Your Local Project Twin Streams

A group of planters

Project Twin Streams Henderson Creek

The contract area runs alongside Henderson Creek, which is the receiving catchment for a huge area of Waitakere City, water from all the streams and tributaries in the Waikumete, Oratia and Opanuku catchments ends up here.

Community Waitakere (formerly WADCOSS) manages the contract area, working with a number of local schools and community groups.

One of the highlights for 2008 included the introduction of a swap and exchange table at Henderson creek events. The idea is that anyone can bring something to the table and in return take something away.

The Swap and Exchange table it debuted at Henderson Creeks second planting day of the season on Saturday 21 June and was a great success, the table was empty by the end of the day after a wide variety of produce, plants, preserves, fruit and vegetables had been exchanged.

A second big clean up of Henderson creek by kayaks was held in 2008. Bags of rubbish and larger items such as tires were collected from the creek. Thanks to outdoor discoveries, man alive and individuals who helped supply the kayaks.

The range of sustainability initiatives being implemented by Henderson creek's local groups continued to grow in 2008. Vision Waitakere continued with their plans to become more sustainable with the implementation of worm farms, environmental light bulbs and a 3000 litre rain water tank.

Over 20 groups are currently involved with Project Twin Streams Henderson Creek include the West Auckland Historical Society, Henderson Primary School, Cranwell Park Early childhood Centre, Art of Living Meditation Group, Rutherford High School and the Chinese Conservation and Education Trust.

In 2006 Flanshaw Primary School published a wonderful book, Our Place, showcasing student's art relating to the stream, together with their thoughts and vision on how they are making a difference.

Henderson Creek in Fog	Swap Exchange Table	Big clean up by kayak	Lower Henderson Creek

Contacting Us

If you would like to know more about how you can get involved in Project Twin Streams Henderson Creek, contact Wendy Claire on (09) 838 7113 or email pts@communitywaitakere.org.nz.

Community planting of the lower Opanuku

Opanuku Stream Fairy

Flax Garden

Project Twin Streams Opanuku Stream was established early in 2006. Corban Estate Arts Centre manage the contract along the Lower Opanuku Stream.

Thirteen community groups have adopted areas alongside the stream, with all the schools in the area now involved with the project.

Highlights for 2008 included the completion of community planting along the Lower Opanuku, a further contract is planned for the Upper Opanuku stream.

The last Community Planting of the Lower Opanuku stream took place in September. The event concluded three years of hard work that had seen over 9400 trees planted by the local community at a total of six community plantings.

Over 13 community groups have adopted areas along the lower Opanuku and will continue the work of maintaining the planting.

Planting of the Opanuku Stream Pa Harakeke Garden got under way in 2008. An area next to the walk and cycleways was chosen and landscaped and has since been planted with the first flax cultivators. The garden has been created to grow flax for local weavers and for educational purposes.

Another exciting highlight included the launch of a carbon reduction action group (CRAG). This group meets monthly to talk about ways to reduce personal carbon usage and new developments in sustainability initiatives.

The Friends of Opanuku Stream network was established in late 2007, the group of volunteers regularly get together and hold events around the restoration and care of the Opanuku stream. One of their most recent events was a night time visit to see glow in the dark limpets, only found on Opanuku stream, and glow worms.

Contacting Us

If you would like to know more about how you can get involved in Project Twin Streams Opanuku Stream, contact: Annie Cochrane on (09) 835 2726, 027 227 0805 or email annie@ceac.org.nz

Drumming at Oratia's first community planting day - Click to enlarge

McLaren Park Henderson South Community Initiative manages the contract to manage the Lower Oratia stream area.

Since joining Project Twin Streams in 2006 Oraita Stream has held many successful planting days and has connected with many local groups and schools.

Community coordinator Green Jon always makes a point of inviting the community to take part in all aspects of the planting days, including helping to provide the music. Previous events have included a drumming circle, where anyone could join and a jam session, where local residents were encouraged to bring their own instruments and join in.

Since engaging with local community groups, Project Twin Streams Oraita Stream has shared a special experience with Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Hoani Waititi Marae.

A planting day was had with the middle school from the Marae, Te Kopuapua (the sapling), and the junior school, Te Kohungahunga. This turned into a fantastic event as the older students mentored the junior school, passing on their learning about planting and the environment and together the groups worked to plant the stream bank.

The day ended with a freedom shout and everyone left with a sense they had built new friendships and had together strengthen the people and the place.

The highlight for 2008 was the opening of the Millbrook Edible Garden. The garden was the result of 12 months hard work by Jon and the local community and . the 20 plots were almost all taken by the opening of the garden. The garden works on the principals of sharing, with elders sharing knowledge around gardening, the nature sharing its resources and the local community sharing their time.

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Project Twin Streams Oratia newsletter - March 2009 (Size 1406K)

Project Twin Streams Oratia newsletter - August 2008 (Size 882K)

Edible Garden	Edible Garden	Edible Garden	Children drawing artwork along the footpath

Contacting Us

If you would like to know more about how you can get involved in Project Twin Streams Oratia, contact: Green Jon on (09) 838 4820, 021 076 4637 or email oratia@mps.org.nz

Me puawai tatou katoa I roto te kotahitanga o Ranui Creating Our Future Together

Project Twin Streams Ranui-Massey began life in 2004 as the first Project Twin Streams contract to be established.

The Project Twin Streams Ranui-Massey area runs from the western side of Ranui downstream to where Swanson Stream flows into Huruhuru Creek. The area includes the Waimoko, Momotu and Swanson streams, which were weedy and neglected in many places when the project began. A lot of work remains to be done but with the energy and enthusiasm of the Ranui-Massey communities these streams will once again be restored to healthy, beautiful places.

The contract for development of the Project is held by Te Ukaipo, in association with Ranui Action Project (RAP). Te Ukaipo Mercy Initiatives for Rangatahi works with tangata whenua and others to provide holistic programmes and a healthy whanau family environment to rangatahi (youth) who are in at-risk situations.  Advocacy and support services are offered to whanau.

Te Ukaipo appreciates Papatuanuku Earth as taonga for future generations and through partnerships in the community (including Project Twin Streams) promotes daily living practices that nourish sustainable communities.

The Ranui Action Project (RAP), has identified that projects which improve the health and wellbeing of the Ranui community are a priority.  One of their key themes is the environment and RAP have set goals to encourage the protection, improvement and greater use of Ranui's physical environment.

For more information on the Ranui Action Project, Phone/fax: (09) 832-6048, email: rap@ranui.org.nz or visit our website: www.ranui.org.nz

The vision for Project Twin Streams Ranui-Massey is Manaaki te tangata, manaaki te awa - healing the people, healing the stream.

What Project Twin Streams Ranui-Massey has achieved so far

Te Piataata Trust planting day

With the help of the many individuals and community groups involved, Project Twin Streams Ranui-Massey has weeded extensive areas alongside the Swanson, Waimoko and Momotu streams.  Since 2005 we have planted 78,000 plants, removed hundreds of bags of rubbish and held 11 community planting days.

A highlight of 2008 for Ranui Massey was the Green Ribbon awarded to Te Piataata trust for their dedicated work on Project Twin Streams. The group works with at-risk youth in Waitakere and has been involved with Project Twin Streams since 2005. With their hard work and dedicate Te Piataata have helped transform an area of the Swanson stream from being weed infested and overgrown to a well maintained and planted area. Te Piataata celebrated their win by hosting Ranui-Massey's June community planting day and providing a hangi.

Ranui-Massey Groups

Project Twin Streams Ranui-Massey now works with nine community groups, all of whom have adopted an area of the Swanson, Waimoko or Momotu streams. Groups are supported with education in the form of on-site stream workshops and field trips to Cascades Regional Park.

Adoption means selecting a stretch of the stream that the group feels they can care for on a long-term basis. The area is initially cleared off weeds, before being replanted with natives. The group are also responsible for maintaining the new plants.

There is a great opportunity to learn about the ecology of the streams and how to care for and protect waterways. Plants, tools and advice are supplied; the groups bring energy and enthusiasm! The following groups have adopted areas of the streams:

Group of people working on their adopted stretch of the stream

• Te Piataata Trust: Weekly during term time students from the Trust work on their adopted area of the Swanson Stream in Urlich Reserve.
• Birdwood School: The school carries out regular weeding and planting sessions in their adopted area of Urlich Reserve outside the school grounds.
• Engineering and Industry Training Ltd: Fortnightly, during term time this group tends their area of Swanson Stream in Waimoko Glen.
• Agape Trust: This group weeds and plants Waimoko Stream in Urlich Reserve on a weekly basis.
• Lincoln Heights School have adopted Woodside Reserve and do several weeding and planting sessions throughout the year.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Henderson Stake. The various wards of the Church have adopted a large area of the Swanson Stream in Don Buck Corner Reserve.
• Massey Pony Club planted a section of the Swanson Stream adjacent to the arena in 2006 and have plans for further planting days.
• The Department of Corrections bring a team, weekly, to restore some of the most hard-to-reach areas of our streams. They have also adopted an area in Te Rangi Hiroa Reserve.
• Liston College have adopted an area of the Swanson Stream in Urlich Reserve.

Project Twin Streams Ranui-Massey newsletter - The Eel's Tale - Te Korero a Te Tuna is published twice a year and distributed to 2000 households in Ranui and Massey.

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print these documents.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Eels Tale Issue 6 (Size 1276K)

Eels Tale Issue 5 (Size 684K)

Eels Tale Issue 4 (Size 1277K)

Eels Tale Issue 3 (Size 819K)

Eels Tale Issue 2 (Size 636K)

Eels Tale Issue 1 (Size 864K)

As a Wai Care group www.waicare.org.nz Project Twin Streams Ranui-Massey carries out four monitoring sessions per year on the Waimoko and Swanson Streams.

Contacting Us

If you would like to know more about how you can get involved in project Twin Streams Ranui-Massey, please telephone Clair Hobi (Co-ordinator) on (09) 833 7009 or 021 832407 or email us at pts@teukaipo.org.nz.

Swanson Stream does not have a community contract organisation. Local resident Catherine MacKenzie-Simpson works with local groups and schools to adopt small sections of streambanks. She also organises small-scale community planting events.

In 2008 they held one community planting day at Parklands Avenue in October, where over 1300 trees were planted by the local community and two very successful days were held with Swanson School in October.

Over 60 students from years 1, 3 and 4 attended the days, where mulching and planting was on the agenda. Everyone, including Swanson's Community Coordinator Catherine Mackenzie, learnt something from the fun days and gained a new appreciation for their local stream and the creatures, including fresh water mussels, which inhabit it.

Swanson planting site	Local Children enjoy community planting	The Swanson stream	Swanson community planting day

Contacting Us

If you would like to know more about how you can get involved in Project Twin Streams Swanson, contact Catherine MacKenzie-Simpson on (09) 832 2230 or email catmike@xtra.co.nz

EcoMatters Environment Trust, in partnership with Glen Eden Primary School, manages the contract for Project Twin Streams Glen Eden.

After the first community planting day for 2008 was cancelled due to LACK of rain, the next two were very busy with DJ Morning Steppa helping planters to celebrate the Maori New Year, Matariki and a new coordinator, Teremoana Jones, coming on board in the middle of the planting session. The final community planting event of the year was a great success and celebrated some of the groups that are working with Project Twin Streams Glen Eden and included a Chinese flute performer.

Another highlight of 2008 was the Green Streets Event held at Pisces Road, in Glen Eden on 27 September.

Project Twin Streams Glen Eden collaborated with Keep Waitakere Beautiful, Ecomatters, and the Sustainable Homes Project to help demonstrate to the community that through working together and sharing skills, time, interest, knowledge and resources together we can create a healthier environment.

Genesis Horticulture, one of Project Twin Streams Glen Eden's community groups, also participated in the event, with students giving demonstrations and mini workshops on how to plant vegetable and native seeds.

A number of community groups are helping to restore the Whakarina, Bishop and Waikumete Streams, from the catchment's headwaters near Titirangi, down to the far end of Parr's Park in Oratia. This included Glen Eden Scouts, Captain Scott Residents Group, GE Money and the Glen Eden Harriers and Athletics Club.

Family bends down to plant	Girls with moko - Click to enlarge	Two young children with freshly painted faces

Contacting us

If you would like to know more about how you can get involved in Project Twin Streams Glen Eden, contact Teremoana Jones, (09) 813 2063, 021 308 257, or email ptsgleneden@ecomatters.org.nz.