In 2023, MEA and Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand united to tackle North Hokianga's clean drinking water challenge. This article explores their collaborative efforts and the transformative impact on the community's water access and resilience.

In 2023, MEA partnered with Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand to conduct a project to support whānau and households in North Hokianga in accessing clean drinking water. The project rolled out a community-wide census with a specific focus on water, drought planning and to assess if whānau have been able to access the Puna Waiora initiative.

The main hui at Ngāti Manawa Marae brought together reports and initiatives from the past decade. Training on community census and water testing kits was provided in the second hui, while the third hui focused on reviewing results and planning next steps.

The project included a community-wide census with a focus on water and drought planning. Specialised water testing kits were procured for marae and households to check water quality. A report was developed outlining risk management strategies for droughts, water quality, and floods, aiming to build local resilience and advocate for increased support.