Dear friend,
Pūharakekenui | Styx is a river catchment in the north of Ōtautahi Christchurch which I’d love you to visit. There are many beautiful sites along the awa (river) and its tributaries. It’s peaceful and being in te taiao (nature) during these times is restorative. You might even find some fruit on the trees at this time of year.
The Pūharakekenui Styx Living Laboratory, alongside Mana Whenua, and Christchurch City Council, have been working on Mahika Kai and ecological restoration throughout the catchment for over twenty years. One day, you’ll be able to walk the length of the river from source to sea; the manu (birds) will have a green corridor, and the native fish will flourish.
For now, I’ve picked some places you might like to see. I’ve put some little cache drawers with postcards, pencils, and prompts at various tables and benches in the catchment, so you can draw me a picture and write me back. I’ll be creating art and poems from the postcards I receive*.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Khye
Creative Communicator - Pūharakekenui Styx Living Laboratory Trust, 2024
*terms
Artist Khye Hitchcock has installed small caches with postcards, pencils, and prompts long the Pūharakekenui | Styx River Catchment at the locations noted on the map below - click on the kōtare (kingfisher) symbols for details - the blue symbols are the cache locations, the teal are where you can find return boxes.
The sites have been chosen, in collaboration with the Pūharakekenui Styx Living Laboratory team, are beautiful places where ecological restoration work has taken place or is underway. Each cache is at a seat or picnic table where you can pause for a while, read the prompts Khye's written, and perhaps draw and write your own postcard to send back to Khye and the Trust. In return you can keep a Pūharakekenui Post pencil!
The caches will be live 15 April 2024 - 04 June 2024. In each cache, there are also some cards that Khye has illustrated, and you're encouraged to send these on to whānau, friends, local council, or even parliament.
This project is a simple offering - take a walk in te taiao (nature), and make something with your hands. Both these activities have been demonstrated to help our wellbeing. There are many spaces along the Pūharakekenui catchment that offer the experience of being immersed in the ngahere, whilst being close to the city. This is your invitation to get out and explore. Complete the experience by connecting with a friend and inviting them to somewhere beautiful.
Cache coordinates:
Smacks Creek: -43.4608344, 172.5901257
Styx Mill Conservation Reserve: -43.464087, 172.608799
Redwood Spring: -43.4648081, 172.6230796
Te Waoku Kahikatea: -43.462438, 172.656100
Te Ngāhere o Kāputahi Mara Kai: -43.460427, 172.656170
Te Waoku Kapuka & Kāputahi Community Orchard: -43.4519984, 172.6545222
Christine Heremaia Field Centre & Styx River Esplanade Reserve: -43.453073, 172.661807
Zonta site: -43.3994278, 172.6903883
Return Box coordinates:
Smacks Creek: -43.4620393, 172.5920076
Styx Mill Conservation Reserve: -43.4671755, 172.6092384
Te Waoku Kahikatea: -43.4650655, 172.6496171
75 Styx Road Mailbox
Kaupapa:
The Pūharakekenui Styx Living Laboratory Trust has incredible ecological data; the number of trees planted at each site, the hectares transformed, the number of businesses in the catchment. This project seeks to engage people and hear their stories to sit alongside this data. It also seeks to bring awareness to the catchment and the opportunities for recreation and enjoyment along its banks.
Regenerating endemic ecosystems assists with mitigating some of the impacts of climate change. We are not separate from our environment; work in this catchment improves our health and wellbeing as well as the river's. The puna (springs) near Te Ngahere o Kāputahi (Rongoa Demonstration Site), have long been used in rongoa (healing) by Mana Whenua. The long term planning for this catchment describes a path from the river to the sea. This project reminds myself and others to slow down, to be aware of our surroundings and be grateful; that we are on Māori land; that environmental and social justice issues are all connected; and that none of us are free until we all are.