What we’re up to

Yesterday was #WorldEnvironmentDay, Fonterra’s General Manager Group Environment and Living Water Steering Committee member Trish Kirkland-Smith took the time to reflect on some serious statistics and the importance of collaboration to find solutions that benefit NZ and the world https://www.fonterra.com/nz/en/our-stories/articles/working-together-to-turn-things-around.html

Today we celebrate World Environment Day where everyone is encouraged to plant, nurture and celebrate nature. Here's some ideas to get involved: 🌱 plant a native tree in your backyard 🌱 volunteer for a community planting project 🌱 head outdoors and enjoy New Zealand's magical wild places 🌱 And read about how Department of Conservation and Fonterra are working together to allow healthy freshwater ecosystems to thrive along side sustainable land use http://bit.ly/lwenvironmentday

Collaboration and partnerships are a key part of Living Water's ethos. We have a total of 4️⃣8️⃣ partnerships in place across New Zealand! That's a lot of people power, working together to champion change to minds, approaches and aspirations across Aotearoa. Read about some of our partnerships here 👇 https://www.livingwater.net.nz/our-progress/

It's #FieldDayFriday and we are at this stunning location in North Canterbury. David and Stacey from Farming and Nature Conservation were keynote speakers at our annual hui and were kind enough to introduce us to the farmers they are working with on this sheep and beef farm to improve their on farm biodiversity 🌱 Read about what they're up to 👇 https://www.farmingnatureconservation.org/ 📸: Katie Collins

Mahinga Kai means "to work the food" today is International Day for Biodiversity, themed "Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health” this is a big part of what Living Water is striving for, it's about looking after the native species in our waterways as well as allowing dairying to continue to thrive as both are sources of food and life. We need to work together with farmers, iwi and hapū, councils and communities to ensure our future generations have food, biodiversity and health. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0u8LtdJMv4&t=7s

Have you met our wider team? With nearly 40% of New Zealand’s land under their care, Fonterra and the Department of Conservation have joined forces to find and trial solutions for dairy and freshwater ecosystems to thrive together for the future. Working on the ground, side by side, and with farmers, scientists, councils, mana whenua and communities. We share our expertise and use our collective strengths. https://www.livingwater.net.nz/whos-involved/

Catch up on the latest from our team and partners in our May newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/588ae2d12d57/living-water-newsletter-jul-310121?fbclid=IwAR2QsYDFVQn4vkBn8-63Lhrvg3hbTqcB3ULW0KHUwAFoclomFJFucLEhSLo

It's and and we are at this stunning location in North Canterbury. David and Stacey from Farming and Nature Conservation were keynote speakers at our annual hui and were kind enough to introduce us to the farmers they are working with on this sheep and beef farm to improve their on farm biodiversity 🌱 Read about what they're up to 👇 https://www.farmingnatureconservation.org/ 📸: Katie Collins

Did you know that fish show love too? We have more in common with fish than we think. May 16 2020 is World Fish Migration Day, Many migratory fish species are critically endangered or threatened including many of New Zealand's endemic species. To highlight the importance of helping our migrating fish, the organisers of #WorldFishMigrationDay have released a film #LoveFlows watch the trailer below or catch the full film at: https://youtu.be/7tBtz2uv8fI. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHf7lv9SYQ8

Is hydroseeding a viable alternative to native planting? Watch Matt Highway - Fonterra Sustainable Dairying Manager talk it through from our trial site in the Waikato Peat Lakes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivJIW9iB6PU

Catch up with what's been happening in Waituna since undertaking the restoration project at Waituna Creek https://www.livingwater.net.nz/our-progress/im:1432/waituna-creek-fish-survey Whakamana te Waituna Cawthron Institute Studio Jubb

Two of our team members have spent three weeks based at our Waikato Peat Lake sites monitoring Pūweto (Spotless Crakes) with call-playback surveys. Not a lot is known about these cryptic birds but we know their population has declined due to habitat loss and predation. Presence/ absence data is gathered from all times of day meaning a lot of late nights and early starts, but worth it for the view and the chance to see one of these elusive birds.

It's one of the biggest events in our Southland team's calendar! Requiring no rain, extra people power and some high spec equipment, the Waituna fish survey is an important part of our goal to see freshwater and dairying working side by side. We want to see if adding back in the habitat that's been lost from modification and straightening will bring more freshwater species back to the creek. Check it out and watch the full video 👇 https://www.livingwater.net.nz/our-progress/im:1432/waituna-creek-fish-survey/?fbclid=IwAR1159ZJaePWkkz17EBkOdGv4KBCXJ22gr66mE3GrNu31eACqu6tw5QC_iA

What to do when some of New Zealand's most precious wildlife lives on your backyard? Adopt it! Read the story about how some wetland birds helped Ohaupo to find their identity.

What happens after you restore a creek in an catchment that has 45 Fonterra farms in it? That's what Living Water and Cawthron Institute are trying to find out. Take a look at the video to see what we've been up to 👇 https://youtu.be/BsEu-NUa43Q Massive thanks to Studio Jubb and My Southland Story for the amazing video

What's it like farming in an area thats catchment flows into an internationally significant 8,500 hectare coastal wetland recognised under the The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands? Watch Connie and Alan Bull with their take on it. https://youtu.be/fDdvQz29aQY