Lang, M., Orchard, S., Falwasser, T., Rupene, M., Williams, C., Tirikatene-Nash, N., Couch, R. (2012, July). State of the takiwā 2012: Cultural health assessment of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary and its catchment. Mahaanui Kurataiao Ltd. 

Written by representatives from Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga and Mahaanui Kurataiao Ltd, this 2012 ‘State of the Takiwā’ report is a cultural environmental health assessment of Te Ihutai/the Avon-Heathcote Estuary and its catchment, including the Ōtākaro and Ōpāwaho awa. Its purpose was to act as a continuation of work started in the 2007 State of the Takiwā report by Pauling et al., and to provide an indication of the post-earthquake state of the catchment in relation to Ngāi Tahu values. In addition to the methodology used in 2007, two new fishing survey techniques were utilised, including hīnaki (set nets) and drag nets, and a hill-country stream example site was added in Mt Vernon valley.

As in 2007, this report also found the Ihutai catchment to be in a poor state of cultural health due to the degradation of many culturally relevant aspects, including in-stream and riparian values. Most sites indicated little or no improvement compared to 2007 baselines, and while some sites showed modest improvement, further degradation was recorded at others. The report concluded that these findings were of concern as incremental improvements were needed to achieve long-term objectives. Although some adverse impacts associated with earthquake damage were expected, the results indicated that a catchment-wide approach to providing for Ngāi Tahu objectives had not eventuated since 2007. Consequently, the report stressed that management responses needed to protect and enhance Ngāi Tahu values, improve water and habitat quality, and restore indigenous riparian vegetation. It also stressed that opportunities arising from the earthquake recovery should be taken advantage of to implement and monitor the achievement of Ngāi tahu values within the Ihutai catchment.