Stormwater is water that runs off the land into our gutters. When it rains, stormwater flows from the roofs, footpaths, roads, carparks, and straight into the nearest stream – unfiltered.
On its journey, the water picks up lots of nasty pollutants that end up in our rivers and streams. It flows untreated into our waterways and out to sea.
Let’s put on our capes and become Stormwater Superheroes by helping to clean up our waterways and safeguard mahinga kai species and habitat.
Mahinga Kai
Mahinga kai is food and other natural resources,
the habitat they are found in, and the cultural
customs associated with these places. It is the
relationship between all elements that help sustain
life, including kōura (crayfish), īnanga (whitebait),
harakeke (flax), wetlands, waterways, native
vegetation and insects.
Mahinga kai species can be enhanced when we
protect the environment that sustains them, like
streams and rivers. Mahinga kai abundance can be
a key indicator to the direct health of a stream or area.
We are all connected to the land and waterways
– our waterways are our lifeline. Tōitu te marae o
Tane, Tōitu te marae o Tangaroa, Tōitu te Iwi - when
the realm of Tāne and the domain of Tangaroa are
sustained, so too are people.
We all need to do our part to stop pollutants getting
into streams, rivers, lakes and eventually the
oceans, to safeguard mahinga kai species and their
habitat for current and future generations.
