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.
Extra! Extra! What did the Snake Creek Restoration Survey find?
The Snake Creek restoration project in Canterbury has made headlines! We have been supporting this Water and Wildlife Habitat Trust project, initiated by Fish and Game New Zealand, along with CAREX and Environment Canterbury. Results from the annual stream survey found native species like long-finned eels, bullies and freshwater crayfish, as well as some one-year-old trout!
54 usable tools for improving water quality
Did you know we have a total of 54 projects either on the go or finished? These projects are all different tools that can be scaled up and used to improve water quality on farms. Head over to our website to see what we've been working on https://www.livingwater.net.nz/how-were-working/
Fonterra's Open Gates is Back!
Fonterra's Open Gates is happening again this year on November 11. This is a great chance to take a look behind the gates at what really goes on a Fonterra farm and to see how farmers are transitioning to more sustainable models. Head over to their site to get more information: https://www.fonterra.com/…/environment/water/open-gates.html
This is what partnership and progress looks like
It's amazing what we can accomplish when we work together! Environment Canterbury CAREX Fish and Game New Zealand working together to support farmers and WaterAndWildlifeHabitatTrust to do our annual habitat survey of a 4km long restoration project.
Our progress
Our plans, projects, case studies, and reports.
