What we’re up to

Each month we introduce you to one of our hard working Living Water people, this month is Robin, our Ararira Site Lead 💧 The best bit about my job is: having the opportunity to channel my passion for a better future through environmental improvement. 💧 In my spare time I: actually do similar stuff – I actively support a local stream care group, marvel at nature on foot, on a mountain bike and out on the water in a yacht. 💧 If I wasn’t working here I’d: like to be helping in a similar way to support sustainability or green issues. 💧 Before working at Living Water I: was a Biodiversity Programme Manager at DOC supporting a team of DOC rangers.

Why is too much sediment an issue? And how can sediment traps capture excess sediment?Watch to find out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMUJn9zL2y8 UC Freshwater Ecology Research Group

Fonterra is matching dollar-for-dollar any donation made to the Million Metres Streams Project, up to a total of $50,000 as part of their Sustainable Catchments programme. Click through below to donate 👇🌱 https://hubs.ly/H0s1LTx0

Make sure you're on our mailing list to receive our latest stories and updates, next issue is due late July 👇 https://www.livingwater.net.nz/what-were-up-to/#subscribe

Our Waikato Peat Lakes team finally got back out to our sites post lockdown with a cold foggy start a Ruatuna and some relief to see the water levels coming back at Rotomanuka at the end of the drought.

Last week we said Haere Ra, Tim (North Island Manager) who has been with Living Water since the beginning (2013). Some of Tim’s highlights: 🌱 his contribution to Department of Conservation's purchase of farmland to create a reserve at Pūkorokoro-Miranda, increasing the area of shorebird habitat in a RAMSAR location 🌱 led the formation of a community trust to manage the ongoing restoration of the new reserve. 🌱 central to Living Water’s involvement in the Waimā Waitai Waiora Freshwater Improvement Fund partnership in Northland - a partnership that has seen a significant number of Farm Environment Plans completed and become an example for other catchments. These are just examples of amazing outcomes that have taken day-after-day energy, skill and commitment in order to make progress. All the best, Tim, we will miss you!

so you can find all the tools and solutions being trialled in one place https://www.livingwater.net.nz/tools-solutions/

Good to have the Lab Tester to confirm the fish is small 😅

Higher levels of biodiversity have been linked to increased resilience against extreme weather events such as drought or flooding according to a study from our friends at Farming and Nature Conservation, read more here 👇 https://www.facebook.com/1964114763853657/posts/2637187276546399/?d=n

Some pūweto cuteness from Lake Ruatuna for your Monday! For Living Water, the presence of pūweto/spotless crake is an indication that wetland restoration is working because populations can bounce back in just a few years. Learn about the extensive restoration work happening in the area. 🎥: Arthur Uden

Our Waikato Peat Lakes team alongside Ngaati Haua Mahi Trust and Forest Flora Nursery have been planting inside the sediment traps - we had to wait until there was some water, but not too much! The water-based plants will 🌱 slow water flow (reducing large dumps of nutrients) 🌱 collect sediment around their roots 🌱 help oxygenate the water 🌱 combat invasive Water Primrose/Ludwigia (a refuge for pest fish) Read the latest updates 👇 https://www.livingwater.net.nz/catchment/lakes-areare-ruatuna-rotomanuka/sediment-traps-trial

Our Waituna Fish survey had to be cancelled this year. The purpose of the survey is to see if there has been an increase in freshwater fish resulting from our habitat restoration work in 2018 - if there is an increase we will look at restoring more areas of the creek. https://www.livingwater.net.nz/our-progress/im:1432/waituna-creek-fish-survey

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 🌱 Learn how to create your own wetland 👇 https://www.livingwater.net.nz/catchment/wairua-river/low-cost-wetland-construction/

Southland friends, the Whakamana te Waituna trust are seeking feedback on biodiversity plans for the Waituna catchment and lagoon - if you live in the catchment or broader Southland area, they would love to hear from you https://www.waituna.org.nz/resources/survey

This year we have had to postpone our usual annual hui held in May so we're reminiscing last year's which included a talk from Farming and Nature Conservation followed by a visit to a North Canterbury sheep and beef farm which is part of Farming and Nature Conservation's collaborative project funded by New Zealand’s Biological Heritage.

Each month we introduce you to one of our hard working Living Water people, this month is Katie Collins, DOC Science Lead Freshwater Technical Advisor. The best bit about my job is: popping on my waders and getting out into streams! and doing science outreach with children and young people to show them some of the amazing critters that live in our waterways Most people don’t know that I: can play the tuba In my spare time I: enjoy sharing knowledge of the outdoors and conservation as a volunteer with GirlGuiding NZ and The Spirit of Adventure Trust. I love spending time in the veggie garden and with our four chickens If I wasn’t working here, I’d like to: spend an extended period of time in Nepal (I’ve visited twice) Before working at Living Water, I: completed my PhD at the University of Canterbury, investigating alternative control methods for weedy aquatic plants (macrophytes) in agricultural streams (other than using mechanical excavators)