August 2026 project update

Aotearoa stands to lose more endemic species than almost anywhere in the world as the climate crisis intensifies. Yet our extraordinary natural resources, knowledge and community capability also mean we are among the countries with significant potential to successfully restore land-based ecological systems. In the Alexander Catchment, there is a growing shared belief that the awa, wetlands, Lucas Creek and estuary can recover and once again provide enduring sociocultural, ecological and economic value.

Iwi, rangatahi and Auckland Council, alongside catchment restoration groups in Unsworth Heights, The Landing, Settlers Retirement Village, Paremoremo Prison Nursery, schools, Mountains to Sea and its regional network, UWEN, and Te Hōnonga a Iwi stakeholders, are working collectively to address both the direct and indirect causes of ecosystem decline.

Our approach is increasingly focused on permanence: restoring habitat at scale, supporting ngahere regeneration at approximately 2,000m² per annum, suppressing pest plants and animals, reducing waste and pollution, and building the capacity of the catchment to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Environmental health is personal health, and reversing ecological decline is therefore not simply a conservation objective—it is fundamental to giving future generations a genuine opportunity to thrive.

Supporting the return of indicator species, protecting cultural taonga and enhancing endemic habitats that provide seasonal shelter and food for manu, mokomoko, tuna and inanga are outcomes that young people and mana whenua expect of us. Our commitment is to deliver these outcomes at scale and for the long term.

Te Hōnonga a Iwi’s sustainability initiatives are designed to connect social equity, environmental justice and organisational and business resilience. Through this integrated model, we are increasing biodiversity while improving individual, community, ecological, commercial and planetary health. The work contributes to decarbonisation and carbon sequestration while building practical resilience to climate change. Our permanence-based model offers a framework for cultural, ecological, intersectoral and intergenerational resilience as we regenerate the Alexander Catchment and contribute to rewilding the North Harbour business heat island. In a depleted, highly urbanised catchment, the significance of demonstrating that regeneration is possible cannot be underestimated: the work underway offers tangible evidence and, importantly, hope.

Our learning continues to translate into practical action. During August we continued to strengthen the local circular economy by diverting waste biomass from landfill and turning it into tonnes of useful compost; developed water conservation and resilience initiatives; improved irrigation and watering systems; remediated illegal dumping; considered fire resilience through the use of appropriate fire-retardant native species; researched drought and heat resilience strategies; increased food security for both wildlife and people; reduced our reliance on plastics; and strengthened our surveillance of pests and canopy health.

We are also securing the growth capability required to extend this work and progressing the implementation of Uru Whakaaro planting plans to maximise long-term protection and recovery of taonga species. Together, these activities demonstrate a shift from isolated restoration interventions towards a functioning, monitored and adaptive urban ecological system.

Our evidenced-based approach, supported by social, commercial and ecological expertise, iwi leadership and an expanding network of collaborators, is deliberately designed to minimise maladaptive responses and increase the likelihood of long-term ecological, cultural and societal success. This matters particularly in an urban environment where ecological pressures, social challenges, infrastructure, commercial activity and climate impacts are inextricably interconnected.

One of our greatest challenges remains access to appropriate investment. National ecological funders are understandably focused on protecting and conserving high-value natural places such as mountains, rivers and marine environments. Funding for the regeneration of depleted urban ecosystems remains comparatively siloed and increasingly constrained. This creates both a challenge and an opportunity: urban regeneration requires innovative, multipolar partnerships capable of bringing together iwi, community, government, business, education, sport, NGOs and new commercial and international investment. To date, we have demonstrated our ability to leverage SME and community-based integrated capital of approximately $438,000 per annum, and we are now seeking a mid-term seed-funding partnership to support the next stage of scaling climate action across the North Harbour heat island.

August was therefore an important month for positioning the organisation for growth. Alongside our restoration delivery, we submitted applications for five national awards and six new funding opportunities, using independent recognition and third-party endorsement to strengthen our ability to think bigger and attract investment into urban ecological regeneration. We also welcomed four new business partnerships, bringing additional capability through consultancy, marketing and communications, working bees and native plant investment.

A significant development was being selected as one of 10 regeneration projects across Australasia to benefit from Bupa ANZ’s Healthy Cities 2026 New Zealand Nature Regeneration Projects Billion Steps Campaign. In partnership with Trees That Count, this initiative connects physical activity and healthier urban environments with investment in nature restoration. The support will enable further tree planting in 2027 and reinforces the principle that healthy people and healthy ecosystems are inseparable. We acknowledge and thank Bupa ANZ and Trees That Count for their vision and investment in this model of urban regeneration.

During the month we also applied for the Business North Harbour NFP Sustainability Award, the National Volunteer Awards Outstanding Youth category, consideration as a United Nations G20 case study for urban catchment and heat-island regeneration, and the New Zealand Sports Recreation Awards. Funding applications included support sought through EcoNeighbour, Harcourts Mārakai, the Mitre 10 Helping Hands Grant, Ventia Community Grant, the ANZ Staff Fund, Activ Grant and Healthy Waters, alongside the UHLB Community Grant and other partnership opportunities supporting restoration, inclusion, youth activation, infrastructure and climate adaptation.

Importantly, several funding outcomes were secured during August: $49,000 from the UHEI BAU Pest Management and Working Bee Delivery programme and $29,000 through the Disability-Led Pilot, supporting greater inclusion and disability-led climate adaptation, were received into our accounts. These investments provide practical capacity to continue restoration while demonstrating that ecological regeneration can simultaneously deliver social inclusion, employment, participation, health and community resilience.

The work is increasingly demonstrating that regeneration of a depleted urban catchment is not a single-sector conservation project. It is a long-term investment in people, place, culture, biodiversity, climate resilience and the local economy. By connecting mana whenua aspirations with community action, youth leadership, scientific and ecological expertise, business investment and practical restoration, we are building a model capable of continuing beyond individual projects and funding cycles.

The restoration of the Alexander Catchment and rewilding of the North Harbour heat island is a long-term proposition—measured not only in hectares planted or tonnes of biomass diverted, but in the return of taonga species, cleaner water, healthier soils, increased canopy, greater food security, stronger healthier communities and confidence that urban ecosystems can recover.

The work has begun. Our task now is to make it permanent, scalable and intergenerational.

Download the full report for August 2026.