Maraetotara Tree Trust

The Maraetōtara Tree Trust is a partnership between the 2002 formed conservation Trust, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and very generous Valley Landowners, who agree to permanently covenant private farmland riparian margins.

Planting native trees offers many benefits for all New Zealanders. We know that it is possible to manage planted indigenous trees to improve biodiversity, protect riparian areas, and improve water quality, to enhance the landscape and store carbon.

In partnership with the Regional Council since 2002, Maraetōtara Tree Trust is progressively removing willows, fencing off covenanted 5-15m riverside margins and planting these with native trees that are predominately grown from seed or cuttings gathered from the river valley by MTT (eco-source plants are substantially preferred).

The Trust founders 2002 vision remains to establish a lush corridor the full length of the Maraetōtara River. The project’s aims include to improve the ecosystem and to establish permanent reserved habitats for regenerating native plants, birds and wildlife.

Maraetōtara River previously suffered degradation from livestock pollution, willow tree infestation, and a general lack of care and protection of river margins. The waterway’s degradation was reversed in under 10-years - but work is ongoing!.

The project continues successfully led by Maraetōtara Tree Trust volunteers. Seedlings propagation, planting and ongoing trees aftercare is funded by charitable donations, and grants gained by MTT people. The project is also regularly assisted by voluntary work in the river by various community groups, schools, farmers from the valley and others.