Interest groups that are often at loggerheads when it comes to conserving waterways in many parts of the country, have forged a strong working relationship as members of the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group.
This precious braided river near Rangiora was in a bad way and declining 20 years ago, before the group joined forces with local councils and the Department of Conservation to take action.
The volunteers are successfully protecting wildlife like the nationally critical black-billed gulls, and nationally vulnerable wrybills and banded dotterels - while still allowing gravel extraction and 4WDs in the area.
