Always Be Naturing
Small streams criss cross over sand in a valley flanked by mountains.

Rakitata River revival programme

Introduction

Ko te Whakahaumanu o te Rakitata Awa is working to restore the mauri of the river from mountains to sea.

The programme began as a partnership between Te Rūnaka o Arowhenua and DOC through our Ngā Awa river restoration programme. It now includes Environment Canterbury, Toitū te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, Central South Island Fish & Game and Timaru and Ashburton District Councils.

Rakitata is our preferred name for the Rangitata River as it recognises the local Kāi Tahu (Ngāi Tahu) dialect, which replaces ‘ng’ with ‘k’. So ‘taonga’ becomes ‘taoka’ for example.

Subscribe to the community newsletter to stay up-to-date with this project.

Email RakitataAwa@doc.govt.nz if you have questions or want to get involved.