Uretara Estuary Managers (UEM) formed in 2004 to protect habitat and birdlife around our estuary. Our scope of work expanded rapidly after gaining Sustainable Management funding in 2006 for catchment restoration projects, followed by other grants 2008 – 2011 to extend the boundaries of that work.

After receiving core funding for the “Katikati Hills to Ocean (H20) Improvement Project” from Ministry for Environment’s Freshwater Improvement Fund in 2018 UEM have been working with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and local landowners to create comprehensive catchment management plans to address a range of water quality and biodiversity issues.

The energy and determination of our volunteers is making a real difference and we have already seen some of the rewards of that work, from greatly improved stream habitat to increasing birdlife around our estuary.

UEM became a charitable trust in 2006 and works closely with and other groups and organisations to achieve common goals.