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.
Pest fish at Waikato Peat Lakes
A range of introduced fish occur in most of Waikato’s lakes and waterways. Once established these fish impact heavily on the aquatic ecosystem and on water quality generally, particularly koi carp. The Department of Conservation recently undertook a pest fish survey on the National Wetland Trust of New Zealand managed Rotopiko (Lake Serpentine) lake complex with reasonably low numbers caught. To date there are no records of koi presence in this lake but we are using advanced DNA sampling to confirm their absence and are working through the consent process to construct a fish trap on the lake outlet to prevent them getting in. Read more about what's happening in the area 👇 https://www.livingwater.net.nz/catchment/lakes-areare-ruatuna-rotomanuka
Highlighting women in science: CAREX
We also caught up with Hayley Devlin before International Women in Science day. Hayley is the Research Technician for our strategic partner, CAREX, part of the University of Canterbury Freshwater Ecology Group, to find out how she got involved in science. https://www.livingwater.net.nz/im:1897/
Highlighting women in science
Today is International Women in Science Day which highlights the need for full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. We caught up with one of our super star scientists, Dr Katie Collins - Department of Conservation, Science Lead Freshwater Technical Advisor to find out how she got involved in science and how she wants to help younger generations get involved. https://www.livingwater.net.nz/im:1897/
Our why
Finding game-changing and scalable solutions that will allow farming, freshwater and healthy ecosystems to thrive side-by-side is what get us out of bed every morning. https://youtu.be/tgkp1xB0jk4
Our progress
Our plans, projects, case studies, and reports.
