The Tīnui Whareama Catchment Group welcomed some tiny but mighty new residents recently - dung beetles. As part of an initiative by Greater Wellington in partnership with Dung Beetle Innovations, four properties in the Whareama catchment were selected to host new dung beetle colonies.
The release is part of a broader strategy to reduce nutrient and sediment loss and protect waterways. With 43 colonies set to be released across four key catchments—Wainuioru, Parkvale, Homewood, and Whareama, the programme focuses on areas where sediment and nutrient loss is impacting waterways and where active catchment groups, like Whareama, are already driving positive change.
For Tīnui Whareama Catchment Group, the motivation is clear: reducing e-coli runoff into local waterways. Dung beetles play a vital role in this mission by quickly burying cattle dung, locking harmful bacteria like e-coli below the surface where it can't wash into streams. In doing so, they also improve soil structure, reduce pest and parasite loads on farms, promote healthier pastures, and contribute to carbon sequestration.
The properties chosen in Whareama were selected not only for their high cattle presence and favourable conditions but also for their strategic location within the catchment. This will help ensure the beetle populations can thrive and naturally spread over time, amplifying their benefits beyond individual farms.
Dung Beetle Innovations imports 11 species of dung beetles, each active at different times of the year. Using multiple species ensures continuous dung removal year-round across New Zealand’s varied soils.
Dung beetles come in three main types, each with a unique way of dealing with dung: Dwellers live inside the dung pat on the surface, Rollers shape the dung into balls and roll it away to bury elsewhere, while Tunnellers dig tunnels beneath the pat and push the dung underground.
The Tīnui Whareama Catchment Group has been closely involved in the process—identifying suitable sites, assisting with releases, and supporting ongoing monitoring. Their commitment reflects the group’s broader vision of healthy, thriving waterways where people, wildlife, and rural businesses thrive.
With dung beetle populations already showing signs of establishment at many of the 91 farms supported by Greater Wellington since 2019, the Whareama release is another step toward a more resilient and sustainable farming future for the region.
