In 2017, the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) was funded to scope two projects: 1) reducing sediment load in rural areas through expanding SBN’s Million Metres Streams* riparian planting project in Hauraki Gulf catchments; and 2) reducing sediment and heavy metal loads in urban Auckland through engagement with the business sector.

In May 2018 SBN produced a comprehensive report presenting their findings, accessible here. Summary findings are outlined below.

Scaling Million Metres

SBN found that there are eight requirements for successful waterway restoration at any scale: an enabling political environment; land and landowners; capital; good quality restoration plans; skilled project coordination; labour; plants; and impact monitoring. Collaborative partnerships are also a critical enabler to scale waterway restoration for the Hauraki Gulf.

Barriers limiting scale for waterway restoration were: lack of partnerships between key stakeholders; high costs associated with nursery and planting processes; lack of large-scale engagement with landowners; limited capital to deliver restoration; and lack of incentives for restoration on private land.

A three-year pilot was recommended, to test collaboration for scaling waterway restoration between Million Metres, Te Whangai Trust, five catchment groups on the Western Firth of Thames, regional councils and others. SBN subsequently achieved a three year funding partnership with Auckland Council and the Ministry for the Environment to expand its Million Metres initiative

* See www.millionmetres.org.nz. Note that Foundation North also funds Million Metres through non-GIFT funding.