Te Wai Mauri Trust has established a nursery adjacent to Waiōhiki Marae.

The new Ahika Nursery received funding from PPET in 2020 and 2022.

Te Wai Mauri Trust aims to build the capabilities of the nursery to produce up to 100,000 seedlings within a three-year timeframe leading to job creation for the Waiōhiki community.

Seedlings are grown from seeds gathered within the local catchment areas to enhance the biodiversity of the riparian planting plans underway.

Te Wai Mauri Trust appointed ten Kaitiaki Rangers mostly from within the Waiōhiki community, to provide Kaitiakitanga environmental service within the district including fencing, riparian and wetland planting and pest control.

The goal is for the Kaitiaki Rangers to be planting locally sourced and grown seedlings from their own nursery to help restore the taiao.