Tīnui-Whareama Catchment Group Showcase

Following an initial meeting in 2016, interest in forming a catchment group steadily grew. By 2022, the Tīnui-Whareama Catchment Group had established a clear vision: to create a resilient and thriving environment and community for future generations.

Spanning 53,000 hectares, the catchment group represents a diverse and close-knit community of landowners, including sheep and beef farmers, foresters, and lifestyle block owners. This strong sense of connection has underpinned the group’s resilience, particularly in response to Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle. While these events had significant environmental impacts, the community’s coordinated recovery efforts have demonstrated their commitment to turning challenges into long-term environmental gains.

A strong focus on data and science underpins the group’s work. Water quality monitoring across 11 sites provides valuable insights to guide action on sediment and nutrient loss, while supporting healthier habitats for fish and invertebrates. The introduction of dung beetles is another practical step, helping improve soil health, reduce runoff, and support more resilient farming systems.

Protecting native biodiversity is also a priority. Following community planning workshops, pest monitoring using chew cards and trail cameras helped establish baseline predator levels. Three high-value biodiversity sites were selected for initial action, with more than 200 traps now deployed to protect native species and build community capability.

The group’s partnership with Whareama School on an ongoing īnanga project has been a highlight. This initiative explores īnanga migration, habitat, and life cycle, while empowering local students and the wider community to help protect this valued taonga.

Community connection remains at the heart of the group’s success. A recent showcase day brought locals together to learn about projects, support planting at Waimimi Bridge to enhance īnanga habitat and stabilise streambanks, and celebrate progress together. This work forms part of a wider restoration effort following cyclone damage and complements recent flood monitoring upgrades to improve forecasting and resilience.

Looking ahead, the group has secured funding for the Awatea wetland project, with plans underway to restore and enhance four hectares of wetland habitat. Future priorities include strengthening community engagement, refining environmental objectives, and building new partnerships to further improve catchment health.

This achievement reflects the leadership and dedication of the group’s Coordinator, Sue Malcolm, and Chair, Sam Johnson, whose commitment has helped drive meaningful, community-led environmental action.