| 39 An enduring community-led initiative Roger, Alison and Jeremy (absent Nikki Thomas). Emma Bailey The Waikawa Catchment Group began in 2009 as a small group of neighbours wanting to understand more about their catchment, waterways, native bush, estuary and on farm environmental impacts in the picturesque Catlins. It has gone on to become one of the region’s most enduring community-led initiatives and this year the Group was highlighted for its exceptional environmental work and was showcased in the 2026 Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards in April. The awards are run annually by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, to showcase stories of environmental sustainability and innovation across Aotearoa. The group’s work covers 18,000 hectares and focuses on enhancing the Waikawa River, wetlands, estuary and environment which enables native biodiversity to flourish within a profitable farming community. Waikawa Catchment Group spokesperson Alison Thomas said it was a great acknowledgement. The group formed in 2009 and has about 20 members. It is made up of people that farm in the area which is mainly sheep and beef and one dairy farm over the 18 farms in the catchment and community members. The group is in the midst of formalising its structure and becoming an incorporated society. To date their grants had been managed through the support of South Catlins Promotions Trust. One of their key initiatives was ‘Slow the Flow’, an erosion mitigation project. The group has overseen the retirement of more than 50,000 square metres of unproductive land across seven local farms. By installing sediment traps, fencing off vulnerable margins and establishing thousands of native plants, the work is physically holding the soil in place and filtering runoff before it reaches the Waikawa River and its sensitive estuary. “About two years ago we started this project. We had been putting up fences around the waterways but the river would move. Dr Clint Rissman of Land and Water Science mapped out the geology and hydrology and erosion points of the catchment. Because we are hill country, there are streams everywhere,” Alison said. “He looked at where we could slow the flow of water to mitigate erosion using satellite imagery. He made the science accessible and gave us a great toolbox to work from.” Along with thousands of native plants, they have put in five kilometres of fencing protecting waterways. The Ballance Farm Environment Awards » Waikawa Catchment Group The Group is engaged with activities including seed propagation workshops and hands-on planting days. “All the farmers in the catchment that are involved felt it was important to be hands on. We used to get together for tailing and hay baling now it is planting trees. “We hosted the Ministry of Environment and they could not believe how much we had achieved with the money we had been granted. “It can’t be understated the rich biodiversity in the area, there are lots of native birds and fish including lamprey and freshwater crayfish. We want to create biodiversity corridors while improving water quality and reducing sediment runoff.” Looking to the future the group is also preparing to expand their guardianship into pest management within the catchment in the South Catlins. 34 Pukerau St, Pukerau | 021 192 1999 info@pukeraunursery.co.nz | www.pukeraunursery.co.nz SPECIALISING IN ENHANCING YOUR LANDSCAPE Pukerau Nursery is one of the principal growers of eco-sourced native plants in the lower South Island. Providing ‘the right plant for the right place’ UNLOCK YOUR LAND’S FULL POTENTIAL · PRECISION SOIL & WATER ANALYSIS · EXPERT ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS · COMPLIANCE & REPORTING SUPPORT SCIENCE Dr. Clint Rissmann 021 678 112 clint@landwatersci.net www.landwaterscience.co.nz Marshall Sub-project.
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