Karamū Stream

KARAMŪ STREAM - Improve the state of the Karamū Stream

Check out our more detailed publication about the Karamu Stream here

What do we want to fix?

The extensive size of the catchment means there are high amounts of contaminants coming into the stream, which then end up in the recreational area of the Clive River and Waitangi Estuary.

Rain run off from the streets, roofs and land in the urban areas of Hastings and Havelock North takes contaminants into the stream untreated.  Sediment from stream bank erosion and from farmland, and chemical run off from orchards impacts on the ecology of the stream, especially the lower reaches which suffer from accelerated weed growth in summer and the loss of pātiki [flounder] fisheries.  Contaminants in the water also cause health issues for rowers and other water users. 

Many of the smaller tributaries in urban areas are used as dumpsites or ‘compost’ areas, encouraging weeds, pests and water contamination, and better awareness by homeowners can reduce this problem.

What do we want to do?

We want to accelerate the current stream edge enhancement programme. Volunteers and landowners are doing good work to help reduce stream bank erosion and trap nutrients before these flow into the stream, while providing much needed native ecosystems for insects and birds and improving instream conditions for fish. 

We want to reduce the contaminants entering the water.