects the system by diverting stormwater directly to the main waterway.

The wetland plays an important role in water quality improvement, flood management, and native species conservation. Its design is expected to provide valuable habitat for native birds, including the critically endangered bittern.

Since its formation in 2018, the Tukipo Catchment Care Group has achieved substantial environmental progress across the catchment—fencing 49km of waterways, planting 75,000 riparian natives, and establishing 40 small-scale wetlands, supported by the Ministry for the Environment’s Freshwater Improvement Fund.

The project stands as a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration between farmers, scientists, and environmental partners.

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