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Waikēkēwai Stream
Description
TitleTe Waikēkēwai
DescriptionTe Waikēkēwai/Waikēkēwai Stream is situated on the south-western edge of Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere.
According to Te Waihora co-governance website, 'the stream signifies an important whakapapa / genealogical connection as it flows through Te Pā o Moki/the pā (fort) of Moki II) down through Ōrāriki/the pā of Ruahikihiki. This entire area was once a great mahika kai site, where whānau/family could gather resources as the stream flowed through rich wetlands before reaching Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, which is of great cultural importance to Te Taumutu whānau.'
The Whakaora Te Waikēkēwai project, run by Te Taumutu Rūnanga, aims to restore cultural and ecological values to this waterway which were lost through the conversion of the area to agricultural pasture from the mid 1800s. Through working with landowners, fencing 8km of the mid and lower sections of the stream, and establishing riperian planting on both banks, the project is designed to: 'enhance and increase mahika kai habitat; improve water quality and increase indigenous biodiversity'.
The partners are Te Taumutu Rūnanga and Environment Canterbury with funding from the Government’s Freshwater Improvement Fund and Environment Canterbury.
DescriptionTe Waikēkēwai/Waikēkēwai Stream is situated on the south-western edge of Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere.According to Te Waihora co-governance website, 'the stream signifies an important whakapapa / genealogical connection as it flows through Te Pā o Moki/the pā (fort) of Moki II) down through Ōrāriki/the pā of Ruahikihiki. This entire area was once a great mahika kai site, where whānau/family could gather resources as the stream flowed through rich wetlands before reaching Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, which is of great cultural importance to Te Taumutu whānau.'
The Whakaora Te Waikēkēwai project, run by Te Taumutu Rūnanga, aims to restore cultural and ecological values to this waterway which were lost through the conversion of the area to agricultural pasture from the mid 1800s. Through working with landowners, fencing 8km of the mid and lower sections of the stream, and establishing riperian planting on both banks, the project is designed to: 'enhance and increase mahika kai habitat; improve water quality and increase indigenous biodiversity'.
The partners are Te Taumutu Rūnanga and Environment Canterbury with funding from the Government’s Freshwater Improvement Fund and Environment Canterbury.
Connections
CollectionWaterways of EllesmereMore InformationRead more about the Whakaora Te Waikēkēwai projectRead more about the funding for the Whakaroa Te Waikēkēwai project
More InformationRead more about the Whakaora Te Waikēkēwai projectRead more about the funding for the Whakaroa Te Waikēkēwai projectAttribution
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Waikēkēwai Stream. Selwyn Stories, accessed 06/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6229
