Community and partnership key to restoring Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour
Environment Canterbury media release: 26th August 2025
Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour and its surrounding bays are treasured by many different people, including mana whenua Ngāti Wheke, residents and visitors.
The harbour was once known for its great abundance of kaimoana, but pollution, deforestation, sediment run-off, and climate change have impacted the whenua/land and the moana/harbour. However, a massive amount of community mahi is helping to turn the tide.
Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour is a partnership programme that supports the harbour community to restore the ecological and cultural health of Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour, with a vision to ensure the area’s ecological and cultural health as mahinga kai is restored mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – for us and our children after us.
Established in 2018, the co-governance programme is a partnership between Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour communities and Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury), Christchurch City Council, and the Lyttelton Port Company.
It starts with the plan
At the heart of the programme is the Catchment Management Plan, which envisions Whakaraupō as a thriving mahinga kai – a place where people can gather food in abundance and in harmony with nature.
The primary goals of the plan are to restore the harbour to an environment that is abundant, healthy, and interconnected. This includes ensuring an abundance of native species, restoring waterways to thriving ecosystems, and fostering a community that is deeply connected to and proud of its harbour.
The plan outlines actions across six ecological focus areas:
These actions will help turn the vision of a healthy harbour – te whaka ora – into reality.
Yvette Couch-Lewis on the vision and restoration
Co-chair Yvette Couch-Lewis (Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke) was instrumental in developing the plan. Seven years later, Yvette says the importance of the korowai (both literal and symbolic) enveloping the plan is still front of mind for her.
“The korowai symbolises the protection of Whakaraupō. Until the restoration mahi is done, the harbour wears a kakahu/working cloak. When we achieve our vision, the harbour will be wrapped in the korowai – a chief’s cloak – in its flourishing state. Only through partnership and dedication can we achieve this for our moana and our whenua – for the beauty and mana of the korowai to be upheld.”
The korowai was woven by Ngāti Wheke weavers and has been wrapped around the ceremonial copy of the plan signed by the five partners.
“We have big aspirations; we want to see the return of forests, and taonga species like titi/muttonbird. I have a lot of hope that we will see these goals met, thanks to the dedicated harbour communities that put in the mahi by planting trees and delivering other important projects,” says Yvette.
Partnerships are key
The Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour collaboration agreement between the five partner organisations is an exemplar for catchment management. Working together to facilitate community-driven action on the ground, there are also strong partner-led actions that are aligned with the plan and make use of existing projects and relationships held by each of the individual partners, to ensure there is no duplication and resources are being effectively distributed.
Through the needs of the Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour plan, research organisations have been engaged to develop our understanding of the catchment and to improve our decision-making and the effectiveness of actions. Science and mātauranga advice and research are important components in delivering robust and strategic outcomes.
Find out more about the partnerships behind the Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour collaboration.