Schools Project - Wetland Restoration with St Mary's School
The progress made by the Parkvale Catchment Trust in recent years has been driven by strong governance, clear priorities, strategic partnerships and a dedicated group of volunteers.
By focusing on practical goals and building partnerships with landowners, schools, businesses, community groups, and environmental organisations, the Trust has turned ideas into action.
From stream health monitoring and riparian planting to wetland restoration, environmental education, and predator control, the Trust continues to take a coordinated, evidence-based approach to improving catchment health.
These efforts demonstrate that environmental stewardship and productive farming can work hand in hand, benefiting both the environment and the rural economy.
A significant milestone this year has been the introduction of regular water quality monitoring in partnership with Mountains to Sea Wellington, providing a valuable baseline for measuring future progress and guiding restoration efforts.
While reducing historically high nitrate levels remains important, the Trust is increasingly focused on lowering stream temperatures and improving habitat for native fish and insects. To support this, landowners are being encouraged to fence waterways and establish riparian planting to shade and protect streams.
The Trust’s planting efforts have been supported by organisations such as Ruamāhanga Restoration Trust, whom this year donated 500 native trees to the Schools Project. Bringing together three Carterton schools to restore a local wetland, the project provides students with hands-on environmental learning while showcasing how sustainable farming and environmental care can work together.
Local farmers are investing significant time and resources into improving waterways and habitats while continuing to operate successful and sustainable businesses. The Trust seeks to promote an understanding of the important relationship between environmental stewardship and productive farming, acknowledging that the ongoing success of farming underpins our local communities, economy and way of life.
The Trust is also strengthening connections with the local business community, recognising that catchment health is a shared responsibility. This planting season, ANZ Bank staff will take part in a dedicated planting day, marking the beginning of what the Trust hopes will be many similar partnerships.
Pest control remains another focus area, with the Trust working alongside Predator Free Carterton to share knowledge, resources, and community networks. While large-scale predator management remains a long-term challenge, the Trust is helping landowners access the latest tools and information.
While the achievements to date are encouraging, the Trust sees them as just the beginning.
Through planting projects, monitoring programmes, pest control initiatives, school activities, and business partnerships, there are many opportunities for the community to become involved and help shape the future health of the catchment.
This story was originally published in the Wairarapa MidWeek on 1 July 2026 as part of the Conservation Kōrero series.