Rain and snow fall high on our bush-clad maunga. Pure water trickles down the slopes of the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges.

Water spills over rocks and feeds into streams and rivers, flowing through the foothills.

Our wandering, braided rivers feed our fertile plains.

Our wai nurtures all kinds of creatures, from tiny fish to huge native eels and endangered shorebirds. We share the water with them.

As our water flows, it seeps underground, refilling our hidden aquifer, Heretaunga Haukūnui.

Springs bubble up to feed wetlands – the precious remains of our ancient floodplains.

Our estuaries are rich breeding grounds for young native fish.

Our wai hears the call of the sea. Fresh and saltwater mingle where our awa merge with the vast Pacific Ocean.

Warmed by the sun, water vapour rises over Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. It condenses to form clouds and the cycle continues.