Tora Wetland Restoration

Embedded Ecology has supported a land owner on a rugged South Wairarapa coastal farm in Tora, to restore a regionally significant wetland. In December 2021, Alvin visited the property and advised the landowners of the immense ecological significance of the wetland despite being grazed at the time. Although the wetland was not heavily stoked, this impact was evident with hydrophilic species struggling to establish and heavy pugging previlent through the damper margins. 

Alvin undertook an ecological assessment and discussed potential options to enhance the wetland. The key issue being how to best exclude stock whilst managing the ingress of weeds. One of the family members had a particular interest in the project and took on the key recommendation of fencing off the wetland from grazing and worked closely with QE2 to place the site in covinent. In September 2025 the wetland was fenced off and native species planted to support existing vegetation.

Delaware Bay Ecological Services

Embedded Ecology was engaged by a private land owner to provide ecological restoration services on a property in Delaware Bay. The site is situated on the edge of the estuary and adjacent to Bishop's Peninsula and Paremata Flats with Black Beech and Pukatea growing in the immediate vicinity. It has been a stunning location to work from with large Kēruru flocks of up to 50 birds descending on the property to feast on the blossoming Tree Lucerne through winter.

The land owner has vast experience with ecological restoration so most of the services have been to support their vision, and provide some labour for this project. This has included planting .trees, surveying the extent of Old man's beard and Banana passionfruit and cut and pasting large vines, forming tracks to access parts of the property and reinstating blocked drains to manage overland flow paths and reduce the likelihood of slips. 

QField maps (phone based GIS application) have been used for the project to help with decision making along the way and to capture field data such as the extent of weed ingress, high value species such as Tītoki on the property, access tracks and have access to landcover information and contours. QField is an open source GIS phone application that is a great option for projects with small budgets to enable effective in the field data capture. Get in touch if you want to find out how we can provide geospatial services for your project.

Hillwood Stream Ecological Restoration

Embedded Ecology was engaged by the local community to help with a stream restoration project in North Nelson. Hillwood Stream has a catchment area of approximately 220 ha and includes significant ecological value with large Pūkatea, Kāhikatea, Tāwa, Mātai, Tītoki, Rīmu and Nīkau palm upstream. Within the stream, Kōura, Tuna and Kōaro are all present and are frequently spotted. This project involved coming up with a methodology to manage a well establushed weed burden comprising of Old man's beard, Convoluvuls, Blackberry and Gorse. Focus was given to Old man's beard and Convolvuls as key species to minimise. On the Sunday the 29th of July 2025, a community planting was arranged for the community to undertake the planting in the cleared areas. 

This project received funding from Nelson City Council to prepare the site for planting, plants, canes and plant guards. We can help you find funding to get your project off the ground - get in touch to discuss.