Riverside planting to begin restoring Hua-angarua ecosystem

Mark it in your diary – Saturday 7 September 9:30 a.m. – a community planting morning

on the banks of the well-known fishing river which runs just north of some of Martinborough’s heritage vineyards: the Hua-angarua.

This is a joint project between South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group (SWBG), well-known local farmer James Bruce, Greater Wellington Regional Council and committed community members. 

The group has also connected with local Iwi to learn their perspective and gauge their support for the Hua-angarua mahi, support which they have generously provided. 

“In doing so we have learnt that the grazing and cropping paddocks north of the planting area used to be the site of a Māori village,” said South Wairarapa Diversity Group committee member Owen Harvey. (More detail attached).

Just two kilometres from Martinborough Square is the Ponatahi Bridge, and immediately on the right after the bridge, is a road _  John’s Way _ which the river runs alongside.

The cleared site is next to the quarry a few hundred metres up John’s Way.

“The Hua-angarua River is critical to our region. Over many years, the health of the river

and the riverbanks have deteriorated,” Harvey noted. 

“We want to make a start on restoring the health of this local ecosystem. Thanks to the support of James Bruce and Greater Wellington Regional Council, our start point is the section of the river running alongside John’s Way,” 

What does the project involve?

“We are focusing on planting and maintaining selected native plants along the riverside, a riparian corridor, starting at the shingle quarry and working back towards the bridge,” he said.

“As we plant, we are giving people the opportunity to learn and experience how to do this in other areas of our region and on their own properties. Already a number of local groups have expressed interest in lending a hand.”

Why?

The biodiversity group’s aim is to re-establish a thriving ecosystem that will:

• foster a wider range of plants, animals and organisms that should naturally occur in this area;

• improve water quality;

• contribute to a biodiversity corridor to encourage the reach of native birds.

How can you get involved?

Said Harvey: “If you have just 1 or 2 hours, come along on Saturday 7 September. Planting can be as long or short to fit around the time you have. We would love you to join in this local project whether you are an experienced planter or keen to get involved in planting natives.”

“Beyond the first planting day, you are most welcome to: 

help us maintain the plantings so they can thrive; tell others about the project; and spread the learnings from this project to other places.

Martinborough locals, weekenders, visitors – all are welcome. 

Bring a spade and gardening gloves.”

As a reward – apart from the mahi itself – the group plans “a tasty barbecue” (thanks to Mitre 10) so please RSVP for catering purposes – Jane Lenting swbg@xtra.co.nz  or https://www.facebook.com/SthWaiBio

Caption: Cleared area for Huaangarua river-side community planting day project.

A panel/box which is to to accompany the above story:  

Hua-angarua Pā: An Important 19th Century Māori Village near Martinborough

By Archaeologist Prof. Foss Leach

There are two major rivers close to the present-day township of Martinborough:  the Ruamahanga and the Hua-angarua. 

Very few local residents, other than Māori, know that there was once a thriving village on the banks of the Hua-angarua river. Indeed, even the name is seldom pronounced correctly. The common rendition is Hunger-rower. 

William Colenso visited this village 13 times between 1843 and 1852, and it was one of the most important villages in the Wairarapa during this period. At its peak it had a population of more than 320 people. 

(It was in decline by 1852. In a later part of the article Prof Leach notes: “Assuming we are correct that Huaangarua was founded no earlier than 1800, the entire life of this village was a mere 70 years before it was abandoned.”)

In his diary, Colenso wrote the name as Huaangarua. 

His intention was not to depict a long vowel (Huāngarua), but as two separate vowels, between two words: Hua-angarua, and to be pronounced accordingly.

No doubt there is an interesting story behind this name, once well known in oral history, but unfortunately now lost. 

In this paper, I have gathered together as much information as I have been able to glean about this village from maps and historical documents, and, in a sense, to bring it back to life, so that it is better appreciated by people living in its vicinity today. 

Even though Hua-angarua Pā is now simply pasture for sheep, cattle, and cash crops, this old village deserves to be known about and celebrated as one of the foundation stones of present day Martinborough.

(See: Page 3: Report for the Working Group of the Māori Standing Committee of the South

Wairarapa District Council, 21 September 2023)

(Note: Hua-angarua is the 19th century pronunciation of Huangarua according to Colenso

https://www.academia.edu/107195661/Leach_B_F_2023_Hua_angarua_Pa_An_Import

ant_19th_Century_Maori_Village_Near_Martinborough_Report_for_the_Working_Gro

up_of_the_Maori_Standing_Committee_of_the_South_Wairarapa_District_Council?uc-

sb-sw=86998213).

Caption: 

Looking from the village towards 13 acres of land set aside for gardens, consisting of 3 acres of maize, 9 acres of potatoes, 1 acre of other garden produce, 0 acres of kūmara, 0 acres of wheat. There were 36 tame pigs, Kemp noted in 1850, and no sheep.