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.
Living Water Steering committee member on Facebook Live tomorrow!
Want to ask Fonterra a question about water? In a first, tomorrow evening, 11 July at 7pm, Fonterra will be hosting a Facebook Live video-stream, answering questions from the public about the country's waterways. Fonterra GM Environment and Living Water Steering Committee member Trish Kirkland-Smith will be in the hot seat along with a Fonterra farmer answering the questions. Make sure you check it out (and ask a question if you want)!
Video: area in Pukorokoro-Miranda where boardwalk is rebuilt
Pūkorokoro-Miranda in the Firth of Thames, where pied stilts and oystercatchers coexist with dairy farms. Click the title above: our North Island manager Tim Brandenburg was there last week, showing us the area damaged during the floods and our newly rebuilt boardwalk accessing this unique shorebird habitat. Read about what else we’re up to in the catchment to enable sustainable dairying + healthy ecosystems here https://www.livingwater.net.nz/catchment/pukorokoro-miranda
Inspiring video - Pomahaka Water Care Group in Otago
When a whole community buys in to a cause, the sky’s the limit – especially when it comes to water quality. Watch this video of a farming community leading the way to improve water quality in Otago. The community involved Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Fonterra, NZ Landcare Trust, DairyNZ, Otago Regional Council, Ministry for Primary Industries, Fish and Game New Zealand, Beef and Lamb New Zealand, and Ravensdown in their efforts.
Birdwatching boardwalk rebuild almost complete
Walkers and wheelchair users alike can soon go birdwatching again – the Pukorokoro-Miranda boardwalk and trail that was damaged during the January tidal surge is almost rebuilt! Living Water is proud to have funded the rebuild, the access it provides builds awareness of this internationally-important shorebird habitat, and protecting it too. Around 40 species of shorebirds – including bar-tailed godwits and red knots which breed in Alaska and Siberia – feed in the area, with sometimes more than 10,000 shorebirds there at one time. Pukorokoro-Miranda is one of Living Water’s catchments – https://www.livingwater.net.nz/catchment/pukorokoro-miranda/ - Thanks Keith Woodley from Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre for the pics!
Our progress
Our plans, projects, case studies, and reports.
