100 projects
Trying things out, costing them, and planning how to take them to scale
Living Water: Dairy and freshwater thriving together
Living Water is a partnership between the Department of Conservation and Fonterra. Our focus is finding game-changing and scalable solutions that will enable farming, freshwater and healthy ecosystems to thrive side-by-side.
We are working with farmers, scientists, councils, mana whenua and communities to design and test solutions, and then develop a plan to implement regionally and nationally.
Our mission
5 regions
Demonstrating dairying and freshwater ecosystems thriving together
1 mission
To build connections which can drive better outcomes for the environment, the economy and New Zealanders
Who are we
With nearly 40% of New Zealand’s land under their care, Fonterra and the Department of Conservation have joined forces to work on the farming and freshwater challenge.
We work on the ground, side by side. We share our expertise and use our collective strengths.
Where we’re working
How we’re working
1
Working towards a common vision of dairy and freshwater thriving together
2
Designing and trialling solutions in five catchments
3
Measuring the impact across 10 years
4
Scaling implementation — the process and cost per farm, per region and for New Zealand
5
Championing change — to mindsets, approaches, systems and aspirations
What we’re up to
We are doers, with the big picture in mind. Check out what we have been up to around New Zealand.
Highlights from seven years together
READ: With only a few years left in the partnership, we've looked at some of the highlights, trials and projects in progress to accelerate action to improve #freshwater management across the country. https://www.livingwater.net.nz/what-were-up-to/stories-about-our-work/teaming-up-to-improve-new-zealands-freshwater
Meri Kirihimete
Meri Kirihimete me te Hape Nū Ia from the Living Water team. We hope you have a great holiday and have the chance to get out and explore Aotearoa to make some great memories. We'll all be taking a break from today until mid-January
Dry conditions allow two-stage channel to be constructed
Our Ararira team has taken advantage of the dryer weather by installing a two-stage channel at the same site as the bioreactor to help combat nutrient runoff. Now we need some rain to see them in action!
Mooving the dial on freshwater
READ: Sarah Yarrow, National Manager and Nicki Atkinson, Impact and Partnerships Manager reflect on the partnership's progress over the last seven years. How each catchment has unique characteristics yet the same underlying goal of building relationships based on the shared vision of healthy freshwater ecosystems existing alongside farming. There have been many wins but there is more to do for the remainder of the partnership 👇 https://www.livingwater.net.nz/what-were-up-to/stories-about-our-work/doc-and-fonterra-mooving-the-dial-on-freshwater
Tools and solutions
Our projects, case studies, and resources
