100 projects
Trying things out, costing them, and planning how to take them to scale
Living Water: Dairy and freshwater thriving together
Farming and freshwater thriving together
Living Water is a partnership between the Department of Conservation and Fonterra. We’re trialling tools, methods and approaches to enable farming, freshwater and healthy ecosystems to thrive side-by-side.
We’re working with farmers, scientists, councils, mana whenua and communities to design and test solutions to improve freshwater quality, and then sharing the results of our trials and research on this website.
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 our 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.
Ararira Fieldtrip for newly formed Dranis to Streams project team
The parties involved with the signing of the MoU in the Ararira/LII catchment in Canterbury recently took a fieldtrip to look at different waterways, how they interact with their surrounding environments and examples of small-scale interventions already being used in the area. Read about the project 👇 https://bit.ly/2PF52pB Selwyn District Council, Department of Conservation, Fonterra, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Positions available with Whakamana te Waituna
Two new fixed term roles are being advertised for the Whakamana te Waituna Trust in Southland. This is an exciting development for the Trust and we look forward to attracting some amazing candidates to continue the great mahi happening for Waituna Lagoon. Executive Director: https://bit.ly/3fsK5J6 Project Coordinator: https://bit.ly/3sOVcQ4
Celebrating World Water Day
Today is #WorldWaterDay 💦 Water is precious to New Zealanders, the Department of Conservation and Fonterra both recognise New Zealand’s success depends on healthy waterways. We’re creating partnerships because no single organisation or sector has all the skills, knowledge and influence to improve freshwater and we know it requires more than just on-farm action. By partnering we are making it easier for farmers, iwi and communities to accelerate freshwater improvement. Head to our website to find out more. www.livingwater.net.nz
What lives in Waituna Creek?
LOOK 👀 this is a selection of what the Department of Conservation and Cawthron Institute found at this year's fish survey in a section of Waituna Creek, Southland where we are restoring fish habitat. An increase in numbers, species and bio-mass is an indication restoration work is working! https://www.livingwater.net.nz/catchment/waituna-lagoon/lower-waituna-creek-transformation-project/
Tools and solutions
Our projects, case studies, and resources
