A female employment skills course in Greymouth has helped several women into work in the environment sector on the West Coast.
Women are working to rid the land around the Taramakau River of invasive plants. Photo: 123RF
The Wāhine Toa course was designed by the Ministry for Social Development using a Te Ao Māori approach that aims to build participants' confidence to re-enter the workforce ]
Three graduates from the inaugural course are now working on the Weed Free Tai Poutini project - which aims to rid 30,000 hectares of public conservation land between the Taramakau River and Barn Bay of invasive plants.
MBC Environmental Solutions, the company that delivers the project, provide a van to collect the Greymouth-based wāhine each morning for work.
Rewa Kanara was initially unsure how she would would cope with the physical side of the job, but said she was absolutely loving it.
Her colleague Layli Burgess said it was great working with a team of wāhine.
"We're all part-time and mums, so it's really supportive".
Sarah Manning said she also loved the job and the opportunity to work outside.
"The Wahine Toa course taught us to give our power back, to show us we can get out in the workforce and get a job and build ourself esteem," Manning said.
The Development West Coast-led project, through the Kotahitanga ki te Uru partnership, will provide work for up to 21 people over the next two years.
Development West Coast chief executive Heath Milne said the Weed Free Tai Poutini project would have widespread economic and environmental benefits for the West Coast.
"The project will create employment to support communities hit hard by the economic impact of Covid-19, while also helping enrich our natural environment for future generations. Making the coast an even better place to live, work and visit."
The Jobs for Nature programme has enabled $3.3m for the project to eliminate significant land-based weeds in the region.
The project was established through the Kotahitanga ki te Uru (working together for the West) partnership, which comprises Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae, Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, West Coast Regional Council, Department of Conservation and Development West Coast.
Department of Conservation operations director for the western South Island region Mark Davies said through the project workers will search for and remove weeds from approximately 30,000ha of public conservation land from the Taramakau River in the north, to Barn Bay in the south, and from the mountains to the sea.
"It's an exciting challenge - Westland is relatively weed-free so is one of the few places in New Zealand where this weed control goal is possible."
The weed work will complement Predator Free South Westland efforts to eliminate predator animal species.