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.
#Opengates2018 in Waituna featuring eels, kokopu and many more!
Living Water was at #Opengates2018 last weekend, on Tony and Raewyn van Gool's farm in the Waituna Catchment. A spot of fishing with the fyke nets produced 5 eel, 2 kokopu, 1 bully and a whole lot of inanga, the van Gool's fencing and riparian planting along the waterways and establishing wetlands across the property means these species can thrive! You can read about our work in Waituna here https://www.livingwater.net.nz/catchment/waituna-lagoon/
Did you know all 5 species of mudfish in NZ are "at risk" or "threatened"?
Did you know there are 5 species of Mudfish/hauhau/waikaka/kōwaro in Aotearoa? All of them are classified as "at risk" or "threatened" We're helping to protect our mudfish by working with Department of Conservation and Fonterra protecting and restoring wetlands, drains, water-races and swampy streams where mudfish may live. Read more about what we're doing here: https://www.livingwater.net.nz/our-progress/ Photo: Rod Morris
Department of Conservation and Fonterra working together, but how does this work?
Department of Conservation and Fonterra working together, but how does this work? Hear it straight from the horse's (or cow's) mouth, we had a chat to Doug Dibley, Fonterra Farmer Solutions Manager to see how Living Water fits into his role. https://www.livingwater.net.nz/our-progress/im:1432/how-are-fonterras-farm-source-teams-helping/
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!
Our progress
Our plans, projects, case studies, and reports.
