The LKO Fund Series – Restoring a wāhi taonga
We were inspired.
And we want to inspire you, too.
It all began with something we’d least expect to draw inspiration from — accounting.
We know, numbers, spreadsheets, and profit and loss statements don’t exactly get our creative juices flowing either.
But our accountant did.
We work with Lisa from Social Currency Accounting, a values-driven firm that combines accounting services with social good. The team at SCA believe in investing in the futures of our tamariki to create lasting social impact. 10% of their sales goes to support at risk-kiwi kids.
How cool?
It got us thinking, how can we combine our digital marketing and ads services with social good? How can we use our business as a vehicle for positive change in our world?
We decided to start a small (but impactful) LKO fund that we will use to support causes close to our hearts. In this blog series, we’ll be sharing the projects and organisations we donate to. We hope to inspire others to give in ways they can, like the Social Currency did for us.
Our first donation went to the Million Metres Streams Project, specifically the restoration of a wāhi taonga – Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau, the Sinclair wetlands.
Image credit doc.govt.nz
Information on the Wetlands, provided by Million Metre Streams Project:
In the early 18th century, local chief Tukiauau and his Kāti Māmoe iwi, pursued by Kāi Tahu, took refuge on Whakaraupuka (Ram Island) setting up their village (nohoaka). His name remains attached to the wetlands, while the swamp complex remains an important food basket and precious place (mahika kai) for later peoples.
As well as being an important cultural site the wetland is an incredibly important area ecologically. It provides habitat for native birds, fish and insects. Furthermore, it helps to reduce the severity of flooding and droughts by absorbing and storing excess rainfall and releasing this water again in hot weather. Wetlands also act as a filter between land and water. They help stop sediment and pollutants entering our streams, rivers and harbours.
Due to farming, most of the Taieri Plains wetlands were wiped out. Only two of the original lakes and their swamps were left.
What our donation goes towards:
Our donation goes towards restoring the area, planting a range of native tree species including kōhūhū, pāpāuma/broadleaf, kānuka, kōwhai, horoeka /lancewood, and koromiko.
The Million Metres project says: “we put emphasis on restoring vegetation condition and healthy habitat, maintaining water quality, while enhancing mahika kai, restoring the connection that local iwi have with their ancestral site, and reconnecting people back to the land via education and hands-on experience.”
The project aims to raise $57,750. This will help to plant 6000 native plants to restore this incredibly important and sacred site.
Every dollar counts, and we encourage you to donate whatever you can to this project!
Stay tuned for part two of the LKO Fund Series, where we share another cause worth talking about.
Until then, you can learn more about the Million Metres Streams Project here, and more about us here.