An announcement of funding to support Te Pokohiwi-o-Kupe (the Wairau Bar) was made earlier this week. The Department of Conservation has committed to an investment of $276,200 in the Wairau Wetlands Cultural Values Mapping and Management Project – a project championed by Rangitāne o Wairau. The project aims include:
- Developing an accessible knowledge base for the cultural heritage places and values of the Wairau Wetlands
- Building capacity for Rangitāne to manage and lead cultural monitoring and management activities within the project area
- Developing sustainable best practice monitoring and management approach for some of the most important cultural sites in Aotearoa

The funding will focus on Te Pokohiwi-o-Kupe and the wider Wairau Lagoons, and will involve mapping the cultural dimensions of the landscape, building a knowledgebase for the future and implementing a kaitiaki programme to monitor, maintain and protect important sites and cultural values.

Rangitāne o Wairau Kaiwhakahaere Matua (General Manager) Corey Hebberd said the investment by the Government in Te Pokohiwi-o-Kupe will deliver a step change in the way in which Rangitāne and the Crown protect and secure the future of Te Pokohiwi-o-Kupe.

The funding for the project comes from the Department of Conservation’s Community Fund, which received 292 applications requesting $77 million in funding. Of the 292 applications, $9.2 million was provided and 38 projects were funded.

Content and photo have been shared with permission from Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau.