By Rob Smith

Fertiliser production at Awatoto on the southern outskirts of Napier began in 1953 and became part of Ravensdown’s operations in 1987.

Now the company’s 16ha Hawke’s Bay premises form New Zealand’s largest superphosphate manufacturing site, supplying more than 250,000 tonnes a year of essential nutrients to growers and farmers throughout the North Island.

However, on the plant’s southern boundary, covering 300ha along five kilometres of coastline between Awatoto and Haumoana, is the environmentally significant Waitangi Regional Park, linking the Tukituki, Ngaruroro and Tūtaekurī rivers, the Karamū Stream – Clive River and coastal reserves.

Ravensdown Works Manager Andrew Torrens is acutely aware of the apparent disparity between the values of the two neighbours.

“On the face of it, an industrial site alongside an ecological taonga seems an awkward fit. Ravensdown doesn’t exist in isolation: we depend on our community, our neighbours and the environment to thrive. Understanding that, we realised finding our common ground and working together with the community would uncover opportunities to achieve the best outcomes for all. We have been a part of the Napier community for 35 years and we look forward to being here for another 35 years.

“In order to future-proof our own and our farmers’ productivity, we know it is important to invest in more sustainable ways to operate,” he says.

What Andrew and the plant’s Hawke’s Bay neighbours have come up with puts that philosophy into practice.

“We talked with our local community about their long-term vision and a sustainable plan for the site’s long-term future. We are determined to achieve a step change in our environmental performance.

“In partnership with mana whenua, and collaborating with the wider community, including the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and schools, Ravensdown has committed to restoring a 2ha wetland ecosystem in Waitangi Regional Park,” Andrew says.

That commitment includes the company budgeting $630,000 over 35 years to bring the project to fruition, including approximately $100,000 in the first three years to create the wetland.

“Ravensdown is determined to do the best for the local community’s future and delighted to front up with the resources for habitat restoration,” says Andrew.

As an estuary, the park is habitat for white heron, royal spoonbill, godwits and gannets, plus numerous fish species. Providing abundant recreational opportunities, including for fishing, whitebait, rowing, waka ama, kayaking, jet boating, jet skiing and kite surfing, the area also has an important cultural and historical place as an early arrival site both for Māori and Pākehā, and for mahinga kai.

Its vibrant waka culture continues today, while its mahinga kai, or traditional food gathering resource, includes tuna (eels), pātiki (flounder), īnanga and kokopu (whitebait), mullet and kahawai.

Plans for the restoration include site re-shaping and planting, as well as pest management and ongoing maintenance. Experienced local wetland experts John Cheyne and Hans Rook have helped with design, along with mana whenua and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council specialists, with the overarching aim to ensure the water is shallow enough to attract waterfowl and wading birds. Open, sloping margins, low-lying mud banks and half-submerged logs will provide spots for birds to rest, while deterring rodents. Tall grass and low, bushy shrubs will make good nesting sites and support īnanga to spawn.

Construction of a fish-pass outlet is part of the plan. Permanent water will be supplied to sustain the habitat through a combination of treated stormwater from the Ravensdown site and artesian bore supply from the company’s existing consented bores.

Other features of the plan include a 50-50 proportion of open water and vegetation, overhead cover through emergent vegetation or overhanging trees, and the eco-sourcing of plants.

Chairman of the Ngāti Pārau Hapū Trust Chad Tareha is excited about the restoration.

“Waitangi estuary is massively significant to mana whenua. Native birds and fish are central to this natural taonga.

“This restoration project is a welcome commitment from Ravensdown. It shows they are listening and in for the long haul,” Chad says.

Russell Engelke, Team Leader Open Spaces at the regional council, echoes the enthusiasm of iwi.

“It’s great to see this project coming through. We can do so much around our region to improve biodiversity and this is an exciting initiative aiming to do just that.

“The land planned for the wetland restoration is part of the wider Waitangi Regional Park, owned by the council, where Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has already achieved a huge amount of good for local biodiversity. It aligns with the ecological restoration strategy for the Waitangi Estuary,” Russell says.

Regeneration work in the park to enhance the wetland is scheduled for 2023, pending completion of the consenting process.

Ravensdown directly employs more than 70 staff at its Hawke's Bay site, alongside a network of about 170 contractors, with a combined annual wage bill of more than $10 million.