What we’re up to

It's amazing what we can accomplish when we work together! Environment Canterbury CAREX Fish and Game New Zealand working together to support farmers and WaterAndWildlifeHabitatTrust to do our annual habitat survey of a 4km long restoration project.

We're 5 years into our 10 year partnership and boy, have we achieved a lot! This has only been possible with the help of some of the best scientists, farmers, mana whenua and partner organisations. Imagine what is possible in the next 5 years.

Wow, our Fonterra and Department of Conservation Living Water partnership was recognised today by South Korean politician and diplomat and previous Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon, at the #IDFWorldDairySummit, acknowledging our commitment to sustainable dairying and freshwater ecosystems thriving side by side. What an honour! Thanks to Tim Mackle (DairyNZ) for tweeting it! https://twitter.com/tim_mackle/status/1051654886197157888

Fonterra farmers, Graeme and Sharon Gillett have been Living Water - DOC & Fonterra trailblazers since June 2014 when they partnered with us on the first ever riparian planting project with help from our Living Water Wairua River and Fonterra Farm Source Northland teams. They went on to establish the first Living Water / QEII covenant on their farm, were the first to have an ecologist survey their land, and built a dam to provide water storage and wildlife habitat. In doing so they've not only left a legacy for their kids who are now running the farm, but also inspired their neighbours to get involved. #earlyadopters #freshwateronfarms. Watch their story here https://youtu.be/w-Gu2BwBQ2c

Today we farewell our Department of Conservation colleague Mike Paviour, who has done amazing work for Living Water - DOC & Fonterra and the #WaikatoPeatLakes. He is heading off to a great role with Waikato Regional Council. Mike told us: “I don’t think I am leaving so much as spreading the Living Water virus to WRC and other catchments. My work will be really similar in many ways, and the beliefs in working with landowners for environmental and agricultural gains is a core DNA truth for me. I think it is all a case of thinking globally, nationally, regionally and working locally and will always be grateful for the great opportunities Living Water has provided NZ, the Waikato, conservation and my own knowledge and growth.” Thanks Mike, Noho ora mai.

Check out the latest Manatiaki Koawa Rivers Group newsletter featuring a story about the Living Water - DOC & Fonterra and Land and Water Science project to control peak runoff for farm contaminant retention in the Waituna Lagoon Southland

What a day and what a way to celebrate #ConservationWeek! Thanks to all the kids from Gorge Road School and the reps from Southland District Council, Environment Southland, Fonterra, Department of Conservation, Living Water Waituna Lagoon, and the Waituna Landcare and Recreational Users groups. The kids had fun doing some detective work to find where on the map the Bittern nest was hidden and the lucky winners got a Kowhai tree, while everyone got a gift pack with a certificate, chocolate Kokopu and a Living Water sticker book.

Living Water Site Lead Dion Patterson, caught up with Dr Rebecca Eivers from Streamlined Environmental Services to look at how sediment traps are contributing to improved water quality at Lake Ruatuna in the Living Water Waikato Peat Lakes and on-farm options.

Living Water Site Lead, Dion Patterson from Department of Conservation gives an update on planting and pest control at #LakeRuatuna one of our Living Water Waikato Peat Lakes. The goal is to create biodiversity corridors for #SpotlessCrake. Fonterra was involved in planting 700+ plants to ensure these corridors are linked on and off-farm.

By being part of the Department of Conservation and Fonterra Living Water programme, our farmers and partners are involved in finding ways to take care of nature on a daily basis. Being #conservationweek we also want to encourage others to help our native plants and animals. Find events, activities and resources here.

E ngā mana e ngā waka, e ngā mana e ngā reo, e ngā karangaranga maha. Greetings to you all. By engaging with mana whenua we understand how the limited ability to exercise Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship) over their natural resources has caused a loss of mana. To address this, we are weaving mātauranga māori into our mahi. #tewikiotereoMāori.

Living Water is a partnership between the Department of Conservation and Fonterra, and so we are a waka with two hulls bound by a common kaupapa.

Great to have Springston School: Te Kura o Makonui with us last week working on the Powells Road waterway. The Living Water Ararira-LII River enhancement project aims to control the growth and spread of waterweed, reduce sedimentation and enhance / restore habitat for freshwater biodiversity, which links with Level 3 science curriculum 'Nature of Science' topics. This fantastic group of students will be designing their own in-stream features, bank profile and planting plan, and reporting on the current habitat before the whole syndicate gets involved in taking action next term.

We often get asked - why? Well, there's no-one better to answer that question than the people directly involved. Here some of our partners from Department of Conservation, Fonterra, Te Whangai Trust, Ngakaitiaki o Nga Wai Maori, Ngati Haua Mahi Trust, CAREX, and Gary & Adrienne Dalton share their 'why'.

It's Conservation Week 15 - 23 September, and we're looking forward to our special activity with Gorge Road School in the Waituna catchment. Emma from DoC is organising an exciting day for the kids with these cool 'Giant Kokopu' chocolate fish as prizes.. yum!

A little bit chuffed to be a finalist in the 'Partnering for Good' category of the NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards 2018. Thank you to all our partners who are helping us find solutions that will enable healthy freshwater ecosystems and sustainable dairying to thrive side by side.