Russel is rafting and kayaking down some of our most polluted lowland rivers this summer, as a fun and unusual way to draw attention to the water pollution problems in our own backyard.
Watch this space to stay updated with his stories, photos and videos from the kayak as he documents unfenced streams, cows in rivers, overgrown willows and industrial discharges....and imagines a future in which our rivers are once more full of birds and fish, and are safe for our kids to swim in.
Launch: Hutt River, 26 January
The Hutt River has the dubious distinction of being one of the healthiest in the country at its upper reaches at Kaitoke, but has slipped to the bottom 10 by the time it reaches Lower Hutt.
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From Blue to Brown: Waihou River, 31 January
From the famous Blue Springs at Putaruru to the dirty brown stretch at Te Aroha, a journey down the Waihou is one of contrasts.
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The Taumarere and Kawakawa Rivers, 4 February
The Taumarere is a taonga to Ngati Hine, but despite embarking on some planting and fencing projects they have been unable to protect and clean up their river. The combination of agricultural intensification, draining of wetlands, sewerage, cows in the river and forest clearance is just too big.
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Mohaka River (Hawke's Bay) 19 February
The Mohaka is a beautiful river, with remnant bush, and bellbirds could be heard at various places (I think). Norm, our guide, regaled us with stories of his battles with industrial dairying and the regional council, fighting to protect another Hawke's Bay river, the Ngaruroro, from destruction.
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Manawatu River, 26 February
The Manawatu River is an old man that has thwarted earlier attempts to stop him heading west to the sea. The Manawatu flowed west as the Tararua Range rose from the Earth millenia ago, but, rather than be turned back, the river carved out the Manawatu Gorge. The river still heads west but a lot of water is now abstracted for irrigation and a lot of our waste ends up in the river. The old man is sick.
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Upcoming itinerary
5 March: Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury
13 March: Taieri River, Otago (tbc)
27 March: Mataura River, Southland (tbc)
11 April: Five Bridges River Swim, Waikato River, Hamilton
And more rivers tbc!
