This sees that many species of bird, fish, mammals and reptiles use the river as both a home and a source of food and drinking water, as well as for extensive amounts of vegetation to grow around the abundant water-source.

[4] Walking trails cover majority of the entrance of the river to the city, creating a source of exercise for the residents of Nelson and surrounding homes.

[2] The river's mouth opens into the Tasman Sea at Nelson Haven, where the estuary is surrounded by some urbanised areas.

[3] Plants and vegetation rely heavily on the geography of the land surrounding the river, as well as the mineral and soil quality of the adjacent ground.

[2] Further East it is met by an abundance of tributaries, one of which, the mineral belt, has a unique soil, where very specialised flora is able to grow, making them both endangered and rare species.

[2] The lowland hill country ecosystem located around the river is covered in vegetation where the land slopes, where beech, podocarp and kāmahi foliage grows in abundance.

[2] Walking trails are common and line the river, typically starting at the city and then working their way east towards the Ranges, taking upwards of a few hours to complete.

[7] The project saw the Maitai Dam and Reservoir were placed in the river in order to increase the storage capacity of Nelson City's water.

[11] Moreover, micro-bacteria and other concerns need to be managed within the river in order to ensure that the water maintains drinkable and usable buy the population and council of Nelson.

[5] The dam and reservoir are expansive, where it covers approximately 32Ha of space, and sinks to 32.75m vertically down, allowing it to hold almost 4Mm3 of water to provide to the city.

[5] Friends of the Maitai (FOM) has taken an active role as an environmental watchdog several times over the past 50 years, when issues with potential impact on the river have arisen.

The original Friends of the Maitai existed from 1977 to 1984, formed to oppose the Nelson City Council's plan to plant the Waahi Taakaro hillsides in pine trees.

Friends of the Maitai today The latest incarnation of FOM came in 2014 after local residents got together with Nelson City Council staff to share some ideas for re-vegetation of the riverbank.

Soon after this Council installed warning signs about toxic algae (cyanobacteria) and the residents’ group gathered more members and took up the title of Friends of the Maitai.

Data from this citizen science project feeds into monitoring undertaken by NIWA, Nelson City Council and Cawthron Institute.

Forestry – sediment from the harvesting of Pinus radiata has been identified by Cawthron as the main issue affecting water quality of the Maitai River.

The forestry group works with the industry and with Council on improving practices, with a view to eventually retiring pine forest.