What we’re up to

READ: With only a few years left in the partnership, we've looked at some of the highlights, trials and projects in progress to accelerate action to improve #freshwater management across the country. https://www.livingwater.net.nz/what-were-up-to/stories-about-our-work/teaming-up-to-improve-new-zealands-freshwater

Meri Kirihimete me te Hape Nū Ia from the Living Water team. We hope you have a great holiday and have the chance to get out and explore Aotearoa to make some great memories. We'll all be taking a break from today until mid-January

Our Ararira team has taken advantage of the dryer weather by installing a two-stage channel at the same site as the bioreactor to help combat nutrient runoff. Now we need some rain to see them in action!

READ: Sarah Yarrow, National Manager and Nicki Atkinson, Impact and Partnerships Manager reflect on the partnership's progress over the last seven years. How each catchment has unique characteristics yet the same underlying goal of building relationships based on the shared vision of healthy freshwater ecosystems existing alongside farming. There have been many wins but there is more to do for the remainder of the partnership 👇 https://www.livingwater.net.nz/what-were-up-to/stories-about-our-work/doc-and-fonterra-mooving-the-dial-on-freshwater

Our heartfelt condolences to Allan’s whānau and work colleagues. We will miss your wisdom and deep knowledge of your rohe and its taonga. Arohanui from the Living Water team. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1823269621182725&id=256365897873113

We welcome Anh into the Living Water whanau as the Site Lead for Wairua, Northland. Before coming to New Zealand from Vietnam with her family in 2019, Anh was working in integrated coastal management, focusing on mangrove conservation and sustainable shrimp farming then worked with an NGO supporting ethnic women with sustainability practices. Anh joined Living Water because of her interest in integrated catchment management and it's complexity.

Read the latest updates in our December newsletter. Including: -Installing a bioreactor in the Ararira/LII catchment -Planting significant flax varities at Lake Ruatuna -Photographic evidence riparian planting improves biodiversity -An update from our Steering Committee -A look back at the last 7 years of partnership https://mailchi.mp/c6bebdd729df/living-water-newsletter-jul-594734

Listen 👂: DOC Threatened Species Ambassador Nicola Toki discussing the importance of wetlands for nature and highlight some of the mahi being done in the Waikato Peat Lakes by the Living Water partnership. Then stay to hear about the Alpine Tiger Moth (a living in a horror story!) https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018775751/critter-of-the-week-alpine-tiger-moth

We're trialling a bioreactor - woodchips in an existing waterway - to reduce nitrates in the Ararira/LII catchment with help from the UC Freshwater Ecology Research Group. We'll be monitoring the trial over the next year, if successful they could be used widely as a cost-effective, low maintenance intervention to reduce nitrates that won’t interfere with drainage. Full story here 👇 https://www.livingwater.net.nz/what-were-up-to/stories-about-our-work/woodchip-bioreactor-trial-aims-to-improve/

After a year of preparation at Lake Ruatuna including removal of introduced pest plant species, creation of a walking track, and contouring of the area for the planting of pā harakeke/rongoā garden in partnership with Ngāti Apakura, we have put the first plants in the ground! Read the full story 👇 https://www.livingwater.net.nz/what-were-up-to/stories-about-our-work/significant-flax-varieties-translocated-to/

It's that time of year, VOTE: for Bird of the Year, not to sway anyone but some Living Water faves: the pūweto (spotless crake), matuku (bittern), kuaka (bar-tailed godwit), the clean water loving $10 note star the whio (blue duck) or braided river inhabitant kakī (black stilt) https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

A good story for your Monday. Some kiwi footprints going into a recently planted riparian area on one of our Living Water farms in Wairua, Northland.

Read about the Kuaka or Eastern bar-tailed godwit's massive 12,000 km trek from Alaska to New Zealand, non-stop! On arrival they're hungry and feed in the Pūkorokoro-Miranda catchment - Living Water's key focus here is reducing sediment loads entering the lowlands, smothering habitat and the bird's food sources. By working with iwi, community groups and landowners, we're starting to make a real difference in the area. https://blog.doc.govt.nz/2020/05/09/frequent-fliers-not-grounded-by-covid-19/

Awesome mahi, Fonterra! Working with iwi, councils and the community to protect a very vulnerable species 🥰 https://business.facebook.com/docgovtnz/photos/a.424046964627727/1228876120811470/?type=3&theater

READ: How our Living Water Waikato Peat Lakes team are partnering for change with Ngāti Apukura to improve water quality and restore habitat around Lakes Areare, Ruatuna and Rotomānuka https://www.facebook.com/thevisionisclearnz/posts/664188107574997

Earlier this week the Living Water wider team of Department of Conservation and Fonterra had their (belated) annual hui. The focus of this year's hui was discussions around how we get the right information about the partnership's lessons to the right people. And we welcomed some new faces to the team!