Maitai Freshwater Management Unit

The Maitahi/Mahitahi/Maitai FMU comprises the largest catchment area of Nelson. Nelson City sits within the lower Maitai River and the river is a central focus for the City. The river flows to the sea at Port Nelson, at the southern end of the Nelson Haven. The FMU also contains York Stream, Oldam Creek, Todds Valley and Hillwood Streams, all which flow into in the Nelson Haven.

Within the Maitahi/Mahitahi/Maitai FMU, there are eleven sub-catchments, being the watershed areas of the following water bodies – Lower Maitai, North Branch Maitai (above the Maitai Dam), South Branch Maitai (above the Maitai Dam), Groom Creek, Upper Brook (upstream of Maitai Motorcamp site), Lower Brook (downstream of the Maitai Motorcamp site), Sharland Creek, York Stream, Oldham Creek, Hillwood Stream, and the Todds Valley Stream .

The Maitahi/Mahitahi/Maitai FMU has excellent water quality in the upper reaches, but elevated nutrients and sediment are evident in lower reaches and some contributing tributaries. Pastoral and forestry activities may be contributing to this. Lower reaches of the Maitai and smaller urban streams have poor water quality, showing the effects of urbanisation and pastoral activity of adjoining landuses. Key values of the Maitahi/Mahitahi/Maitai FMU are its strong social-cultural connection to the City, recreational uses including swimming, public access and community water supply.

Draft vision statement for Maitai:

By 2055 waterbodies within the Maitahi/Mahitahi/Maitai Freshwater Management Unit are healthy and resilient, indigenous freshwater ecosystems are thriving and, where the natural physical characteristics allow, degraded waterbodies have been restored. Restoration of the habitat of threatened species has been successful and indigenous fish are often seen in the waterways.

The mainstem Maitahi/Mahitahi/Maitai River and its tributaries is a natural resource valued by the community and recognised as important to the identity of Wakatū-Nelson. Since 2024 there has been no further loss of the natural form and character of the waterbodies, or of the natural river extent. A generous buffer of indigenous forest lines the river banks. The natural state of the Upper Brook and the largely unmodified character of the North and South Branches of the Maitahi/Mahitahi/Maitai River has been retained.

Mahinga kai is abundant in much of the catchment and the water quality is safe for food gathering and for human contact. Existing infrastructure and flood capacity and drainage networks are maintained throughout the lower catchment to protect people’s health and safety and to protect significant community infrastructure.

The Maitahi/Mahitahi/Maitai River, Todds and Hillwood tributaries, and the Lower Brook River provide a safe and reliable community drinking water supply. There is safe and convenient public access to public amenity areas for recreational and educational purposes and the lower reaches of the Maitahi/Mahitahi/Maitai River has flows suitable for non-motorised river craft transportation and for tauranga waka. The Lower Maitahi/Mahitahi/Maitai River and lower Oldham, Todds and Hillwood tributaries support healthy īnanga spawning habitat and īnanga are abundant.

The upper catchment has popular recreational trout fishing sites and trout caught there are sustained by healthy trout habitat and spawning areas. Where ecosystem health can be maintained and human health needs have been met, water is available in the Lower Maitahi / Mahitahi /Maitai and Lower Brook Rivers for irrigation, cultivation and food production and for animal drinking water. Any development undertaken is in accordance with Te Mana o te Wai.

Shape Nelson

Freshwater Management in the Maitai

Maitai Freshwater Management Unit

Draft vision statement for Maitai:

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