TACKLING WILLOW & SHINGLE ISLANDS - UPPER TUKITUKI
SUMMARY
The Upper Tukituki Catchment Group is using a TLC grant to address the build-up of invasive willows and shingle islands that are redirecting the river’s flow, driving erosion, and increasing sediment loads.
This showcase project focuses on nine hectares where there is a significant build-up of willows and lupins, along with expanding shingle islands within the river channel, along a short stretch of the Upper Tukituki River.
A key challenge has been navigating the consenting process associated with river management works. A local resident was employed as project manager to explore consent pathways and guide the project forward.
The project has required close collaboration with Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) and mana whenua, with a shared focus on restoring and maintaining the river’s natural braided character. At its heart, this project is about protecting the river’s mauri - its life force - and supporting the catchment group to work constructively with HBRC and iwi to overcome regulatory and practical hurdles.
BACKGROUND
The Upper Tukituki, the main branch of the Tukituki River, has long been challenged by self-seeded willows. Over time, the river channel has become increasingly constricted by willows and expanding shingle “islands,” pushing the river away from its natural braided course.
As these willows mature, the cost and complexity of removal increases, along with potential downstream impacts. Redirected flows accelerate bank erosion, affecting farmers’ ability to manage their land and contributing significant sediment loads to the river. Elevated sediment levels reduce habitat quality for macroinvertebrates and negatively impact overall river health.
Without intervention, the braided river system - a defining characteristic of this part of the Tukituki - continues to narrow and simplify, reducing both ecological resilience and flood-carrying capacity.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & CONSULTATION
In July 2023, TLC hosted a catchment group meeting at the Ongaonga Hall. The session included extensive discussion and a Q&A, allowing the community to provide input on managing wilding willows that were blocking the channel and creating shingle islands.
Following the meeting, the catchment group decided to use a TLC Demonstration Grant to address the invasive willows and shingle islands along a short stretch of the Upper Tukituki River. A key challenge was navigating the consenting process for spraying the willows. Local resident Paul Stuitje was employed as project manager to explore consent options and guide the project forward.
In October 2023, a site visit allowed the local community to see the project area firsthand. Attendees were surprised by the extent of erosion and the size of the shingle islands. A booklet compiled by Charlotte Pederson highlighted aerial photographs of the site over the decades, clearly showing the impact of invasive willows on the river’s natural braided form.
Scott from Airborne Solutions demonstrated drone-based spraying techniques to the community, showcasing a potential method for managing the invasive willows.
FROM PLANNING TO IMPLEMENTATION
With input from landowners, HBRC and iwi representatives, the catchment group progressed a series of carefully considered river management actions aimed at restoring flow pathways and reducing the dominance of invasive vegetation within the channel.
This work involved utilising a range of management approaches appropriate to the site and operating within approved consent frameworks. The focus has been on re-establishing a more natural braided pattern, improving channel capacity, and reducing ongoing erosion pressure on adjacent land.
River management in an active braided system is complex. It requires balancing ecological health, flood management, cultural values, and farming realities. Throughout this process, TLC has supported the catchment group in negotiating with HBRC and iwi, helping to overcome regulatory hurdles and ensure the project aligns with environmental and cultural expectations.
The overarching goal remains clear: to restore the mauri of the Upper Tukituki — strengthening the river’s natural resilience while supporting the community that depends on it.
WITH THANKS
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The Upper Tukituki Catchment Group
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Landowners in the Upper Tukituki Sub-Catchment
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Hawke's Bay Regional Council
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Charlotte Pederson
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Airborne Solutions
FURTHER INFORMATION & CONTACT
To find out more about the Upper Tukituki sub-catchment, head to the Upper Tukituki sub-catchment page on this site.
To get in touch, please contact TLC Catchment Coordinator Pixie Seligman
Email: tukicoordinator@gmail.com
Phone: 0277212423