Stormwater project underway at Murupara Log Yard

The blessing in April acknowledges the cultural and environmental significance of the land and waterways that surround and flow through the log yard — areas held sacred by Ngāti Manawa. The karakia brought together our staff, contractors, and iwi to reflect on the journey of this project and the shared commitment to restoring and protecting this important site.

The stormwater project has been years in the making, driven by the need to modernise the site’s ageing system and address issues that became particularly urgent following extended periods of heavy rainfall. The ponds, originally constructed in the 1970s, had begun to discharge more frequently and visibly affect the downstream environment, including puna (springs) and clear waterways deeply valued by Ngāti Manawa.

Land Resources Manager Dan Phillips says that while we have long been working toward a solution, it was the voice of Ngāti Manawa and the environmental pressures brought on by increasingly severe weather that gave the project renewed urgency.

“We’ve had strong input from Ngāti Manawa throughout,” Dan says. “The clarity and sacredness of these water bodies mean a lot to the iwi and to us. When discharge from the ponds started affecting those areas, we knew we needed to act quickly and meaningfully.”

One of the significant milestones in the project so far was the decision to remove contaminated sediment from the site entirely, rather than treat or contain it on-site.

Timberlands’ CEO and Senior Leadership Team supported this approach, despite the additional cost, recognising the long-term benefit to the environment and to iwi relations.

General Manager for Sustainability Colin Maunder reflected on the partnership with Ngāti Manawa as instrumental in shaping the project’s approach.

“What you shared with us about how special this area is really hit home,” he said. “It helped our team realise the importance of doing this job right, and doing it now. We welcome your scrutiny as the project progresses. This is a team effort.”

With the blessing complete, physical works are now underway, led by contractors Billy Brown of MAP Projects and Dean Neilson of Neilson Projects. Planned improvements include tidying the tributary beside the log yard, which is currently overrun with blackberry and other invasive species, with iwi input guiding what will be planted in its place.

This project is a tangible example of our commitment to kaitiakitanga (stewardship of the land) and to working in genuine partnership with iwi. It represents not only an environmental upgrade, but also an investment in the cultural and spiritual values of the whenua (land) and awa (waterways) that sustain us all.

As Dan says, “It’s great to start physical works, but the journey to get here, and the relationships we’ve built along the way, are just as important.”