Discovering Wharemauku: A parish pilgrimage with their local stream
The Wharemauku stream runs through the heart of Kāpiti Anglican Parish, and emerges close to our Raumati Beach church buildings (St Mark’s). However, many of our members are not familiar with it and its route to the sea. So, on March 8 2025, a group of us undertook a pilgrimage from the head waters to the sea, travelling by bus and then on foot for the last leg. Friends and family members were invited and joined us for the pilgrimage. Thanks to the generosity of our driver (a member of the Parish) and the bus firm, the cost for the pilgrimage was very low.
We began where the stream was just a trickle, near the start of the Ridgeline Walk on Bright’s Farm, then moved on to a stream-side site in Kaitawa Reserve, and finally to a site near Coastlands Mall; pausing to reflect at each site, before finally walking the length of the lower catchment to the sea. We observed the change in the river as it flowed in its natural course through farmland and remnant bush, to the lower catchment where it has been channelised, and is tightly managed to reduce flood risk to neighbouring homes and the Kāpiti Coast airport. At the three reflection points, we also conducted some water quality tests, including identifying the invertebrates in a water sample. It was great to find invertebrates indicative of good stream health at all the sites, including mayfly and caddisfly larvae. We also learned about the history of the stream, including its importance to the Puketapu hapū of Te Āti Awa who had pā sites in the lower catchment. After arriving at the estuary, we had a magnificent afternoon tea supplied by the St Mark’s congregation.
The bus-trip and walk provided an opportunity for outreach, fellowship, learning and reflection. We are already talking about repeating the pilgrimage as part of Lent in 2026.
