Te Mana o Te Wai Tairāwhiti – The Freshwater Conference 2017 was a two day symposium held 3-4 May in Uawa (Tolaga Bay) exploring how can we ensure that our freshwater remains the source of life for all things – our waiora – for generations to come. The event brought together 20 leading national and local freshwater researchers with members of the community from across Tairāwhiti.
The event was proudly supported by Te Aitanga a Hauiti Centre of Excellence, Massey University, Hikurangi Enterprises, Eastland Community Trust, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Day 1 (3rd May) involved a series of field trips around the Uawa rohe visiting sites of ecological and cultural significance to discuss historic events and contemporary issues. The day concluded with a keynote address by Professor Dame Anne Salmond and local artist Mark Kōpua.
Day 2 (4th May) featured a series of presentations on the latest research by leading freshwater scientists and researchers from Tairāwhiti and research institutions around the country. Below are videos of their presentations and we will be adding the slide presentations.
| Gisborne Freshwater Plan – the planning process, decisions and ongoing implementation | Lois Easton, GDC | Video | Slides |
| Land use trends and futures in Tairāwhiti: the good, the bad and the ugly | Mike Marden, Landcare Research | Video | Slides |
| Understanding sediment pathways from slope to channel in steep terrain | Dr. Ian Fuller Massey | Video | Slides |
| A sediment budget framework to support river management in Tairāwhiti | Prof Jon Tunnicliffe, University of Auckland | Video | Slides |
| The water of life that flows nourishes whānau aspirations and resilience | Sue Anne Albert-Hovell & Hauiti Kohatu, Tolaga Bay Area School | Video | Slides |
| The national picture and local implications | Prof Nigel French, Massey University | Video | Slides |
| Water microbiology | Dr Elaine Moriarty, ESR | Video | Slides |
| Bioremediation through riparian Planting with Mānuka & Kānuka | Dr Maria Gutierres-Gines, ERS | Video | Slides |
| Towards Cultural Habitat Assessment | Dr Jo Clapcott, Cawthron Institute | Video | Slides |
| Utauta mō te tiaki i te ora awa – Tools for protecting river life | Dr Russel Death, Massey University | Video | Slides |
| Management of logging slash – ecology and risks | Dr Brenda Baillie, Scion | Slides | |
| Forestry slash implications (PhD project) | Gabriel Spreitzer, University of Auckland | Video | Slides |
| Citizen Science: Mata, Motu and Taruheru Rivers | Murray Palmer | Video | Slides |
| Te Awaroa – Voice of the Rivers | Dr Daniel Hikuroa | Video | Slides |