DairyNZ general manager sustainable dairy Dr David Burger. Photo / Michael Bradley
DairyNZ general manager sustainable dairy Dr David Burger. Photo / Michael Bradley
DairyNZ’s collaborative approach to improving waterway health will see extensive planting take place in South Waikato’s Pōkaiwhenua catchment this summer.
The joint DairyNZ, Raukawa Charitable Trust and Pōkaiwhenua Catchment Group work will see more than 15,000 plants put in around Tokoroa’s Whakauru Stream.
The work was aimed at improving water quality so native species could thrive in and around the Whakauru Stream – a tributary of the Pōkaiwhenua Stream. There was already good numbers of native eels [tuna], freshwater crayfish [kōura] and many more species.
DairyNZ general manager of sustainable dairy Dr David Burger said partnering with organisations that had similar goals was a key step towards ongoing environmental progress.
“We look forward to moving forward with iwi and farmers to improve waterway health in the Pōkaiwhenua environment, and we hope to identify further partnership opportunities as we continue to focus on environmental improvements at a catchment level. Catchment work is widely recognised as the way forward in improving the environment, as it achieves better results than a national one-size-fits-all approach.”
Monitoring shows good numbers of kōura in the Whakauru Stream.
Freshwater crayfish (kōura).
Community and iwi planting days were also planned, along with weed and pest control initiatives. Information boards will be put up to showcase the area’s history, plant and animal life, and a footpath will ensure the community can easily access the area.
This work is part of a three-year DairyNZ Sustainable Catchments programme trialling practical tools and interventions on-farm, such as constructed wetlands, to increase awareness and understanding of ways to improve water quality.
The programme is funded by the Ministry for the Environment’s Jobs for Nature programme and is focused on priority catchments – Pōkaiwhenua, Waimea [Southland], and the South Canterbury region – where monitoring has shown there are higher nitrogen concentrations and lower ecosystem health scores than other catchments.
Current work across all three areas includes catchment assessments and designing monitoring programmes to track water quality and hauora [health] changes over time.
This will be followed by on-farm and catchment activity to test and demonstrate mitigations with proven science to improve waterway health.
“There are opportunities for improvement in each catchment,” Burger said.
“Each catchment has committed landowners who are passionate about improving water quality, and our Sustainable Catchments work will help accelerate the momentum of current restoration activities. We will work closely to support local landowners and catchment groups, which have water quality improvement initiatives under way.”
The end of the Pōkaiwhenua Stream where it meets the Waikato River.
The Raukawa Charitable Trust/DairyNZ collaboration represents a combined Western science and mātauranga raukawa/Māori approach to grow understanding of how to improve catchment ecological health.
The Pōkaiwhenua work also showcases the progress that can be made through partnerships.
Raukawa Charitable Trust tāhuhu rangapū [CEO] Maria Te Kanawa says her organisation is committed to its responsibilities as kaitiaki of the South Waikato region.
“We have a key role to play in the revitalisation and restoration of the wider Pōkaiwhenua catchment. We are pleased to be partnering with DairyNZ and local farmers as we collectively work towards healthier waterways in this catchment – and ensure the long-term needs of the community and the environment are met.”
The Pōkaiwhenua work is expected to be completed by June 2025.
