There's a big focus on water quality in the Whangaehu catchment and community groups can now apply for funding to do their bit.
The catchment is having $1.5 million put into improvements over three years. The money is from Government's Freshwater Improvement Fund, from iwi and landowners and from Horizons Regional Council.
A sum of $100,000 has been put aside for community projects - $33,000 for each of the three years.
Bruce Rollinson, a Horizons regional councillor, is the chairman of the Ngā Wai Ora o te Whangaehu Governance Group, which had its first meeting on August 8. Members are from the Conservation Department, Fish & Game, Ruapehu tribes and Ruapehu District Council.
The Freshwater Improvement Fund application was intended to improvement Raetihi and Ōhakune sewage treatment, Rollinson said. Treated wastewater from the towns adds E. coli, nitrogen and phosphorous to the Mangawhero and Whangaehu.