Whakamana Te Waituna
About the project
Whakamana Te Waituna is a five-year, multi-partner project aimed at improving the health of Waituna Lagoon in Southland. The project includes the following work streams:
- Developing a landward buffer around the lagoon
- Designing and implementing a catchment-wide nutrient and sediment management reduction programme to protect the lagoon and its tributaries
- Enhancing social, cultural and environmental resilience, and improving community access to the lagoon.
Living Water is leading the nutrient and sediment reduction workstream.
Benefits
- Significant reduction in nutrient and sediment loads entering Waituna Lagoon
- Improved freshwater ecosystems
- Greater lowland ecological resilience
PROGRESs
- Whakamana Te Waituna project concept approved in April 2017
- $15m secured for the five year project including $5m from the government’s Freshwater Improvement Fund and $10m funded by the Waituna Partners (Environment Southland, Ngai Tahu, Southland District Council, DOC and Living Water).
- High level project planning to be completed by the end of 2017
- Detailed work plans and implementation starting early 2018
Cain Duncan
Fonterra Sustainable Dairying Advisor
It's a truly significant partnership not only for our region, but in terms of it's potential for similar partnerships across the country.
Jane Bowen
DOC Living Water Site Lead
I'm passionate about this project. It's going to be a game-changer for New Zealand.
Nicki Atkinson
DOC Freshwater Technical Advisor
The Waituna lagoon is one of New Zealand's most at risk natural waterways. It will take combined efforts to ensure it's in balance with the neighbouring productive land.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Completed March 2017
PROJECT PLANNING
Due to be completed by December 2017
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Due to start in early 2018 and end late 2022
What's Next
- The Waituna Partners' Group and the Ministry for the Environment for approve the 2018-2019 Project Plan.
- Project implementation will commence in early 2018.