70 projects
Trying things out, costing them, and planning how to take them to scale
Farming and freshwater thriving together
Te puāwai ngātahi a te mahi pāmu me te wai māori
Living Water was a ten-year partnership between the Department of Conservation and Fonterra from 2013-2024. Living Water trialled tools, methods and approaches to enable farming, freshwater and healthy ecosystems to thrive side-by-side.
Living Water worked with farmers, scientists, councils, mana whenua and communities to design and test solutions to improve freshwater quality, and shared the results of trials and research on this website.
Trying things out, costing them, and planning how to take them to scale
Demonstrating dairying and freshwater ecosystems thriving together
To build connections which can drive better outcomes for the environment, the economy and New Zealanders
With nearly 40% of New Zealand’s land under their care, Fonterra and the Department of Conservation joined forces to work on the farming and freshwater challenge.
We worked on the ground, side by side. We shared our expertise and used our collective strengths.
Worked towards a common vision of dairy and freshwater thriving together
Designed and trialled solutions in five unique catchments
Measured the impact we had across 10 years
Scaling implementation — worked out what works and what it will cost
Championed change — to mindsets, approaches, systems and aspirations
Check out what we have been up to around Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our projects, case studies, and resources