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.
Ma te wa, Tim
Last week we said Haere Ra, Tim (North Island Manager) who has been with Living Water since the beginning (2013). Some of Tim’s highlights: 🌱 his contribution to Department of Conservation's purchase of farmland to create a reserve at Pūkorokoro-Miranda, increasing the area of shorebird habitat in a RAMSAR location 🌱 led the formation of a community trust to manage the ongoing restoration of the new reserve. 🌱 central to Living Water’s involvement in the Waimā Waitai Waiora Freshwater Improvement Fund partnership in Northland - a partnership that has seen a significant number of Farm Environment Plans completed and become an example for other catchments. These are just examples of amazing outcomes that have taken day-after-day energy, skill and commitment in order to make progress. All the best, Tim, we will miss you!
We've updated our website
so you can find all the tools and solutions being trialled in one place https://www.livingwater.net.nz/tools-solutions/
Lab testing
Good to have the Lab Tester to confirm the fish is small 😅
why biodiversity increases resilience against extreme weather events
Higher levels of biodiversity have been linked to increased resilience against extreme weather events such as drought or flooding according to a study from our friends at Farming and Nature Conservation, read more here 👇 https://www.facebook.com/1964114763853657/posts/2637187276546399/?d=n
Tools and solutions
Our projects, case studies, and resources
